Well, Ladies and Gentlemen, I got fed up with finding my bonnets squashed at the bottom of my trunk. I sprang for a cardboard, undecorated hatbox at the craft store, and just spent the day with a bottle of Mod Podge, a sponge brush, some paper napkins, and some tissue paper. What fun!
Garment Data:
– Type: Hatbox
– Date made: (well, decorated, really) 12/07/13
– Pattern:
– Fabric: (materials): Cardboard hatbox from craft store, paper napkins, fancy tissue paper (more like lightweight wrapping paper, actually. I was disappointed), Mod Podge.
– Trim: Lace, knit lacing.
– Time to finish: One afternoon.
– Notes:
Well, I forgot to take a “before” picture, but here’s the LINK: JoAnn’s Hat Box.
I then started with a base layer of red for the bottom of the box, and a tissue paper with swirls for the sides and top. Autumn-themed paper napkins (and some careful scissor work!) provided the leaves and the leaf-strewn stripes, and a Valentine’s-Day-Themed napkin provided the hearts for the bottom.
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| Halfway done. On the left, you can see that the red of the bottom is completed, as are the basic patterned sides. (Yes, the hatbox is upside down, for drying purposes.) You can see I’m toying with the placement of the hearts at this point, and how exactly they will be handled (there was a pink center to them that I was unsure of. I ended up cutting it out, and am pleased with the results). On the right you see the lid. It has the same base pattern as the sides of the box, and a criss-cross of orange leaf-patterns. Then there are four maple leaves, cut from paper napkins, placed in the quarters. You can see a spare leaf on the lid — it will end up on the sides of the box, along with seven others! |
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| The finished box, complete with eight maple leaves, and a knit fabric corner protector. |
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| And the bottom. Note that the hearts are just outlines, giving a very subtle effect. |
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| The lid. Yep, even mod-podged (is that a verb?) lace to the edge! |
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| The completed box! No handle, but not sure of the best way to add one. For now, it will serve beautifully to keep my bonnets from having to be reshaped before each event! Hurrah! |
Most sincerely yours,
~ Sarah