Lavender Roses Keepsake Box

©Michele Emerson-Roberts  2014

I love the look of monochromatic color schemes and will often make 5-10 sheets in a color range at a time, adding more white scrap with each additional batch of slurry. I usually do not know what project I will be using the papers for, but trust that they will speak to me at a future time and tell me what they want to become. This time I knew exactly what I would be doing with them. The little box is an empty face powder container that my “baby” sister (who knows not to toss anything until I see it) saved for me. Imagine how pleased she will be when she receives this keepsake box for her birthday.

Supplies:

• Any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits
• Blender, small strainer, cello sponges and soft towels, scissors, paper cutter
• Beacon Quick Grab™ and ZipDry™Adhesive, double sided foam tape or foam dots
• Scraps* of lavender, pale green and white paper (think colored junk mail, etc.)
• One old lavender report folder (*the lavender scraps I used in making the paper were from this folder)
• Dies: Spellbinders™ Bitty Blossoms and Circles (to correspond with the size of the box), CherryLynn™ Tiny Leaf Strip & Rose leaves
• Spellbinders Grand Calibur™ Machine
• ColorBox™ Chalk Ink pads in Lavender Blue and Warm Green
• ColorBox™ Stylist handle with white foam tips
• 12” Metallic Gold cord
• Posey Bender™ bow maker
• Spray bottle and water
• Small round box

Directions:

1. Follow the direction for paper making and casting found in any of the Arnold Grummer paper making kits or books to create one sheet each of light, medium and dark lavender paper and one sheet of pale green paper.
2. When the paper is dry use the Bitty Blossom die and the Grand Calibur machine to cut one small rose from each the lightest and the darkest colored lavender handmade paper and one of the smallest roses from the medium lavender colored paper.
3. Use the Stylist handle and foam tip to add touches of the Lavender Blue Chalk ink to the edges of the flowers.
4. Follow the direction on the die package to assemble the three roses. Roll one tiny rose bud from a scrap of dark lavender paper.
5. Use the leaf dies to cut numerous leaves from the pale green handmade paper.
6. Use the Stylist handle and foam tip to add tiny touches of the Warm Green Chalk ink to the edges of the leaves. Mist the leaves with water, manipulate to shape, set aside to dry.

(Note: always save even the tiny scraps and put them back into your paper making bens. Save the larger scraps for use in later projects.)

Assembling the box:

1. From the Lavender folder; cut circles the needed size for the top and bottom of the box.
2. Cut a strip the length needed to cover the side of the box. Attach with ZipDry™ Adhesive.
3. Attach the strips of tiny leaves, rose leaves and roses to top of the box, allow some of the leaves to cascade onto side of box.
4. Tie the metallic gold cord into a tiny bow and tuck it in around the roses.