Paper Quilt Keepsake Box

Store anything from jewelry to love letters in this sweet Paper Quilt Keepsake Box from Amanda Formaro.  Create this quilting effect using a variety of paper.  Cool paper crafts like this also make great gifts for your loved ones.

Materials:

• Empty check box with lid
• Yellow card stock, 5x7
• 15 various patterned papers, 1 square of each pattern you want to use
• White craft glue
• Medium paint brush
• Pinking shears
• Liquitex Basics Gesso
• Acrylic sealer spray, matte finish

 
Instructions:

1. Remove lid and set bottom of box aside. Paint a coat of Liquitex Basics Gesso on the lid and sides of lid. Set aside to dry.
    
2. Choose the patterned papers you want to use, alternating checkerboard and gingham designs with florals or other prints. From each patterned paper, cut one 1.5" square with the pinking shears.
    
3. In a small container or bowl, mix together a teaspoon each of water and white craft glue. Mixture should look milky and have a thin, but paintable consistency. This concoction will serve as your own homemade decoupage medium.
    
4. First, lay your squares down onto the box so that you know how you want them to look.
    
5. Using the paintbrush, paint the back of one of your patterned squares with decoupage. Lay the square onto the box lid in the upper left corner. Paint more decoupage over the top of the square to secure it into place. If you started with a gingham or checkerboard, the next pattern should be in constrast, like a floral. Repeat this step until all quilt square are in place, you should end up with 3 columns and 5 rows.
    
6. Next you need to trim the yellow card stock to create an overlapping border over the quilt squares, and cover the sides of the box at the same time. First, using the pinking shears, trim the long edge of the card stock to give it the decorative edge. Lay that edge down onto the top of the box to line up where you want your border to be. Holding the card stock in place, fold the excess down over the side to create a crease. Remove the card stock from the box and gently fold the crease. Next, standing the box on end, lay the folded edge onto the top of the box and holding it in place with your fingers, fold the card stock into the inside of the lid so that you will know how much paper to trim off to cover the side of the box lid. Trim the excess, leaving about 1/4" to fold into the inside of the lid.
    
7. Squeeze some white glue onto the yellow card stock and using the paint brush, spread into an even layer all over. Line up your border over the quilt squares and fold down the rest of the card stock to adhere it to the side of the box and into the inside of the lid. Repeat this process for all four sides, you may need to closely line up the edges so that they meet and don't have any gaps.
    
8. Use the paintbrush with a bit of decoupage to smooth out and flatten down any loose edges. When dry, spray your completed lid with acrylic sealer and let dry completely.