The lids of the paper mache boxes were the most fun of all the Christmas crafts I put together. Decoupaging is so much easier now than it ever has been in the past because there are so many stickers available thanks to all the scrappers and card makers out there (nearly no tiny detail cutting necessary). In the photo here, I have two different sets of stickers shown, but I did use three different sets of stickers (all purchased at Michael's, a local craft store). The vintage looking cards shown were cut from wrapping paper found at Hobby Lobby, another local craft store. Each lid made was different, but only slightly. They all had the same ribbon around the edges and the same music paper, but the placement of the stickers and the cards are really the only differences.
I decoupaged the vintage cards on first after taking the time to get the music paper on the lid just right. Once the cards were in place, I took the poinsettia stickers and placed them around the lid. I then took a sticker or two from the other vintage sheet of stickers to place on the box. After all of these stickers were in place, I then decoupaged the side of the lid and put the ribbon around the edge. Once the ribbon was smoothed out and in place, I decoupaged over the entire lid and let it dry. The following day I placed a few stickers from the final sheets (not quite puffy, but definitely not flat) and then sprayed the whole thing with a clear acrylic sealer coat.
The sealer is to cover the tackiness of the paper mache box after the box had been decoupaged. I'm not sure if it was because it was windy outside or if it was because it was cool outside the day I sprayed the sealer, but at least one of the boxes is still tacky. I think all it should take is another coat of the sealer and it will be fine. I just hope they don't want me to fix it since a) I'm out of sealer and b) it's in the Great White North and I am not.
My sisters raved at how wonderful the boxes were. I seriously had so much fun making these. I love that the design was all mine, that there was no looking in a book for the directions for this. I certainly want to do decoupage again, although I'm not sure what design or theme to go with. I suppose I'll figure that out when the mood strikes to finally get one started.
In the meantime, it's time to catch up on sleep, send out Christmas cards (yes, I realize I'm late), and work on the knitted baby blanket for my niece. Pictures of the boat blanket to follow....
The sealer is to cover the tackiness of the paper mache box after the box had been decoupaged. I'm not sure if it was because it was windy outside or if it was because it was cool outside the day I sprayed the sealer, but at least one of the boxes is still tacky. I think all it should take is another coat of the sealer and it will be fine. I just hope they don't want me to fix it since a) I'm out of sealer and b) it's in the Great White North and I am not.
My sisters raved at how wonderful the boxes were. I seriously had so much fun making these. I love that the design was all mine, that there was no looking in a book for the directions for this. I certainly want to do decoupage again, although I'm not sure what design or theme to go with. I suppose I'll figure that out when the mood strikes to finally get one started.
In the meantime, it's time to catch up on sleep, send out Christmas cards (yes, I realize I'm late), and work on the knitted baby blanket for my niece. Pictures of the boat blanket to follow....
