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First gather all of your left
over scraps on material and group them together according to
color. You will want to use several patterns of fabric that compliment
one another with the same color tones and hues. I chose 5 fabrics
with a Blue, Mauve, Rose and Antique White floral combination
but you can use any combination as long as you choose fabrics
with a very small pattern. Stay away from stretchy or sheer fabrics
as well. Cotton or broadcloth is a good choice. Cut your fabric
into 1 1/2 inch, 2 inch or 1/2 inch squares. Use a roll cutter
and mat to speed up this process. I used fabric that was both
1 1/2 inch wide squares as well as some 1/2 inch squares for
my patchwork box.
Starting on the bottom of your
box use a small sponge brush and decoupage glue to attach your
fabric squares to a paper craft box. Decoupage will take the
place of your glue and is available in craft stores in 2 sizes
of bottles and in white or off-white. Off-White decoupage will
go on slightly yellow and give you an antique finish to your
box.
Add your squares randomly overlapping
squares in a haphazard pattern that covers all of the paper craft
box.
You will not need to apply the
decoupage carefully, it is very forgiving and your box can be
covered quickly by dabbing decoupage on top of each fabric square
and applying it to your box.
Finish the inside of your box
all in the same color and trim the edge carefully. If you have
creases in your fabric smooth them out to lie flat. This is especially
important around the rim of your box. The lid will not fit securely
if the fabric is not smooth.
Decoupage fabric squares on
the top of your lid as well as on the inside too. Again, I chose
to use the same color of fabric on the inside of my lid with
a collage of all the fabrics on the outside of the lid and box
for a finished look.
After your decoupage box has
dried completely. Use hot glue to add 1 inch wide riboned lace
around the edge of the lid. You can embellish the top of the
box however you wish but I choose to make lace medallions using
scraps of flat lace and sewing a gathering stitch around the
outer edge. Pull one end of the thread to gather the stitches
and create a medallion. I made two different sized medallions
and hot glued 2 inch strands of crafting pearls under the lace
medallion prior to hot gluing it in the center of the heart box.
the largest medallion on the top of the heart lid first. Hot
glue the smaller medallion on top of the large one for a double
stacked effect. Sew or Hot glue thin loops of ribbon on top of
the small lace medallion. Add antique buttons or pewter charms
to the top of the ribbon as the final finishing touch to a fancy
Victorian keep sake box.
Your box would be a fun way
to organize your jewelry and can be lined with satin or velvet
fabric instead of decoupage squares. You could also make miniature
boxes using the same method, for fabulous Christmas tree ornaments! |
Refer
The
patchwork look is a fun way to create affordable country crafts
and can be accomplished with ordinary crafting odds and ends.
You can make a beautiful valentine keep sake box using a heart
shaped inexpensive, paper crafting box, left over fabric, lace
and antique buttons! Here is a list of what you will need.