There is something special going on today, at least in my life! It's my Birthday and and I have SO much to be thankful for!
Before you ask, I'm turning 48 today and this post is part of the celebration! If you are with me for some time, you know how much I'm passionate for crafts, for box making, for fabric and....glue! And, more than this, you probably noticed that what I most like is sharing this passion with every one of you that wants to have fun gluing fabric and creating amazing Cartonnage projects (that are wonderful handmade gifts)!
Today I want to talk about the "JOY of making gifts to ourselves". Oh well, why? Because, I know, we love making our crafts and giving to our family and friends and that make us feel so good and happy right? I know, I'm there too! But, most of the times we forget the person who is the most important.... yes, you guessed right... WE! If we don't take care of ourselves first, we certainly don't have energy and we can't help others as we want. So, it's not being selfish (or maybe it is, but it's for a great purpose). As flight attendants always say...."put the mask first in yourself, then help others"!
The last years have been a great time for me, sharing all that I love with our Community, but I noticed I haven't have time to sometimes just enjoy my time making something that I need, or I would like to do, or, well, you know, something our heart is calling to do. And the two boxes I'm about to show to you, were in my plans for a long time... everytime I saw the "mess" in my bedroom I thought.... "one day I will make what I need here".
Then, you may ask... why didn't you buy it ready to fix your mess?? Crafters will get it.... "why buy for X if I can have tons of fun making for XX?? Something like that right? But not only this, you will see that the boxes I made for myself are not sold in stores, not in the sizes and shapes I wanted and for sure not in my beautiful fabrics at all!
So, the solution for us cartonnage lovers is clear... have fun and make yourself!
Now, I'm very proud of myself, not only because I loved the boxes and I think they turned out very pretty and well finished, BUT, most of all, because I took the time to make something FOR ME! And I not only had fun and got excited making them, I will smile and revisit the JOY every time I will choose my jewelry or pray in the morning!
Then, let me tell you about these boxes! Recently we had one special event just for members of our Cartonnage Club - our annual Online Cartonnage Retreat, and during the retreat, we made the "Double tool box", what is a great construction of a box with a drawer! So that was the beginning of my solution.... yes, I can use the same construction for box with drawer and make the boxes I need to my bedroom!
See below the "Double Tool Box" we made in our Retreat.
Well, that was one amazing box, hundreds of fabric lovers made this project and are so happy and proud of themselves with their creation. Now, look at that box for a minute, just the box, forget the lid! Ok, so, what I did for my jewelry box, I used the same project, actually is the same size, I just changed the sides and back and reduce the front a bit. Then, of course, I added lots of details to fit my needs for long necklaces (thanks to my husband for the tips and ideas to accommodate them better!), a few rings and bracelets. See in the picture below, I still have room for more....Yeah!!
And then, how about my other box? Well, that one is very special too! In my bedroom I have a place where I pray every morning, and I love St. Francis very much. His prayer is for me very powerful. I pray it, I sing it, it just calms me down, put me in alignment and make me ready for my day! And I decided to make a special place to add the handmade crochet "St. Francis" I bought from a talent Brazilian lady sometime ago.
So, for this box, I again used the same concept of the "Double tool box", I just shrink it! And see below that I didn't add the front, because I didn't need it. So, in the little drawer I have a small book for "self care" affirmations that I also love reading, and behind St. Francis, there is his Prayer.
So, I'm more than happy with these special gifts I made for myself and I hope you liked too, or at least, I hope that you are thinking when was the last time you had fun making something special for yourself and get excited to go crafting!
Let me know your thoughts, I would love to hear about your crafting journey making gifts!!
And if you are interested in making Cartonnage Fabric Boxes, check my website, learn about our Club, registration is now closed, but will open again in the beginning of next year, and by then, I would have also added tutorials of how to make this kind of box in any size you want! Isn't that wonderful? It's the JOY of making!
Now, let me see what I will be doing today in my birthday! I may glue for a bit!!
Have a wonderful day!
Happy gluing!
Claudia
claudia
February 23, 2023
happy birthday, claudia!
very original your works, and also nice that whit S. franciscus, I am italian and i often go to the mass at st. franciscus church in my town.
claudia