Recyclable art, that to me is the ultimate in papercrafting. To create something beautiful out of what some would consider junk. So here is a plastic box that used to be filled with Mozart chocolates.
What to do with it? I just couldn’t throw it away, the box was too nice and the shape was just lovely. I go to a lot of trouble to create a hexagonal box out of cereal boxes and here is a box already done. A bit of paper, a pair of scissors, mulberry paper, some string, ribbon and glue could make a gorgeous gift box for your collection.
Since I do a lot of digital scrapbooking, I decided to use a paper from a digi-kit Serendipity by Karen Lewis available at The Digichick (http://www.thedigichick.com/shop/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=122&sort=add_date&sort_direction=0&page=3).
I love digital kits because I have an unlimited source of papers. I live in Europe where scrapbooking/craft papers are usually imported and the costs can be prohibitive. Digital papers are still very inexpensive, can be used over and over again, a green alternative to papercrafting, AND, you can get it any time of day or night just by downloading.So, I have drafted a pattern for you for this box (it’s a hexagonal box from Mirabell Mozart chocolates). The larger hexagon is for the boxtop and the smaller one is for the bottom. The sides, I did in two pieces. If you are using this pattern with your own papers, just print out and use like a template.
Download template here:
http://www.4shared.com/file/Ti9Tr3CW/ViVa_Mozart_template.html
If you wish to use digital papers, you can download the Photoshop files from ViVa Artistry (http://vivaartistry.blogspot.com/2010/05/mozart-box-reuserecycle-tutorial.html) so you can just clip and print.
1. Cut out all pieces. Do the sides first. Take one of the rectangle pieces and glue to the sides with edges hanging over the top and bottom. The edges will be folder over. When you have glued it all on, work on the top edge next. Snip at each octagonal edge with scissors. Fold each side towards the inside and glue down.
2. Do the same on the bottom. Take the bottom hexagon piece and center it and glue it down. This will make the bottom nicer looking.
3. For the top, center the larger hexagon to the lid and glue down. Fold the edges over, clip at each side and glue down. Trim the bottom edge using the lid as a guide. Allow to dry before you place the lid back on just in case of excess glue.
4. For the flower, I used a tutorial from Jessica Okui (http://zakkalife.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-to-tiny-delicate-tissue-flowers.html). It’s a simple and quick way to make a gorgeous paper flower. I used mulberry paper instead of tissue so it came out a bit more rigid and not so delicate.
I hope that this tutorial will make you rethink the possibilities of packaging that you would normally throw away. Reusing is green, reusing is fun, reusing is creative. Think how you can make junk into treasure!
