Can't have too many junk boxes!

Most of my pre-holiday time was spent re-purposing shoe boxes, a project that turned out to be as fun as it is ecological. Your counters are probably clean and visible, free and clear of the stuff that can't be thrown out - yet - but doesn't have a home. You probably don't deal with piles of stuff, photos, coupons, receipts and papers that need to be sorted like I do. So, since our junk drawer was full I decided this would be a convenient and artistic solution. A counter-top junk box. 

I collaged the box lid with generous layers of papers and other scraps, wholey paper of course, and then painted on a coat of clear Gesso; I haven't been using it long but have fallen in love with it! Along with stabilizing the cardboard it also lets some of the papers and colors show through. Then it became like any other canvas and I had a blast, deciding on a centerpiece and trim to complete the look. I did, however, leave the insides alone, I think it's cool that on the inside it looks like, well, a shoe box.

I don't know how many empty shoe boxes are hanging around your house. I'm not a 'shoe person' but it was still easy to  round up several. After completing a few, though, I decided to find someone with smaller feet! The blue box (middle) was made as a Christmas gift for my mother; an essay I wrote for/about her was rolled up and tied with ribbon and tucked inside. The detail shot (above) is of the pink box I made for my sister-in-law, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. Sigh.

Rather than making resolutions (I used the same list for years:), I decided that as long as I either write, paint or create in some way every day I will be on the right path. I hope you experience happiness and an abundance of creativity throughout the new year!