Plain Box to Painted Gift Box

Whenever I come across an empty box, I'm always thinking of how I can turn it from blah to TADA! I've given old boxes new life by making them into a jewelry box, storage box, recipe box, twine box, and packaging boxes countless times. 

Here I am again, empty box in hand.

I peeled off all labels so that it's a blank box. 

Next, I added several coats of paint. 

Then I let the paint dry. 

I added another layer of paint, this time in a stripe pattern. (If you've never tried this, the repetition is very meditative).

I painted another set of stripes in the opposite direction to make this checkered pattern...TADA!

I found a sheet of white tissue for gift wrapping and painted a green checkered pattern, too.

The paper and the box are matching...TADA! 

Remember this book filled with food-themed paper goods? I used it in a recipe exchange project and to make birthday cards. 

There's a page with these cardboard embellishments. They are meant to be cupcake toppers but I'll use them as stickers.

I wrapped a gift with the checkered gift tissue, nestled this in the box, and used the cardboard apple as a seal (held in place with glue)...TADA!

I closed the box and decorated it with more cardboard cutouts attached using glue.

I hope you agree that this has become one adorable gift box.

And that is how I turned a plain box from blah to TADA!

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Four Things for November

 I love this time of the year! 

Public spaces are decorated with pumpkins, mums, corn stalks, and scarecrows -- the hallmarks of autumn.

You can even feel it indoors. This is a seasonal display at the library featuring books with orange covers!

I can't help but crave for fall flavors like pumpkin pie (or cheesecake) and apple cider. 

And because it's the month of Thanksgiving, I will always feel a sense of gratitude. Especially to you, my dear readers, for keeping me company on this creative blogging journey.

Let's continue to turn whatever is "blah" to "TADA!"

Ideas for Halloween

Halloween is upon us and I get why it's a favorite time of the year for kids and adults. We get to decorate, we get to dress up, we get to party, and we have lots of candy at the end of the evening...TADA! 

Here are a few ideas to get into the Halloween spirit:

Do some Halloween crafting. This is a trick or treat pail made from an empty yogurt container, dressed up with paint and ribbon...TADA! You can try this version decorated with felt or this bag made from a tank top, too.

Walk around the neighborhood and admire the decorations. I love the effort everyone puts in transforming their houses from blah to TADA! But I do wonder where they store all these spooky creatures.

Join the trick or treating crowd...TADA! Meet your neighbors, compliment the cute (or frightening) costumes, and celebrate community. 

Appreciate the shops that prepare treats for their customers. These are chocolate and Gachapon capsule toys from a Japanese supermarket...TADA! 

I wish you all a Happy Halloween!

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Painted Paper Collage

As a creative practice, I like to freely paint on paper. Sometimes, I'll do it in my sketchbook when I have a vision in mind. 

 

Other times, I just take some scrap paper (brown paper bags, packaging paper, pages from an old book, etc.) and draw repeating patterns using a paintbrush and paint. Because the paper isn't precious, I'm out to play and make marks. No pressure, no perfection.

It's sometimes a surprise that the patterns that come out reflect my state of mind and turn out quite pretty. I always save these painted papers in a box, taken out when I need to make greeting cards or gift bags. 

Perhaps I can showcase them in my art journal. This is an old book that I bought at a thrift shop. I toned down the pages with a layer of gesso, just enough that the words are still visible, then I let the pages dry.

I trimmed my painted papers into two-inch by two-inch squares. 

I glued them on the pages of my art journal...TADA!

They look like a quilt.

Or a little art gallery just for me. The paintings are my humble masterpieces, after all! 

Painted papers in punchy patterns. That is how I turned some scrap paper and my art journal from blah to TADA!

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Perfectly Personal Pouches and Bags

Hey, hey! I love me a fabric pouch. They are very useful to keep make-up, stuff for travel, and crafting supplies.

This is a pouch given by a dear friend. Isn't the color combination super cheerful? And it's personalized with my name...in embroidery!

Because I had some tassels on hand...

I felt the need to embellish my pouch.

Now it's extra, extra cute.

I use it to organize my pen collection...TADA!

Another friend gave me this set -- a pouch and coin purse. I love the mandala-style design and of course, the personalization! It's pretty as is but don't blame me if I add a zipper pull, too.

Another gift I received from a friend is this reusable bag packed up neatly in a personalized pouch. I love that she picked it just for me and the floral-print is so lively! I'm not sure about the adjectives that describe my name: self assured and calm. I'm quite the opposite, struggling with imposter syndrome and bouts of anxiety. But it's a reminder that I have to power through my demons. 

Another dear friend made this for me using her Cricut machine. We both share the love of crafts and gift each other stuff that we've made...TADA!

Hooray for personalized gifts! 

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Three Things for October

October has arrived and these are the thoughts on my mind:

Cozy things like afternoon tea. It could be a date with the girls at a favorite tea shop. Or maybe assembling one at home with ideas from this cookbook using thrifted teacups and saucers. A little ritual like afternoon tea can turn the colder temperatures of October from blah to TADA!

 

Birthdays! A lot of people I love were born in October and I can't help but celebrate them through birthday cards (if they live far away) or eating birthday cake. A new year added to one's life is definitely TADA! If YOU are an October baby, I wish you lots of love and a very Happy Birthday! 

via Pottery Barn 

Halloween decorations using upcycled materials...TADA! I'm inspired by these ghosts that can be displayed on a window or the front porch. We can make them using a styrofoam ball for the head, wire hangers for the arms, an old bed sheet or ratty fabric shower curtain for the body, and the eyes and mouth can be drawn with a marker. I just love crafty and resourceful ways to decorate.

Have a spectacular October!

An Ode to Candle Snuffers

Hi there! Today, let me tell you about something that I absolutely love. 

It's a candle snuffer...TADA! 

It's an object used for extinguishing a candle's flame. No need to blow the candle out and there is less smoke in the air.

This is how I like to style my candle tray on a coffee table or console table. It includes a small tray acquired from thrifting, a sweet-smelling candle, a box of matches (a restaurant souvenir), and my candle snuffer...TADA! 

Honestly, it's unnecessary, a little frivolous, but it's so pretty with its graceful architectural details. 

Here are some beautiful ones that I've come across:

via Anthropologie

via Anthropologie

via Anthropologie

via Anthropologie

via Anthropologie

via Zara Home 

via Magnolia Hand and Hearth at Target

via Magnolia

via Magnolia

A candle snuffer (and thoughtful styling) turns the everyday from blah to TADA!

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You may subscribe here if you'd like my future blog posts delivered straight to your inbox and you can follow me on Instagram for more crafty ideas.