Corded Boxes

Materials:

6-sided ivory-colored papier mache box
acrylic paint
8-1/2" x 11" sheet double-sided industrial-strength adhesive
Mizuhiki paper cords
scissors or personal Sizzix die-cutting machine
4-circle die
clear glue
Glue Dots
brayer

1. Paint six-sided papier mache box with pearl turquoise paint. Paint lid also (figure B). Let dry. We did not paint the inside of the box.

2. Cut a sheet of industrial-strength double-sided tape into four pieces approximately 4" x 5". You will probably have a little bit left over for another craft use.

3. Lay one tape sheet on work surface. Peel off one side of the backing sheet so that sticky side is up (figure C).

4. Lay paper cords on sticky tape sheet. We used three colors (green, blue and metallic blue). Lay several down at one time, being sure to keep them straight and very close together (figure D). Our pattern was a random one. (In other words, we didn't have one!)

5. Use a brayer over cords to be sure they bond well to adhesive.

6. When one 4" x 5" sheet is full of paper cords, cut out four circles using personal die-cut machine (figure E) or turn paper cord sheet over and draw four circles of assorted sizes and cut out with scissors (figure F).

7. Repeat with more 4" x 5" adhesive sheets until you have enough to cut the number of shapes that you need for your box (figure G) (we used 9-1/2 circles on our box).

8. Peel the remaining backing sheet of each of the circles and place them randomly on box lid and sides of box. Use half circles on edges (to give the illusion the circles are falling off the box) (figure H).

9. Tie six knots in a piece of green paper cord. Cut each knot off the cord as you make it. Attach knots with a Glue Dot to each of the six sides of the box lid (figure I).

10. Run a bead of clear glue along bottom edge of box and attach a paper cord. Repeat along edge of lid for a finished look.