Happy Birthday, America!

250 years! I still remember 1976 and the excitement for the 200th birthday, so I am in full celebration mode.

 I finished up my America 250 stitches and treasure boxes.

I only have 3 photographed, but I finished the 4th one.

I shared the patterns in a previous post, so I will share the boxes this time.

I purchased my acrylic paints because I read that was best for paper mache boxes and then good paint brushes because a good brush is essential for any painting job. Then I fretted over actually painting them. I was in there measuring and thinking about how to take to get a good stripe when Jeff convinced me to just freehand them so that they would actually look handcrafted and not something I might have purchased.

I finally got started and agreed that he was correct. I painted them and then also sprayed them with an acrylic varnish spray. I did the finishing spray twice and let them dry really good.

I laced the stitches over craft chipboard and layered a piece of batting in between the stitch and the chipboard. I then glued them with Alene’s craft glue to the lid and laid a heavy box over them to dry.

I used Lady Dots Creates chenille trim in navy although it looks like federal blue. I chose that trim rather than cording out of fear I could not make them as neat as I would like.

I am really pleased with the treasure boxes as we are calling them. I am giving them to each of the 4 grandchildren. Jeff is adding some 1976 coins to them to start them off on collecting treasures. 

Hopefully, they will survive until they are old enough to remember Mimi made these!

I am in Auburn and typing this all of my iPad so I am cutting it short. I will be back to check in with everyone next week.

Happy 4th mt American friends,

Sandy