Project Information
I am trying to think outside the box (sorry.) I always make boxes. Always mitered corners, always splined, never painted or stained, just clear finishes. Usually hinged, never latched, and seldom with a handle. Lately I have been making toys, bird feeders, jigs, and a variety of other things away from my box fixation.
My lovely and talented wife has taken up carving, so back in December I thought I'd make her a box to hold her stuff. I decided to make it out of plywood. What? Yep.
I had some 1/2" primed plywood (pretty nice stuff) from Home Depot, and started construction. It was to be about 12" x 9" x 8". It would have a tray and a handle. It would also have a clasp to keep it closed while carrying. I decided to paint ti in some fancy design to both make it girly, and to make it attractive.
After completing the unpainted box, I filled some voids, made a base for it, and primed it with gray Rustoleum inside and out. Then I set out to find a cool design that I would paint on it. After lots of surfing I found a great artist and settled on this design:
I then decided that with all the shading and technique involved, Maybe I would get some help. I know a local artist, so I gathered up one of my nice finished boxes and took it and the primed box to see him. He liked the idea and accepted my finished box as payment for him painting a loosely interpreted version of the artwork onto the box. I mocked up my vision of the finished product and gave it to him:
Her birthday was about 9 days away, and he graciously agreed to get it finished. That was asking a lot of him. Well, that time frame came and went, as did two weeks, three, four, etc. Then one day bam! He called and said it was ready. As you can see from the photos, he nailed it.
I love it. She loves it. Mama's happy, everybody's happy.
I am so glad I tried this. I can guarantee you it will not be my last painted box. It is a show stopper in person. People will love it. Next time I will try the painting. bright colors and brilliant shading… that's my goal.
For the hardware I used a drawer pull for the handle (had to build it up a little, standard clasp from any hardware store, 3" hinges, and my standard chain.
I hope you like it.
My lovely and talented wife has taken up carving, so back in December I thought I'd make her a box to hold her stuff. I decided to make it out of plywood. What? Yep.
I had some 1/2" primed plywood (pretty nice stuff) from Home Depot, and started construction. It was to be about 12" x 9" x 8". It would have a tray and a handle. It would also have a clasp to keep it closed while carrying. I decided to paint ti in some fancy design to both make it girly, and to make it attractive.
After completing the unpainted box, I filled some voids, made a base for it, and primed it with gray Rustoleum inside and out. Then I set out to find a cool design that I would paint on it. After lots of surfing I found a great artist and settled on this design:
I then decided that with all the shading and technique involved, Maybe I would get some help. I know a local artist, so I gathered up one of my nice finished boxes and took it and the primed box to see him. He liked the idea and accepted my finished box as payment for him painting a loosely interpreted version of the artwork onto the box. I mocked up my vision of the finished product and gave it to him:
Her birthday was about 9 days away, and he graciously agreed to get it finished. That was asking a lot of him. Well, that time frame came and went, as did two weeks, three, four, etc. Then one day bam! He called and said it was ready. As you can see from the photos, he nailed it.
I love it. She loves it. Mama's happy, everybody's happy.
I am so glad I tried this. I can guarantee you it will not be my last painted box. It is a show stopper in person. People will love it. Next time I will try the painting. bright colors and brilliant shading… that's my goal.
For the hardware I used a drawer pull for the handle (had to build it up a little, standard clasp from any hardware store, 3" hinges, and my standard chain.
I hope you like it.