Christmas Oddities Box by Gloria

Hello, it is Gloria with you and I have a Christmas home decor item to share today.

I used the House Oddities Box to create a table-top (or mantle-top) decor piece that is also a storage box! The box measures 6 1/2" x 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" and comes with a chipboard door and seven (7) chipboard house shapes. (I am using the houses for another project.)

The box is the perfect size to store a candle, some gift tags, or even one of those creepy Elf on a Shelf dolls! I decorated with a gold, black, and red scheme, with lots of sparkle and bells!

Let's get started!

Wipe down all the box pieces to remove the soot from the cutting process. Glue decorative paper to the inside surfaces of all the pieces, including the inside of the lid.

Assemble the box. I reinforced all seams with washi tape. This also helps to hold the box together while the glue sets.

Attach the lid to the box. I used washi tape to create a flexible hinge for my lid.

Mark where you wish your door handle to go and drill holes through the lid and the decorative door piece. I used an anywhere hole punch to create my door knob holes.

Cover the outside surfaces of the box with decorative paper. I adhere my paper with a matte gel medium, using a foam brush.

Use various inks (or paints) to color your chipboard accent pieces. To color the door, I sponged on various red pigment inks, allowing them to dry between coats.

I used white ink to color a bird cage from the Ornamental Birdcages Shape Set. While the ink was wet I heat embossed the birdcage with shabby embossing enamel. I repeated the process, using white ink and white embossing powder on snowflakes from the Snowflake Shape Set and the Winter Shape Set.

I selected "two turtle doves" from the Birds Shape Set and colored them with gold pigment ink.

Glue the door to the box lid. Add a decorative knob.

Create a "wreath" for the door. Start with the ornamental birdcage. Glue a chipboard or other decorative sentiment to the right side of the birdcage. Layer snowflakes and a large flower. I added a jingle bell to the center of one of the snowflakes. Add the birds in the next layer, using foam tape or scrap chipboard to lift them off the base. Glue metal bells and a loopy bow to the top of the birdcage.

Glue the decoration to the door, making sure to avoid the area around the knob. Add more decorative elements, as desired. I added more velvet leaves, a pine cone, and a few Christmas do dads.

Wrap gold ribbon around the top and sides of the box, securing on the bottom. Create a large bow from the gold ribbon and glue the bow to the top of the box.

Add Christmas sprays and do dads, as desired. I poked through my stash of Christmas odds and ends to create my box topper. I wanted to stay in the gold and red theme. Everything is attached with hot glue.

If you want to use the box for storage, make sure you do not accidentally glue the door shut! Use black ink to cover any raw chipboard edges. I wrapped the sides of my "door frame" with the gold washi tape. (I wish I had inked it with the black ink instead.)

Thanks for looking!

~ Gloria Stengel: Scraps of Life

Supplies Used:

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts:
House Oddities Box
Ornamental Birdcages Shape Set
Snowflake Shape Set
Winter Shape Set
Birds Shape Set

Partner products:
Graphic 45 papers: St. Nicholas 12x12 pad
Graphic 45 chipboard: St. Nicholas Decorative Chipboard
Graphic 45 washi tape set

Other: shabby embossing enamel, white embossing powder, pigment ink (white merlot, cranberry, gold), black dye ink, gold ribbon, twine (red, sparkle, gold), craft bells, various Christmas floral elements, metal door knob, matte gel medium, wet glue, hot glue