Milford chronicle., 1925-12-04
DECORATIVE BOXES FOR
y CHRISTMAS
By Marjorie Howe Dixon
III Z y w2oex 4 y MG

If one is clever with The use Oi
| paste, scissors and paper one car
make many lovely gifts of boxes
that are ever acceptable, and among
this years gift suggestions are new
ones. of unusual charm
The use of wall paper to cover
boxes is an old story, but a similar
idea is popular-the use of small
patterned Japanese papers. These
! are available at the are stores in
/ sheets and exceedingly dainty and
attractive are the patterns and de-
signs. When using a wooden box
choose a color from the paper and
enamel the inside that color. Thin
glue may be used for pasting the
paper on the outside When the top
is hinged, a knob made of a large
bead may be attached flo it and thus
add to the joy of the box
Prints are being used for cover
decorations. For a lady. an old
print from Godey's Ladys Book
will appropriately adorn the lid. The
inside of the box can be divided in
to compartments with the use of
wooden partitions. One place should
be large enough for a powder box,
another long and narrow for hair
pins and so on.
Use Shellacked Paper
If paper is used ito line this box.
it should be shellacked, so that dust
ing it will be easy. The easy re-
moval of the partitions will assist,
too. to keep it clean. A box of this
kind will be a great help for storing
the small things that are so hard to
keep tidy on the dresser.
Inside the lid a mirror is placed.
Narrow strips of wood will hold it
in. The edges may me painted or
covered with gold braid. 1t is not
always easy to find print from
GOdey's Lady's Book Other quaint
old prints will lend themselves to
the same purpose. Sometimes an
old catalogue of paintings, will con-
tain good steel engravings which
will serve eXcellently.
Besides prints and patterned pa
pers there is gessO to use in decor
ating boxes. The effects one may
obtain are diverse and varied enough
to please everyone and all sorts of
can be displayed.
Something About GeSSO
For those who are not familiar
with gessO it may be said that it is
a thick gummy substance that is ap-
piled to rough or raw surfaces, to |
get raised effects, drying in a short |
time. Besides boxes, picture frames
can be made with guesso as basis of |
decoration. GessO can be bought at
art stores and sometimes at depart
ment stores.
Suppose we start with a small
box to hold playing cards. A small
colOred picture may be applied to
Ehe top and blued smoothly in place |
Feet for the box can be made by
using tiny tacks to fastens squares
of wood to each corner of the box.
Let us imagine that we want a
curved design on the top. Heavy |
cord can be used and glued into the |
desired shape. Now we are ready |
for the gessO. A good sized water
color brush will be about right to |
use with gessO. Dip it in the gesso |
and apply freely all over the box,
a careful outline around the |
picture. When it is partly dry, vari |
gated effects may be obtained by |
dabbing at it with the brush. Too |
much lumpiness is not really good, !
giving rather rough or unpleasant |
texture to the box, which should be
smooth to the touch.
Apply Coat of Gilt
Now coat the gessO with gilt and
allow it to dry. Yes, it seems to
take time all right. There is still I
another coat, this time of paint. Sc
ect from the picture a predominant
color and paint lightly over one end
If the box. Take a soft cloth and
wipe away most Df the paint, leav-
ng it in groves and hOllOws giving
IN antique effect. This will be
ound to be very attractive. The
,uadiness of the gilt is sOftened by
he top color and gently blended to
match the picture. 1t is we'll to do
small surface at a time, so that
he paint will not dry before you
ave wiped away the surplus.
Picture frames are handled in a
imilar way If you can get the pre-
ared board, that is best because it
5 braced and will not warp. If not
ek wall-board and nail fiat strips of
rOod to the back OF it. Or these
lay be nailed to the front to form a
esign around the picture, Maga-
inc covers have been worked up on
uch a background, to form most
ffective panels.
The Finished Product
When the picture is firmly glued
l place and the strips of wood or
ord forming the design are fasten-
/ tightly, then cover the exposed
lrfaces with gesso as you did the
Ok, next use gilt, last of all paint,
iping it away as before.
1t is fascinating pastime and yet {
most practical one and the effects
e often surprisingly good. Need
SIS to say people have committed '
rocious things in this medium, but
moderate use of good sense and
,od taste will prevent disasters of
is sort. For Christmas gifts, it is =
happy idea since no two pieces
ii be alike, and one can do much
iginal work on each, giving to it
me little personal touch that
ikes for charm.