Turned a Scrap into a Craft

The great thing about crafting is that once you start doing and then loving it, your mind opens to  manifold  ideas. These ideas start crowding the imagination that summon you to realize them and  excitedly, you just want to do it. In the beginning you don't care about perfection. All you care is the desire to create. 

Three scraps of 3/8"plywood were sitting in the closet waiting for a project to be made. Presented with a material and with the confusion of so many ideas, I had to resort to my effective narrowing crafting steps:  http://www.mycrowquill.blogspot.com/2013/07/my-first-craft-was-my-first-sale.html. The plywood was a rectangular shape. I wanted to make a wooden box but I didn't have the tools, so I figured to make a wall decoration out of it. I can not paint and ply is not the right wood to carve on so I ruled them out. Instead, I thought of a useful accessory that can be attached to it.( Take note that the five underlined words described the design of my project. ) I scrambled into my available resources and found canvas totes from a previous project. The front of the totes were silkscreened while the backs were plain so I utilized the plain sides to make the accessory. With all the major materials ready for the set up, I had to pick a client that suited the project.  Definitely, the person who loved style organizing his/her kitchen.

The making took two days including the drying time. Below was the procedure.

First, I made sure each side of the wood was straight. The wood was used and distressed showing off evident nail holes, rough texture and minor paint stains. These were not issues at all because the wood had to be painted over anyway plus moldings covered the holes.

Second, my boyfriend Kevin is an artist. He painted a faux finish that resembled a wood grain.

Third, I measured and cut the moldings around the plywood. Even better, included the front that served as a boarder. The tool I used here was a miter box with a saw. All angles were at 45 degrees.

Fourth, I upcycled unused canvas totes and made them into three  4" x 2" x 6" mini bags with a thin cardboard lining.

Fifth, I painted the moldings and stenciled rows of dragonflies in an alternate in/out position. I let the paint dry before I nailed the moldings to the ply. Then, I brushed the entire wood with polyurethane finish for long lasting protection.

Sixth, I designed the bags with cut utensils out of copper foil. Three different utensils were glued to each  bag. I used both glue and screws, to fasten the bags securely to the wood.

Lastly, I covered the back with a brown paper and attached hooks on each side for hanging accessibility. 

I was very happy with this project and made another one with a similar design (https://www.etsy.com/listing/159542780/handmade-multi-purpose-wall-decor?ref=listing-shop-header-2). With the last plywood, I made it  into a mail organizer which will be featured on the next blog. 

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HER Craft

" The journey awakens the soul " keepsake chest. Its a great treasure chest to keep memories and diary of life changing quotes/poems and events that serve as a constant reminder of life's beauty and purpose. The treasure chest is a beautiful wedding gift chest for a couple whose starting a life journey as soul mates or can also be an elegant keepsake gift chest to an individual who loves to collect soulful treasures. 

All naturally hand designed recipe box is hand carved on the sides, top and front. The twisted pair of spoon and fork with a curled tip design is slightly indented and burned to permanence. The label "Bon Appetit" in a cursive fashion is carved and burned in. The over all design has a homey, worn-out & antiquated feel yet possess unique elegance. 

This box, however, is not only limited to a recipe box,but can also be a pastry box. It's perfect to keep your baked mini pastries to bring out to the patio or garden along with your tea or coffee. It can also be a useful gift box to put in baked treats/ candies to give to friends and family.

From exterior wood color to interior design, every detail is artistically made by the hand, transforming an ordinary wooden box into an old and rustic treasure chest. The vibrant green patterns are imperfectly hand painted to blend naturally with the dull and tarnished brown exterior of the wood. The over all theme is a Vintage Memory treasure box for old pictures, cards, love letters in any occasion from special persons.

