Tuesday, 14 September 2010

Bothersome box

Last weekend was the annual 'Bring and Hol' day where you dump all your old stuff for free and pick up anything that takes your fancy. I've been on the look out for a 'Setzkasten' for a while, they're very popular here to hang and keep ornaments in. My luck was in (or so I thought) as I brought this one home.


I painted it, and painted it and painted it again and then I painted it and oh, did I mention? I painted it and painted it again! honestly the wood was such poor quality that I may as well have been painting the bathroom sponge! just a tad absorbent, even after assorted painterly products! Now I know why the guy at the Bring and Hol was telling his friend NOT to take the box! and here was me thinking you just have to know what to do with these things, nothing that a bit of TLC won't fix...

I gave up trying to paint the back of it and settled for covering it with sheet music which took on a nice tint when the wood came in contact with the Gel Medium! saved myself the expense of walnut ink, ha! the paper also covered up the splinters!

Anyway, now it's up on the wall I'm delighted! I was going to scrap the individual squares but I've decided to leave them plain and let the ATC's and matchboxes do the talking, just the perfect place for my tiny treasures!


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29 comments:

Heloise said...

It looks wonderful!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

It's amazing how some wood has that spongy quality and no amount of paint will cover it. Your solution of sheet music is wonderful. I love the completed piece and it is perfect for these treasures from others. Perfect!

ShabbyChicShaz said...

Oooo love how you've finished this box. I picked up one of these a while ago and have been wondering how to finish it, mind if I use yours as inspiration?

Lotus said...

Awesome!
I love this! I never saw such a large one. I'm used to the small ones that hold thimbles and stuff...
Looks great!
Lotus

~*~Patty S said...

beautiful transformation from the dark wood Margaret and what a perfect holder for bits of this and that handmade! Loved the closeup :)
oxo

Karen said...

grrr....blogger misbehaving again so I hope this gets to you! I am so pleased that you carried on with this one...it looks gorgeous with all your pretties in it Margaret! XXX

Carola Zajdman said...

Wonderful !! I have the same one, may be smaller than that. I love them !!

JaN's ArTy JouRneY said...

OMG, Margaret that is lovely - Glad you perservered with the painting!! It looks Great!

..and what a coincidence too, I've just got my hands on a printers tray as well... and like you want it to display some little crafty treasures....Mmmm wondering if I should paint it now LOL!!

Jan x

Sherry said...

Oh what a wonderful find, it looks great!

Linda Jo said...

It looks perfect..you did know what you were doing...after all! I need to send atcs to you now!

Joanna said...

It was worth all the effort - look at that beauty now. I've got an old printers tray on my wall, unpainted. The wood is lovely but I was thinking of painting it creamy white - yours looks so lovely but am I prepared for so much hard work......?!

You've got some beautiful goodies on it already!

x

Alisa Noble said...

What a brilliant idea to keep your ATCs and matchboxes in it!

magsmcc said...

I'm just delighted to learn the technical term for this sort of a thing! Couldn't aspire to what you have done with it!

Jen xo said...

ooooh but it was all worth it Margaret. what a delightful way to store all your treasures.

I liked the close up too ;)

Halle said...

I think it turned out wonderful. The sheet music solution was very smart!

Unknown said...

All's well that ends well. Your display box look wonderful! You can't go wrong with sheet music!

She Who Doodles said...

awesome, a great way to display all your tresures.

Cindy Adkins said...

Hi Margaret,
Wow, I love this piece...so fantastic!!! And I love how you altered it. I've got a cute surprise for you to see on my blog...I thought you would smile to see my dresses, so hope you'll pop over.
Hugs
xox

Dagmar said...

Hi Margaret,
I think you did a great job...looks great..wish we did that here, I just donate stuff to our local thrift shop, they raise so much money for the various things they sponsor.The trick is trying to drop more things off than you bring back home. I have added you to my blog roll..my new NZ/Swiss connection...from your Canadian/Swiss buddy!
Ox

carole brungar said...

My such gorgeousness on your wall!!! It must be such a burden to be so clever! LOL xP

ale said...

HOLA MARGARET!!!! how beautifull itself and with your creations is completely beautifull!!!!!!
l have one similar that belongs to an old print!! this things are treasures that can ispires you a lot!! l love this founds!! muchos besos and a very happy weekend!!

Ashlyn said...

this is such an awesome idea! thanks for sharing it! :)
Hugs, Ashlyn

BadPenny said...

Fabulous ! I wouldn't have the patience to paint it though.
I have an old printer's compartment tray & all through my teenage years it housed tiny ornaments.

Now I display corks in it - such lovely designs on them ! It makes quite a feature & everyone comments on it.

Oxana said...

It looks wonderful, Margaret!!!
Hugs
Oxana

Lydia said...

Love how your box turned out! I'm looking to do about the same for mine, but in black. Great idea on the back. Also good to save the walls.

Cynthia Schelzig said...

What a fantastic way to display the "goodies"...looks fabulous!

Jana said...

Wonderful. I love it. Amazing how much paint dead wood can absorb!

Marva Plummer-Bruno said...

Oh this is fabulous! I have several of these, will have to try spraying one white! Great idea for ATCs and matchboxes! Marva

Unknown said...

I love this too.......what a transformation!