Decoupage Keepsake Boxes

October 2022

My most recent project has been creating jewellery boxes. I’ve used a decoupage technique to make them beautiful and unique, just like the jewellery you can store inside. The insides are lined with felt.

I've made a large size that is big enough to take a number of pieces of jewellery, in separate boxes, plus a small box that's perfect for a small, individual piece like earrings, pendant necklace chains or rings.

I learned how to create a distressed vintage style look to the paintwork and protected the finished product with clear varnish. After years of watching upcycling and design programmes I really should have known how to do this before! A huge tip is to make sure you DO NOT forget to rub your base coat with a candle before applying the lighter topcoat, or the sanding back for the distressed look does not work. I learnt this the hard way by forgetting this on three boxes and having to start again.

Having practised this technique, I've already upcycled an old mug stand to become a decoupage jewellery stand for when I attend craft fayres.

I've decorated one edge inside with Reiki symbols to promote positive energies to the contents placed in the box. I practise Reiki and am currently training to become a Reiki Master. Reiki is a Japanese alternative medicine technique for providing healing and positive energies from the universal energy. I admit I was a total sceptic at first but have discovered it to be very calming and beneficial. I can Reiki infuse the jewellery I restore and have put the symbols in a jewellery box so that you can transfer positive healing energies to your items by storing them there.

I'll now be looking for old wooden trinket boxes that I can decorate in this way, as I used new boxes for this first project but I would like these too to be created by restoring old items, to follow the ethos of my business.