Every detail is artistically made by the hand, transforming an ordinary wooden box into an elegant chocolate brown and gold layer treasure chest sprinkled with gold dust flower design on top. The chic design is imperfectly hand painted with a smooth shimmering finish. The over all classy wrap resembles to that of a tiramisu slice. This Tiramisu Inspired treasure case, though not limited to, is a perfect gift suggestion for a chic who loves tiramisu. 

This box will make a beautiful, unique and useful gift box for your girl friend and family. Why wrap your gift if you can box it and let her keep the box as a keepsake memory box.. Make your gift special with this one of a kind wooden box.

The wood is distressed and hand carved with a picture of a nude woman decoupaged on top. It's sealed with a clear satin protective finish. The Inside top and/ or bottom of the box will be covered with your personal message which you will give to me before it's being mailed. If you want it plain, no problem. :)

From exterior to interior wood finish, every detail is artistically made by the hand, transforming an ordinary plain wooden box into a home-feel family recipe label box. The vibrant green vine leaf patterns are imperfectly hand painted to blend naturally with the earth-brown exterior. 

This handmade mini journal is multi-functional: a notebook, a sketchbook, gift tag, door tag etc. Each page is detachable for various uses and can be hung in different styles.Take this with you everyday for any inspiring subject to sketch, or write your favorite quote/saying or simply use it as a journal There are different ways to use it, hang it and even bind the book leaves however you like it. 

Handmade keepsake gift box for a younger sister turning 16 years of age. Sweet message is printed on top of the box that says:
" When mom told me 
I'll have a little sister 16 years ago,
I was the happiest brother.
I loved you even before I met you. 
Now you're a young woman,
just so you know that
50 yrs. from now, 
you will still be my little sister
and I'm still your older brother!!

I love you, sweetest sister!!! "

This is a sweet and thoughtful gift from a brother to his sister. Put some memorable things you share with your sister or use this as a gift box for your gift. Either way works as a perfect sister's gift.

Thinking of a unique gift box?! Why not have yours something personal, beautiful, useful and one thing that is memorable, Another thing that can be kept and only thing that leaves fun memories that opens with a smile and closes with a laugh! 

Item description: 

From exterior wood finish to interior design, every detail is artistically made by the hand, transforming an ordinary wooden box into an old and rustic fun memory chest. The vibrant patterns are imperfectly hand painted to blend the faux exterior of the wood. The over all theme is a Vintage Fun Memory treasure box for a special birthday celebrant.

This beautiful handcrafted gazebo bird feeder is one of a kind. Each piece of the six window panels is delicately hand painted to appear a stained glass replica. The inspiration of the design is from the stained cathedral window panels. I'm always fascinated by how lively the colors effected me. 

This piece will surely make your garden look elegant and more colorful. This will also look beautiful as an interior home decor. 

Ill be happy to make matching feeders for your garden or a matching indoor decor or a special occasion accessory. This gazebo feeder has so many different uses.

Old and Classic Granny's recipe box for an elegant Granny who rocks the kitchen with poise and grace.

Item description:

From exterior to interior design, every detail is artistically made by the hand, transforming an ordinary box into a classic recipe box. The pale yellow leaf vine patterns are imperfectly hand painted to blend with the faux finish. The entire interior is lined with elegant floral design. The box is designed for precious granny's recipe collection.

Black and White 2-tier Keepsake Box is coated with a clear satin polyurethane finish for a long lasting protection . This item can be personalized upon request with a monogram in black carved on top of the small box. The smaller top box is glued and screwed to the bigger bottom box so that these two boxes is a fixed pair.

Free initial Monogram carving. 

Check individual prices at www.etsy.com/shop/BellaFinesse
We accept custom orders and bulk orders at great discount.

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Rugged with Classic Elegance

It was quite a stretch of time.Finally, I finished it! The design is a twisted tree branch sculpted around the body of the box. On top is a decoupaged picture of a naked woman enclosed with two stencil designs carved on opposite corners. It was quite a procedure doing this. Since  it was my first sculpted box, I wanted to keep a memory of this in a blog.

