Harvest Boxes


A unique way to store odds and ends, these boxes will bring a touch of Fall into your home or fill with special gifts for your Thanksgiving hostess.


What You'll Need
Tulip Soft Fabric Paint: colors to coordinate with ribbon, I used Linen, Berry Red, Golden Tan, Gold
Aleene's Glue Sticks
Aleene's Quick Dry Tacky Glue
3 paper mache stacking boxes
Paintbrush, foam
Foil
Sea sponge
4 metal leaves that have weathered look
Grapevine, small diameter
Moss
Pinecone
Toothbrush, old
Garden shears
Ribbons: 1" wide plaid (to coordinate with paint colors), 1" wide solid (to coordinate with plaid), 2" wide with motif (to coordinate with plaid)
Tape measure
Scissors


How to Make It

1. Paint all box lids and small box bottom Linen, using foam brush. Let dry.

2. Place small puddles of Golden Tan and Berry Red on foil. Wet sea sponge. Wring dry. Dab sea sponge in both colors of paint. Dab off excess on foil. Dab colors on lids. Let dry.

3. Apply accents across raised areas of leaves, using finger dipped in Gold. Let dry. Glue leaves on top of small box. Glue grapevine pieces at center of box. Glue moss to cover ends. Glue pinecone at center.

4. For small box bottom, mix a wash of Berry Red and water. Dip toothbrush bristles in wash. Apply speckles of wash on box, pulling back bristles, using your finger. Let dry.

5. Cut several small pieces from grapevine, using garden shears. Gather pieces together in a small bundle. Tie at center, using plaid ribbon. Make four bunches. Glue bundles on sides of small box, spacing evenly around. Let dry.

6. For medium box bottom, glue 2" wide ribbon around sides. Glue grapevine pieces to cover long edges of ribbon along center of box. Refer to photo.

7. For woven ribbon on large box bottom, measure height and circumference of box. Cut ribbon slightly longer than measurements. NOTE: Number of ribbon pieces will be determined by size of box.

8. Glue one end of each long length on box. Glue lengths from edge to edge of box. Weave short lengths over long lengths. Occasionally, tack in place, using glue. Overlap ends and glue on box.

9. Glue a random pattern of small grapevine pieces into woven ribbon.

Wedding Gift Wrap & Centerpiece Idea

It's wedding season! Do you have a wedding gift that you want to wrap in a special way or need a unique bridal shower centerpiece? This 'cake' is paper mache boxes frosted with Aleene's True Snow with silk flowers and trim glued on for color.

Someone saw the photo and thought it was a real wedding cake. I love it!

Here's What You'll Need

Aleene's True Snow

Aleene's Fast Grab Tacky Glue

3 Paper mache boxes (I used 12", 10" & 8")

Flat edge knife

3-1/2 yards of 1/2" wide braid (color to go with flowers)

Silk flowers, ivy, large leaves

2-1/2 yards of 2" wide ribbon (floral)

2" x 3" cardstock

Pen

Here's How to Make It

Frosting - Apply Aleene's True Snow to sides and lids of boxes, using knife. Apply Snow thinly below rim of box so lid will fit. Let dry. You can also mix acrylic paint with the Snow before it's applied or brush on after its dry.

Icing - Glue braid 'icing' around edges of lids. Glue two pieces around 12" box. Let dry.

Assembly - Glue top of large lid to bottom of medium box and top of medium lid to bottom of small box. Refer to photo.

Flowers and Greenery- Glue flowers and ivy on top of cake lids. Glue large leaves around edge of large bottom box.

Ribbon - Cut 15 (3") pieces of ribbon. Glue short ends together, crimping ends to gather. Glue randomly among flowers.

Cut remaining ribbon in half. Glue on top of cake allowing streamers to cascade down sides of cake.

Card - Write names on card. Glue flowers and small piece of ribbon to card. Glue to top of cake.

Place your gift in the boxes and you'll have a beautiful 'present'ation or place where you need a splash of color at the bridal shower - this will be the perfect keepsake for the couple to keep their wedding mementos. This would make a great birthday presentation too!

Enjoy the moment!

Joan