embellished box tutorial

Embellished Jewelry Box

I like to use small jewelry gift boxes (the one in the photos is 4” x 4”) for this project. I prefer to use the kraft boxes or papier mache boxes because I like the color and texture and you don’t need to prep the box in any way before starting. But you can use any box you like, as long as it is sturdy. If it has a glossy finish, sand it lightly before beginning. Also, if there is a pattern in the box surface, it may show through the ink. I've also made a 7”x7” box for the book I made for my daughter’s first birthday – click here to check it out.
Materials Papers – scrapbook, collage, pages torn from books, any kind of paper will do. Rubber stamp inkpad – gold (I like to use Colorbox). Rubber stamp inkpad – color of your choice. This color will be used to ink the box. Embellishments – rhinestones, buttons, flowers, stickers, anything reasonably flat that can be glued. Ribbon – of a width that will fit the sides of the lid. Optional – an almost-empty rubber stamp inkpad in gold.
Tools Scissors – the kind made specifically for cutting paper. Scrapbook glue – I like to use Dab'n Stic Scrapbook Glue. Embellishment glue – I like to use Decorator’s Solution Scrapbook Perfect. Krylon Matte Spray. Work surface – I like to use foam board. Sandpaper - only if your box is shiny or glossy. Optional - paper trimmer.
Resources AC Moore – general scrapbooking supplies. Joann’s – general scrapbooking supplies. Joggles.com - papers and embellishments. Stampington.com – papers, embellishments and inks. Addictedtorubberstamps.com - papers and inks. Artchixstudio.com - collage papers and embellishments.
1. Begin by deciding which papers you want to use. I start by choosing a focal point - I love to use the collage sheets from Art Chix for this purpose. You can use anything you like for a focal point, and of course you don’t need a focal point if you don’t want one. I then choose a paper for the background and two or three others from which I cut out elements to use. For this box I used a picture from an Art Chix collage sheet, some scrapbooking papers, and some artist's papers from Somerset Studio magazine. Once you’ve decided on your papers you can choose an inkpad color.
2. If your box is glossy or shiny lightly sand it with sandpaper.
3. Dab the color-of-your-choice inkpad all over the box, including the bottom. You don’t need to completely cover the box with ink. I like to go heavy on the corners and edges, and light over the top, bottom, and sides. Let the pieces dry for 20 minutes.	Inking the box.
This is what it looks like after inking the entire box.
4. The ink needs to be sealed or it will smudge and rub off. Spray the entire box with the Krylon Matte Spray. Be sure to use the spray according to the directions and in a well-ventilated area. Let the box dry for 20 minutes. Spray again. I find that if I spray the box only once the ink still comes off. Two sprays seem to work well, although I occasionally have needed to spray a third time.	Spray the box with Krylon Matte Spray.
5. Cut out a piece of paper for the background. I cut mine a bit smaller than the top of the box so that the ink around the edges of the box shows. Cut out any other papers or pictures that you want to use. Decide on placement as you cut out the pieces. You can also tear the paper or use decorative-edged scissors; for this box I tore the cream-colored paper.	Cutting the background paper.
These are my cut-out pieces of paper.
6. I like making things that have an old appearance, so I have an aging process that I perform on the papers. First I gently crumple the papers just a tiny bit (I don’t crumple my focal point though). Then I take an almost-empty gold inkpad and rub it on the papers here and there, and in a few places I push the paper all the way into the inkpad to make gold blotches. If you don’t have an almost-empty inkpad, you can instead apply ink from a regular inkpad with your fingertip. Dab your fingertip onto the inkpad and then gently wipe the ink onto the paper. Once I have inked the front of the papers, I take my regular gold inkpad and ink all of the edges.	Before the aging process. This picture shows my almost-empty gold inkpad.
Applying the ink to the paper.	After applying the ink.
Inking the edges of the paper.	All the papers, after the aging process.
5. Using the scrapbook glue, glue the background paper on to the top of the lid, followed by your other papers. I like to put the glue along the edges, and then I make an "X" across the entire piece of paper. After each piece is glued on, I run a brayer over it to smooth it down. Let the glue dry overnight, then spray the top with Krylon Matte Spray. Let dry for 20 minutes. Repeat.	Applying the glue.
Smoothing the papers down with a brayer.	After gluing on all the papers.
6. Using the embellishment glue, glue on any embellishments you want to use; you can also apply glitter glue and/or stickers (you can use the aging process on the stickers too). I like to glue my stickers, just to make sure they won’t fall off. Glue ribbon around the sides of the lid. I especially like using the Decorator’s Solution Scrapbook Perfect glue for the ribbon, because it doesn’t leak through. To glue the ribbon I start at the halfway point on the back of the lid and then work around from that point.	The finished box. I kept my embellishments simple, adding only a rhinestone and ribbon.
Enjoy!	Side view.