The theme as always was a challenge. But, I'm glad I blogged my previous activity, I'm constantly reminded on how to begin a project. I was already sure of myself that I wanted to sculpt so I browsed on books and looked for a simple design. Walla!!! the twisted tree branch caught my attention. It looked easy yet challenging, so I began.  

First, I applied  faux finish around the exterior of the box. Since I wasn't able to get a picture prior to carving, let me show you how a faux finish looked like  (this was actually my first faux box). It was the same procedure I applied. Instead of the brown color, I used thulian pink. I had to play with different color combination to come up with the color shade. I basically used wood stain, white acrylic, red and white oil paint.

After the faux dried, I drew the twisted branch design around the box. The drawing was my reference for carving. On the right shows my work table.  You can see my Dremel 4000 hanging conveniently in place, clamp light, pencil, Dremel bits inside the blue cases, my unfinished boxes. Now here, I want your attention on the bottom box because that's how the box looked like when I started carving the design. You  also notice my wood burning tool, the one with an orange handle. I didn't do any wood burning on this project, but since its in the picture, I may as well just  introduce all that's seen on the table. Of course, how can I work without my cup of coffee?...... Am i missing anything?
Normally, this table is covered with wood dust when I play with my Dremel.  

After I completely carved around the box, I attended to the top. I wanted to finish it with a classic, vintage appeal. I pulled one of my stencils, transferred it on the box and carved out the negative space. Nearly to finishing it, I focused on a clientele. All of a sudden, I focused on me. How would I have finished it if this was made for me? I was already in love with the carvings, the distressed surface and the color. It looked classic and vintage and generally feminine. Despite the distressed treatment , I wanted it to look soft and delicate. It was absolutely contrasting but can be done. So I picked a picture of a nude woman. I overlaid an oil paint mixture of  yellow ochre, white and orange that blended with the background of the picture and softened the texture on the top. The nudity was a bold expression of womanliness and that's what I wanted the box to possess.  I wanted it to make a statement if it was to be placed on a woman's dressing table. Finally, I finished it off by glazing the entire exterior with a clear satin polyurethane for a long lasting protection.  

If this box is to be personified, she is a beauty with a classic radiance, shrewdly flawed with a  rugged character that epitomize manly traits, however, doesn't overpower her sophisticated femininity.

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My First Craft was My First Sale

All of the wooden craft boxes that I design are bought raw and unfinished like the picture below. They come in different styles, sizes and shape. In fact, the box in the picture was actually the first box that I crafted and was my first sale. It was sold three days after I posted it on www.etsy.com/shop/BellaFinesse

In the beginning, the thought of designing the box was overwhelming. There were so many ideas and I was clueless how to begin.  I had to start somehow and to make that happen, I had to narrow down  the myriad of concepts into a concrete theme. To do that, First,  I had to know what materials/tools were available for me to work on.  Second, I had  to figure out what approach I can utilize with the materials/tools on hand? (This part could still be mind-boggling especially if you have too many stuff but to make it easier, pick ONE tool/material, even if that means you have to play "Mini Mini My Nimo"). Well as for me, my attention was drawn to a stencil. Third, once I had decided which main material/tool to use, I thought of a general design, vintage? modern? country? bold? etc. Since what I picked was a vintage stencil, I decided to have a vintage design.Fourth, I had to figure out what kind of  clientele I'm marketing this to.  This helped me narrow down to a theme. Since it was my first box, I wanted to play safe. I wanted it simple and general, nonetheless appealing so I decided on a "Vintage Memory" theme.  

In this design, I picked wood finish stain for it is a safe yet beautiful color to work on any design. It's also natural, hence its acceptably trendy with any vintage stencil. I picked green and brown to highlight the stencil because earth colors bring out  serenity to the spirit.  I artificially stained the paper and burned the sides to conceptualize a vintage memory which is also the inscription inside the keepsake box.

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