If you are as painfully sentimental as me, you have hoarded a lot of old cards and ticket stubs. A friend suggested having a little memento box to store everything in, and while I really liked the idea, I ended up using that as inspiration for a gift instead of making one for myself. I swear I’ll clean up my room someday and make my own keepsake boxes, but until then, it’s a bit of a ‘do as I say, not as I do’ situation when it comes to staying organized.
- 21.2cm x 20.5cm x 4.5cm Wooden box
- 0.7mm PC-1MC Uni POSCA Markers (colours: Black, Red)
- 19.6cm x 18.9cm Liner paper
Because my drawing skills are subpar at best, I decided to decorate this box with a quote instead. I also knew that I would need to jazz up my printing somehow, so I defaulted to my typical faux-calligraphy technique. I don’t know if anyone else does this, but I will find a font I like, and then draft out how I want the word to look by imitating the font and artificially creating the thick and thin portions of the upstrokes and downstrokes. I find this easier than actually writing the word in one attempt and keeping it consistent throughout the word.
In hindsight, I wish I would have finished the wood on this box with clear sealant or something before writing on it. The wood grain was a little less fine than I would have hoped, and the marker tip actually snagged on the imperfections in the wood, resulting in some accidental splatters. I wonder if a different marker would have been less messy, as I used a water-based paint pen which may have been more prone to spraying and blending. I made the choice to use the POSCA marker because it was stated as suitable for wood, and I didn’t want to take my chances with a Sharpie (alcohol-based). If anyone has suggestions about what markers to use on wood, I’d be open to it!
After tackling the outside, I changed my focus to the inside. Obviously the dimensions of the interior are different than the exterior, so just keep that in mind when measuring your decorations. I ended up going with this floral patterned wrapping paper that I had handy, and I honestly think it instantly elevated the appearance of the box from unfinished to refined. I just love the contrast it has against the wood! I ended up lining both the top and bottom of the box, but only grabbed a picture with the top completed.
This box obviously has a lot of personal significance for me and the gift recipient, and the design elements were chosen intentionally. I think that’s the true magic of handmade gifts. There is so much room for love to be poured in at every step, from the conception to the gifting, and everything in between. As I was working on this box, I kept joking that this was the cheesiest thing I had ever made, but what’s wrong with that? It was really fun to make and hopefully it will be a functional gift that doubles as storage AND sentimental value.
Until next time, happy crafting!