Dragonfly Papier Mache Box

An antiqued effect turns a plain mache box into a pretty keepsake box adorned with colorful dragonflies. Follow this tutorial from Tiffany Windsor of Inspired at Home.

Materials

• Mache box with lid
• Acrylic paint – ivory, lt. turquoise, apple green, fuschia, lavender
• Brush – ½” flat
• Blue low-mask painters tape
• Cosmetic sponge – cut into quarters
• Antiquing gel
• Wet wipes
• Stencil – dragonfly
• Aleene’s® True Snow
• Palette knife
• Waxed paper [or paint palette]

Instructions

1. Paint mache box inside and out with ivory paint. Let dry. [You can use hair dryer to speed up the drying process.]
    
2. To stencil the dragonflies, place stencil on box lid. Tape to hold in place. Dip palette knife into Snow and spread over stencil design. Lift stencil to reveal design. Repeat stenciling. Let Snow dry completely.
    
3. Use paper towel to spread antiquing gel over entire surface of lid. Let sit for a few minutes and then gently dab with wet wipe to remove antiquing gel to create mottled effect. Let dry.
    
4. Lay stencil back over dragonfly designs. Place small puddles of acrylic paint on paint palette. Dab sponge into paint and tap sponge on palette to spread paint evenly on the surface of the sponge. Gently dab color on stencil. Do not press too hard or the paint can seep under stencil. Repeat with each color. Lift stencil to reveal painted dragonfly!
   
   

Tiffany’s Designer Tips: When applying your paint to stencil, dab a little color here, a little color there! The random coloring creates a pretty effect on these dragonflies. You can use this technique on lots of different surfaces including the wall!