I'm struggling with a name for this new DIY project: scrap boxes, matchbook memories, mini shadow boxes...ugh!
I have always liked the idea of assembling memories in a lovely and creative way, but have not gotten around to scrap booking. So I came up with an idea to commemorate my daughter's birth and baby years in a way that suits me best. I never actually made a "baby book" for either daughters and honestly can't believe that I still have not gotten around to it.
This assemblage of scrap boxes incorporates memorabilia from a couple of years and includes all sorts of keep-sakes and tokens of personal significance that I've collected for my daughter. Using boxes allows me to display some items that would otherwise not work as well in a book format: map and coin from Costa Rica (ahem....the Country where she was "made"), identification anklet from the hospital, baby spoon, photos, magnetic letters that represent names and dates, and a few other special symbols.
THE DIY:
If you have a few little boxes and some small memorabilia and ephemera, then you are 70% there! Gift boxes for jewelry work especially well, but making your own little boxes is just as great.
As you can see, this cigar box houses some of our special things.
Lining the inside of each box is pretty easy. Simply outline the box on decorative paper of your choice and provide allowance for the four sides. Cut off 4 corner squares then glue down:
Decorate each box as you would a shadow box making sure to place elements in the background and foreground to create interest. Now you can GLUE GLUE GLUE to your heart's desire. You can glue pictures, ticket stubs, shells, toys, stamps, etc.
Experiment with a pleasing arrangement by pinning boxes together with clothespins or binder clips. Then glue gun together one box at a time. And lastly, pin wire through two holes of a cardboard so you can hang the scrapbox. The cardboard and wire should be glued directly behind the center box using glue gun or epoxy.
Voila!
