23 July 2023

Transforming Old Boxes

Happy new week everyone!

I'm pretty sure you know my love for crafty recycling. I'll always look at an item's potential before I categorize it as "trash." After all, everyone and everything deserves a second chance.

recycling a box, turning a plain box into a gift box, gift wrapping ideas, paint, paint brush, rubber stamps and ink pad, flowers, hand lettering, brush lettering, white pencil, blah to TADA

Take this box for example. Now that the contents (screen protectors for mobile phones) have all been used, what purpose does it have?

Time to turn it from blah to TADA! 

recycling a box, turning a plain box into a gift box, gift wrapping ideas, paint, paint brush, rubber stamps and ink pad, flowers, hand lettering, brush lettering, white pencil, blah to TADA

Paint is one of my favorite solutions for giving things new life.

recycling a box, turning a plain box into a gift box, gift wrapping ideas, paint, paint brush, rubber stamps and ink pad, flowers, hand lettering, brush lettering, white pencil, blah to TADA

I painted the outside of the box with several coats and put it aside to dry.

recycling a box, turning a plain box into a gift box, gift wrapping ideas, paint, paint brush, rubber stamps and ink pad, flowers, hand lettering, brush lettering, white pencil, blah to TADA

Once the paint was dry, I decided to add some hand lettering. First, I outlined with a white pencil.

recycling a box, turning a plain box into a gift box, gift wrapping ideas, paint, paint brush, rubber stamps and ink pad, flowers, hand lettering, brush lettering, white pencil, blah to TADA

Then filled the letters in with paint.

recycling a box, turning a plain box into a gift box, gift wrapping ideas, paint, paint brush, rubber stamps and ink pad, flowers, hand lettering, brush lettering, white pencil, blah to TADA

I also added a polka-dot border on the other side of the box, the area where I'll write the recipient's name and address (if it will be mailed). 

flowers,recycling a box, turning a plain box into a gift box, gift wrapping ideas, paint, paint brush, rubber stamps and ink pad, flowers, hand lettering, brush lettering, white pencil, blah to TADA

Here are some flowers achieved by a rubber stamp and ink pad. Instead of cardstock, I recycled the blank side of food packaging...TADA!  

recycling a box, turning a plain box into a gift box, gift wrapping ideas, paint, paint brush, rubber stamps and ink pad, flowers, hand lettering, brush lettering, white pencil, blah to TADA

Cut out the flowers and glue them to the inside of the box. Stickers are another fun alternative.

recycling a box, turning a plain box into a gift box, gift wrapping ideas, paint, paint brush, rubber stamps and ink pad, flowers, hand lettering, brush lettering, white pencil, blah to TADA

Fill the box with little surprises, cards and letters...just some of life's simple joys.

recycling a box, turning a plain box into a gift box, gift wrapping ideas, paint, paint brush, rubber stamps and ink pad, flowers, hand lettering, brush lettering, white pencil, blah to TADA

You can secure the box with a ribbon before handing it to your loved one or seal the edges with packing tape and mail like a regular envelope. 

recycling a box, turning a plain box into a gift box, gift wrapping ideas, paint, paint brush, rubber stamps and ink pad, flowers, hand lettering, brush lettering, white pencil, blah to TADA

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

I used a similar technique to transform this cookie tin, lip balm tin and clementine crate.

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2 comments:

  1. It's darling, Claire! (This is Priscilla by the way. Using my pen name today for fun.)

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    Replies
    1. I appreciate your weekly notes Priscilla/Vera! I really do!

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