Christmas Ornament Keepsake Box
You worked hard making perfect ornaments for your loved ones; now make this decorative box to store and protect your delicate creations.
Present Tense
You have to buy special stencil paints and brushes to make clear and clean stencils. Stencil paint is dryer and doesn't smear the designs. You may have to peel a thin protective layer from the top of new stencil paints with your fingernail or tweezers.
Present Tense
A spouncer is a tool used for painting stencils. It looks like a round sponge attached to a wooden handle and comes in different sizes. You can use this tool for pouncing, stippling, or swirling on paint. The spouncer uses less paint than paintbrushes and does a good job covering the stencil area without smearing it.
Time frame: Two to four hours
Level: Moderately easy
What you need:
- Unfinished wooden or cardboard box
- Sandpaper
- Cream-colored craft paint
- Paintbrush
- Stencils
- Stencil paint
- Stencil brushes or spouncers
- Clear acrylic finish spray
- Raffia filler
- Red silk bow
- Sand any rough edges on the box with sandpaper. Paint the box with cream-colored paint and allow it to dry.
- Place a Christmas stencil on the box and hold or tape it in place.
- Use the stencil brush or spouncer to apply stencil paint to the stencil area.
- Remove the stencil, being careful not to smear the design. Allow the paint to dry.
- Spray the box with clear acrylic finish spray and allow it to dry for at least five hours.
- Add raffia filler and ornaments and tie the box together with a big red ribbon.
Excerpted from The Complete Idiot's Guide to Making Great Gifts © 2001 by Marilee LeBon. All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. Used by arrangement with Alpha Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
To order this book visit the Idiot's Guide web site or call 1-800-253-6476.
