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.