store stuff in style…

or present a lovely gift in a handmade oragami box!

Yesterday, I went to the library for a craft workshop. It was all about making oragami boxes. The box making was a nice relaxing activity to do after having just been at a circuit training class in the gym. The instructor, Adele, had provided sets of eight pieces of scrapbooking paper, with a variety of themes, including floral, birthday, Christmas, and more. I chose a set of papers with a spring theme, with images of leaves and butterflies and ladybugs. Adele showed us step by step how to fold the paper, and we folded as she gave the instructions.

Once we finished folding our first sheet, we still had seven more to go. But, we did the project four sheets at a time, and then, we put together those pieces of box to make a box top. Adele also showed us how to add a decoration to the top of the box, and she had provided a wide variety of plastic plants to use for the decoration.

After we decorated the top of our boxes, we made the bottoms of the boxes. It was all a great deal of fun. And, when I was done, I had a lovely little box, which will be nice to use, instead of gift wrap. It has a nice personal touch because it’s handmade and because the colors and patterns are specifically chosen with the recipient in mind. The other benefit to me is that I really like folding things. I like folding paper and I like folding laundry and I like folding fitted sheets.

Adele offered us another set of paper and some decorations, as well. I was happy to take home another set, which I turned into a box today. I like how each of the two boxes that I made has its own unique look and character. My second box has lots of butterflies of various sizes in black and white.

This was a fun project, and I am looking forward to making more boxes, which I will use for gifts and for… I don’t know yet, but I’m anticipating that it will be colorful and cheery.