Do you ever find yourself wandering the aisles at a craft store, looking at all those different shaped boxes and mini shelves made of wood and cardboard and wondering, what on earth would I do with that when I finished it? Here is one idea, which makes a personal and useful gift for a loved one.
A Birthday Box
It’s like a recipe box, but instead of dividers for salads, mains and desserts, you have tabs for each of the 12 months. There are index cards in the box, filed under the appropriate month and ordered by date (I put mine in the top right hand corner). For example, my birthday is December 7th, and so if you wanted to remember my birthday you would write up a card for me with a number seven on it and file it under December. You can also include gift ideas for me that I might mention during the year, or even keep track of what you have done for me in the past. You can jot down anything you’d like, because you can always start another index card for me once this one gets old or full.
How a Birthday Box Makes Life Easier
Just before December comes along, you can look it up in your birthday box and count how many people you know are having birthdays that month. That means only one trip to the card shop, which saves you time. Or, perhaps you’d like to set aside a craft night for yourself and make a bunch of cards for the month. No more birthdays sneaking up on you, which is nice.
This is a great project to make for yourself, as well as for others. Odds are they don’t already have one, it’s personal, it’s useful, and it’s something they can choose to display or keep safe and special inside their desk drawer. I really love having beautiful containers inside the drawers and cabinets of my studio. It reminds me of secret doll houses.
Gather Your Materials
- A plain wooden box(often found at craft and art supply stores)
- A set of 12 index dividers that fit the box (either 3×5 or 4×6) and index cards of your choice. You can buy these at most office supply stores. Choose a size and color that is easy to find so that your friend can always get refills. Just make sure your cards fit the box.
- Art supplies (paint, pencil crayons, glue, magazines or other collage materials, etc.)
- Optional: If you really want to polish it up, use some kind of clear top coat or glaze to protect what you’ve done. I use an acrylic varnish by Golden, which I love and use to seal paintings as well. If you do that, remember to use waterproof materials that wont run and smear when you varnish.
Personalize the Box
There is no right way to decorate your box. Have fun and be as creative or sentimental as you’d like. Here are some ideas:
- Write all over the box, write all the things you love about your friend, write about giving, friendship, or choose a quote that suits the occasion. Handwriting is personal and beautiful.
- Collage the box. Cut out images from magazines that have beautiful photos of celebrations in them, like Martha Stewart’s Living. Pictures of wrapped gifts, baked goods and flowers will mark the box for birthdays without any words at all.
- Use photographs (or copies of photographs) to personalize the box.
- Paint the box in any way you choose, use lots of colour or the signature colour of the recipient.
- Collage the box to look like a wrapped gift using beautiful scrapbook papers.
- Scrapbook supply stores are fantastic for text and decorating ideas.
- Mix it up! Paint, then collage, then write, then paint some more. Enjoy the creative process and decide when you feel like it’s finished.
- Don’t forget about the inside of the lid! An excellent place for a loving message or special image.
- Nervous? Play out these ideas on a scrap piece of pine before you begin on the box, and see how different techniques behave on the wood. You may find inspiration while you play that you hadn’t thought of before.
And while you’re at it, why not make one for yourself?
That is what I did as a trial run before making a Birthday Box for my mom. Not that my mom ever needed reminding that my birthday was coming up, I just knew she would love one.
Give Green
It’s already a box. It’s already beautiful. Save the paper, packing and tape!
To complete your gift, tie a nice ribbon or piece of yarn around your Birthday Box to keep it closed and it’s gift-ready. Be sure to include a little description of your gift and how it is used inside the box along with your card.
Lovely!
Recommended and Related
Recycled Crafts Box, by Laura Martin
Photo by ali edwards.
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