Art Break! - Sleigh Gift Box and Present Gift Box

This is a two part post!

Part 1: Sleigh Gift Box

This is a simple idea for when you have a gift already purchased for someone but want to add a little extra effort/ personal touch to it.
Great for a hamper and/or you have many boxes in your house (certainly saves on wrapping paper).

To start, get a box big enough to hold your gift/s.

Standard box.

Then use a marker to draw where you need to cut to make the box into the right shape. Don't worry about the marker being all over the box, this puppy is getting painted.

Cut off the excess box and cut out the runners and other decorative bits you want from the scrap cardboard.

I cut out one side and used it as a stencil for the other to get close to symmetry.

I'm going with a gold and red sleigh, but you can pick any colours you like.
I painted the outside of the sleigh red, the inside gold, and the accessories gold.

Then we glue our accessories on and Voilà!

Runners are up on the side because I don't need it to be like a real Sleigh.

Then you just load up your goodies, add a little tissue paper, and you have a festively prepared gift!

Part 2: Present Gift Box

This is for when you have a box that fits the item perfectly and don't want to use wrapping paper.
A more structured twist on the classic look.

I painted the box itself blue (because the recipient's favourite colour is blue).

I cut up an empty toilet roll (it was just going to be recycled anyway) into the loops and curls of a ribbon and painted them gold.

I also cut out some stars from some thin cardboard and painted them gold too.

Finally, we glue the 'ribbon' and stars on and done!

I love the way it looks!

Verdict: They loved them!

Art Break! - Advent Calendar

I wanted to make a advent calendar for PB and I, so I started by buying a cheap chipboard one off the internet.

When it arrived it was poorly painted, which was ok because we are going to repaint it.

I painted the doors red or green.

And painted the doorknobs gold.

I made a little wreath to attach to door 24.

And a little stained glass window.

I put '24' on in gold, like a house number.

I painted the holder light yellow and wrote numbers on the door with a white paint pen.

I then made a little tree and painted some cats to look like the twins.

I made a base of foam and cardboard, which I then painted green.

The base tree and Phil's butt.

With baubles.

Before paint

Done!

All together! The snow is ripped up cotton balls.

And when it's all put together:

Verdict: PB loves it!

Art Break! - Facinator for Miss Buttons

I wanted to make a facinator for Miss Buttons.
I was thinking turquoise, fish, the sea, and Comrade (her pet cat).

I got some plastic cats and picked one out to be painted to look like Comrade.

And I painted him up to look like him:

I also got some plastic fish to paint.

I used some florist wire to stiffen some ribbons.

I was so glad this had a narrow nozzle instead of a wide pad.

I also got some shells that I don't think I'll paint.

I will use some thin wire to make it look like the fish a swimming.

With the fish, I found they were too heavy :( so I made some little foam fish.

Let's begin the assembly!

I made a base out of foam and attached it to the headband.

I then added my wired ribbon, shaping it into a geometic/gemstone like shape.

I then covered this base with sand.

I opened it at the wrong end. Phil also ate some :/

We add our little Comrade

And our shells.

I love the natural colours of the shells!

I also made a little seaweed out of florist wire and stuck it on some foam.

With bonus Phil paws!

I added sand to the base and wrapped the wire in string.

How lovely is this colour!

I attached it to the headpiece (as one would).

Then we add some extra ribbon, the white looks a bit like fishing net but more organic.

I added an extra blue coil to look like water.

And we add the fish!

As I put it together, I decided I really didn't like the fish.
Everything else on this piece was realistic looking, the fish looked out of place.
I had to change them.
I needed to know that I made this as best as I could.

So lets try these little guys.

That's so much better!

Finally some blue glass beads.

All done!

To pack it, I put it in fish tissue paper :D

I added some white cotton ribbon around it and a little fish on top!

I also sprinkled some hearts and stars on top.

Verdict: This was tricky and took a while to complete, but it was well received! :D