Decorative Boxes: To Create, Give and Keep

Offering instructions for a variety of projects, a guide to box making includes embroidery, applique+a7, painting, stenciling, lacquering, gilding, shellwork, and decoupage techniques, and includes advice on box collecting and preservation. Original.

Fabric, wood, metal, and cardboard can all be turned into unique embellished boxes, and this book presents some good ideas on how to do it. Paints, embroidery, gilding, wood burning, mosaics, shells, and dried flowers all find attractive uses as adornments on boxes of many shapes and varieties. Some projects call for preexisting boxes; most explain how to make the box itself as well as the embellishments. The opening chapter is filled with beautiful photographs of historic boxes and contemporary art boxes, along with illuminating text on traditional uses (from blanket chests to tea caddies to money boxes). There's also a nice closing section on collecting and caring for boxes of numerous types.