Treasure Box

Crafty Girl and I were inspired during a weekend scrapbooking retreat a few years ago.  A group of ladies, who come back every year, have a tradition of bringing small gifts for each other.  Our eyes widened as one woman showed us all of the wonderful things she was given over the years.  We decided our next retreat would be the beginning of a great tradition.

Since I treasure my time scrapbooking with friends, I decided to make a treasure box, full of button, brads, and eyelets.  We did set a price limit of about $10.  Luckily, I already had most of the materials on hand.  It was a big hit and a fair amount of work!!  I found these in Michael's, but you can go to the wood section of any craft store to find ideas.  The good news is that raw wood is reasonably priced.  The bad news is that you have to sand it down.  The edges are generally very rough.  Thin sanding sheets are easy to find in nearby aisles.  The difference in appearance makes it well worth the time and effort.  Then, pick your stain and get the job done.

Once I was done sanding, it was time to Mod Podge.  Our monthly features with Mod Podge Amy offer many great tips and she has an AMAZING website that you need to see.  The basic idea is to cut the paper that you want to use into the exact shapes and sizes you'll need.  I like to cut out pieces of the design for special decorations.  Coat the wood with a layer of the sticky glue with a brush or sponge.  Lay your paper into place, smoothing out air bubbles.  Add another layer of Mod Podge to the top of the paper to seal it into place.  I added letters to my drawers and some glitter glue...to give the surface some dimension.  Then, I labeled each treasure chest with the name of my friends, using wooden stickers.

I meant to make four treasure boxes...one for myself.  My procrastination resulted in a last-minute dash to get the boxes done.  In the end, I was sacrificed.  To this day, when I look at the pictures of my handmade gift, I am jealous that all of my friends have one and I don't.