Fith upcycled chocolate covered cherries box

I started with an empty chocolate cherry box. I had another chocolate covered cherry box that was coming apart, so I cut it up and used it to reinforce the one I was working on. I covered inside, outside and lid with old sketchbook paper using mod-podge.

I painted the entire box with gesso, and then using a dry brush I partially painted the box with blue paint.

I took some non-slick pages from magazines that I had painted and cut them into strips.  I glued the green paper in place on the bottom of the box, then weaved the purple strips through them, then glued all the paper in place using mod-podge. I then cut open a cheez-it box and painted the inside yellow. I cut the box into uneven strips and glued them to the sides and front of the box. Using bubble wrap as a stamp, I applied some orange to the strips. Next I shaded all the strips and gave them shadow and highlights.

Third upcycled chocolate covered cherries box

I started with another chocolate covered cherries box; I cut the lid off. I reinforced the box and lid with mat board, then covered lid and box with used sketchbook paper. Then I painted everything with gesso. Next I took an old gift card and pulled blue and green paint over inside, outside and the lid. Next I put down four layers of magazine pictures using gel medium. After each layer I would sand some of the paper off using sandpaper. On top of the lid I used heavy paper and ripped off part of the paper. I did not sand the top of the lid, I liked the layers.

I made three hinges out of heavy paper and glued them on the lid and back of the box. I then painted the hinges to match the box.   

I glued yarn on the inside of the box and lid to keep the lid from opening to far. 

I put an eyelet in the lid’s flap, and thread wire through the eyelet. I made a bead drop and attached it to the wire.

I like this lid the best so far.

Fourth upcycled chocolate covered cherries box

I started with a chocolate covered cherry box; I cut the lid off. I made a new lid out of mat board. I reinforced the lid and box with heavy mat board. Then I covered lid and box with cotton fabric.

I painted the inside of the box with blue gesso; I left some of the fabric showing. I painted the outside of the box with blue gesso. I cut a strip of peach fabric with white strips and glued it around the center of the box. I put a smaller strip across the back of the lid. I cut a half circle of peach material. I saturated the half circle in mod-podge and glued it to the lid scrunching it up to make wrinkles.

I painted the peach material with red acrylic paint, starting dark on the edges. I added shading with black and white acrylic paint.

I finished the box off with turquoise and white yarn, wrapping the yarn around the lid and center of the box.

Second Upcycled chocolate covered cherries box

I started with another chocolate covered cherries box, I kept the lid on this one, and reinforced the entire box with sturdy cardboard.  I then wrapped the entire box with old sketch paper to keep the cardboard in place. I painted the entire box with pink tinted gesso.

I glued beaded fringe on the edge of the sides and front of the lid.

 

I had a watercolor that I had painted that was pretty, but just not very interesting on it’s own. I cut the painting up to fit on the sides and lid of the box. I glued the watercolor onto the box using mod-podge. After the watercolor was in place I painted on it using black ink and acrylics. 
My idea for the design was pearls and ribbons, but I’m not sure if that is how it turned out. I do like it though.

Upcycled chocolate covered cherries box

I think that the chocolate covered cherries box is the perfect size for a little jewelry box. So I decided to get several and use them to try out some new techniques. 

The first box I reinforced with black mat board I had left over. For the out side and lid design I used a collage that I made.

 

 I cut the collage into panels to fit on the sides and lid of the box. I put a yellow wash over the geometric shapes on the collage to help them stand out. I also added some shadowing. I cut some strips of red card stock to cover the corners and the edges of the box and lid. 

I made the lid out of mat board, the top is covered with the collage and the inside is covered with red card stock. I glued a flat marble on the top of the lid to match the orbs in the design.

I covered the bottom of the box with the same red card stock. I applied a black wash over the card stock to age it.

The glue I used showed up on the black mat board, so I painted over it with red paint.

Upcycled 12 pack box

I enjoy making the boxes out of the of the 12 pack containers. It is a simple process, and when you are finished you have a 3D canvas to work with.

I decided on a depth for the box (about 4 inches) and then folded the rest of the cardboard into the box for reinforcement.

For some reason that eludes me, there were four phonebooks left on my doorstep. I like to wrap the boxes I make with paper to help glue the cardboard in place. I used the paper from the phonebooks because I had a lot to spare.

 

I cut up an old canvas with my exacto knife for the lid.

I then covered the box and lid with slick pages from an old magazine using mod-podge.

I wanted to paint on the box, and it is hard to paint on slick pages, so I painted the box and lid with gesso that I colored with some red acrylic paint.

To give the box some texture, and to lighten the color, I covered the box and lid with yellow tissue paper.

Using pastels, permanent markers and colored pencils I colored the box and lid. To start with I tried to follow the pattern from the magazine pages. I did not like how it turned out, so I covered everything I did not like with more tissue paper and gesso.  Then I just painted random shapes around the veins from the tissue paper.

I was happy with how that looked, so I sprayed box and lid with sealant. I love how this box turned out.

Upcycled 12 pack 7up box

I love how this box turned out! I made a simple box, then I used it to try out some ideas I had.

 

I started with the cardboard box that cans of 7up come in.

I decided on the height I wanted the box to be, about 3.5 inches. Then I measured another 3.5 inches for to fold over. I cut the along the corners of the part I would fold over.

I folded the top half over, then glued it in place using Mod Podge.

I reinforced the bottom by gluing leftover cardboard on the bottom of the box.

 

I glued resume paper to the entire box, but you could use any paper you wanted to. I then painted the box inside and out with gesso.

I then glued stain glass scrapes to the box using a clear glue for glass. You don't have to use stained glass, flat marbles or pieces of pottery would work.

I then added some orange paint to Laticrete wall grout and mixed it up following the directions on the box.  You don't have to ad the paint to the grout, if you want to buy pre-mixed grout you can paint it when it dries.

Next I removed most of the grout from the glass, and painted inside and out with liquid acrylic paint.

To make the lid I cut a piece of orange stained glass to fit. I covered the edges with copper foil then tinned the foil. I applied copper patina to the solder. If you want a stained glass lid, but don't have stained glass around like I do, you can go to a stained glass shop and ask them to cut you a square to fit your box. Or you could make the lid out of cardboard or chipboard.

I used scrap glass for the lid, you could use flat marbles or broken pottery.

I glued the stained glass and flat marbles to the lid using glass glue.

I painted yellow over the grout to make it a lighter orange, then I painted red under the glass and light yellow over the glass to give it a shadow effect.

 

Upcycled cigar box becomes a Halloween box

Something about this box said spooky to me. I think it is because when I was little my aunt had a bank that was shaped like this box. You would put a coin on the top and a hand would come out of a trap door on top and take it.

I painted the lid and inside of the box black and the outside of the box orange. Then a orange wash over the black lid.

 

I was trying a crackle effect with glue and black paint on orange, but it did not work.  I wanted cracks, I just got patches where you could see the orange.

I still wanted the box to be a Halloween box, so I decided that I would messure off some watercolor paper to fit the sides.  Then I picked my favorite Halloween icons, Jack-o-lantern, boogyman, black cat and eyes in the dark. I drew zentangles around them and colored them in using water soulable markers, watercolor pencils and black ink.

 

I  glued the watercolor zentangles onto the box using mod-podge. I used clear acrylic sealer to seal the watercolor then I put a coat of mod podge over the outside of the box to ensure everything stays in place. 

I like how the box turned out, even if it is not what I was planning on.