’tis the season.

Published on by Quandie

‘Tis the season for the ever popular gift exchange.

For a recent gathering I attended I needed to bring an item for a gift exchange, so I decided to turn a wooden recipe box from the thrift store into my contribution.

After giving it a light scuff sanding and wiping it down with a damp cloth, I painted it in two coats of Dixie Belle’s Drop Cloth.

Next I added a small bit of wording from the I.O.D. Melange paint inlay.

I applied most of it to the top of the box, but there was a bit leftover and that went on the front of the box.

Once the paint inlay was applied (see full instructions for applying a paint inlay here) I gave it a quick spray with some Rust-Oleum clear matte spray sealer to seal it before moving on to add the floral transfers.

The florals are all from the Dixie Belle Evergreen and Holly transfer, which I am nearly out of now.

I sanded the edges of the box to distress it a bit, and then finished it off with some clear wax.

I then lined the inside with some October Afternoon scrapbook paper.

Before gifting the box, I added some shredded book pages and a pretty glass ornament.

The theme of this gift exchange was supposed to be ‘favorite things’.

First of all, DB’s Drop Cloth is my favorite warm white paint color.  Their Evergreen and Holly transfer is my favorite Christmas floral (oh, how I wish they’d brought it back this year!), October Afternoon was always my favorite brand of scrapbook paper (and sadly, they have gone out of business), and that style of typography from the Melange paint inlay is my favorite as well.

So yeah, I think I nailed it, from a ‘favorite things’ point of view anyway.

I’m always a little nervous about whether or not my style meshes with that of the recipient, but I think this one was a hit.

And hey, remember those old paint brushes I purchased at the estate sale a week or two ago?

I thought it would be fun to dress one up with a couple of Tim Holtz transfers and use it to embellish the wrapped gift.

It maybe wouldn’t be the right look for just any crowd, but this particular gathering was for my fellow vendors at Reclaiming Beautiful (the shop where I sell some of my merch), so I figured they would share my affection for a worn out old paint brush.

How about you?

27 thoughts on “’tis the season.”

  2. What a fabulous gift to receive! The paintbrush is such a clever touch….like everything you do! Very Merry Christmas to you and Mr. Q.

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  6. The recipe box is gorgeous!! The ornament a plus. Working on accepting the beauty? of old paint brushes…….. just not there yet:)

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