Something from Nothing – Altered Pencil Boxes

Are you ever stuck for gift ideas? Or have an idea but cannot find what you’re looking for? We’re sure that everyone has been in a situation like this. Frustrating, isn’t it? But there is a way out! Kerstin-Inga Peters shares with us her way of making a present that she couldn’t find anywhere. With just a couple of Dollar Store boxes, Tattered Angels paints and bits and pieced from 7gypsies, she turned plain boring containers into steampunk inspired pencil holders than many can only dream of.

Make sure you you use the inspiration that you’ll no doubt find here!!!

I was on search for a new masculine gift idea> I wanted it to be practical and not too colorful. As I could find anything that I liked, I decided on a new upcycling project in industrial grunge style for which I used two gift boxes with no lids from a $1 Shop. – shares her inspiration Kerstin.

For this project Kerstin used:
gift boxes without cover
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist – Woven Burlap
7 gypsies Architextures Findings – Tin Ceiling Tiles
7Gypsies Ordre Du Jour Collection – Seize the Day paper
Canvas Corp Artsy Sampler on Kraft
DecoArt media Gesso white, Crackle Medium Weathered Wood, Chalky Finish Paint Timeless
Sizzix Dies ‘Gear’
Tim Holtz ‘Paper dolls’
Inka Gold ‘Hämatit’
black textured paper, corrugated cardboard
chipboard ‘Friend’ + Embossing powder
metal embellishments
old bookpages + grey and black acrylic paints for inner part
glue, brush, scissors, Cuttlebug

Add a thin layer of white gesso and allow time to let it dry completely.

Now add a thick layer of weathered wood crackle medium.

Tear various size pieces of cardboard and glue it on the sides.

Paint the whole cox with Chalky finish ‘Timeless’.

Use gear dies on a self-adhesive textured paper. They’ll look so realistic when added to the project!

Start the decorating by adding the prepared embellishments and stickers.

Use Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist and spray it about the whole project – now the fine cracks of the crackle medium become visible.

Use a cut out from 7gypsies Ordre Du Jour Collection – Seize the Day, glue it on a piece of thick cardstock, add with a 3D pad on front side so it looks like a real drawer. I also used a photo of a little boy who is sitting on the box, a metall embellishment and a chipboard covered in embossing powder. To finish, I rubbed metal gloss paint ‘Hämatit’ over the rough surface using my fingers.

I followed the same process for the second box but instead of corrugated cardstock I used pieces of old book pages and different decoration elements.

What an amazing transformation! We’re sure you also have something lying around in your cupboards and drawers that can so easily be turned into an awesome vintage steampunk inspired masculine gift.

For more ideas, visit Kerstin’s blog and Instagram.

Happy crafting!

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