Tidying Up my Bits and Bobs by Jennie

Hello Everyone and welcome on this last day of November - how the weeks and months seem to fly past!

We made a conscious decision recently to try and find storage in our house for the many bits and pieces that seem to get left around and I was looking for something to keep some of the little things that hover on the dressing table - earrings, a favourite brooch, necklace. All the things you wear quite regularly but don't seem to get put away.

I decided that the smallest of the lovely Calico Craft parts book/box kit would just fit the bill and so had great fun decorating it to (sort of) fit in with the colours in that area of the room.

The kit is very easy to assemble. I decided to put the box together first and then paint it as it wasn't too fiddly. I painted the insides all the same colour and scuffed it up a bit to make it look old!

Then the fronts got some crackle - I used DecoArt Crackle Paste with a palette knife as I thought this would be the easiest way of keeping that lovely spine. I was a bit haphazard about how I applied it as I wanted it to look distressed.

While the paints were out I painted some thick card with the same paint and then crackled a bit of it in order to cut out a leaf.

And then it was down to decorating the front - some of my usual suspects! and of course the lovely word element which got painted in the same chalk paint but then got sanded to look distressed.

I wanted to leave the inside with plenty of room to keep things. So a favourite photo on some torn book paper fitted the bill for the box.

And the opposite side a few more favourite elements and stamping.

Here are some more close ups:

I can't wait to play with one of these little boxes again and I already have a great idea which I will share next month. A little box like this would make a lovely present either for Christmas or a birthday and I am sure will be much loved by anyone receiving it.

Thank you for joining me today and I hope I have given you some ideas.

Happy crafting!

Jennie x

Live the Dream

Calico Craft Parts Used:

MDF Book Box Kit : Small

Apothecary Word Elements