I bought a set of three brown boxes and wondered before I even paid for them what I was going to do with them, other than put them on a shelf with almost everything else I've bought, but then one day I decorated one, using floral nostalgic papers and subdued shades of blue and pink. I then added as many embellishments as I could find and make, and I absolutely love the end result.

LOVE it!

I decorated the sides with matching papers, bows, string pearls, paper roses and buttons.

I wanted the box to have a use so I filled it with photographs I decorated the inside of the box because I wanted it to be as gorgeous inside as out. A heap of beatiful tags and children xx

I used a sepia effect on some pictures of my children when they were younger to give them a look of age and to make the whole thing feel warm and nostalgic. I then decorated each tag with antique lace and old roses and buttons and piled them into the box so that at least it pretended to be useful and not just pretty

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I made this lovely lilac and purple card for my niece's birthday (hope she doesn't look at my blog before then), and I'm now really into using lace, so there may be some kind of lacefest for a while....

This card is for a ruby wedding anniversary. I don't really like red but with the lace softening it a bit, I love this one

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I made this card using colours that are not my first choice (I'm very pink and brown), but I really love the finished thing, so much so that I've used these colours again since.

This is a lovely deep gift box made using the same pattern as the one below because I love the depth on the sides. I positioned the papers carefully to make the most of the beautiful patterns

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The top is decorated with paper roses in a lovely smudgy lilac colour, along with pearls, ribbons and lace. On the sides I've added tiny bows and button details.

I have decorated the inside base of the box in matching paper for a more luxurious feel when it's opened.

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I made the pattern for this cake box gift box myself so that I could have it as large and as deep as I wanted it. I trimmed the edges with string pearls and cut a scalloped edge on the lid using my little fancy scissors

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I used little bows of ribbon and lace on the back of the box to hide the joins.

I decorated the top with twirls and twists of string pearls, ribbon and lace, and then added a cluster of little paper roses and two large pearl hat pins xx

I made another little birdhouse to use as a Christmas gift box. I love that bit of sparkle! xx

I made this little three drawer gift box in a Christmas theme and put some tiny little gifts inside, for my daughter xx

This box is made using my newest papers, all in deep and dusty purples and plums
Buttons, ribbons, roses and pearls for romance....

....and a heart....

More on my addiction to matchboxes....

This little chest of drawers could be used as a gift box for tiny presents...

...or just as a matchbox for lighting my candles in the evenings.

This little gift box is about 2 and a half inches long and is decorated with paper flowers and organza ribbon...

Tuft and Me made little birdhouses out of matchboxes. Mine looks a bit dark and gypsy I think in the browns with all the gold charms on - I never know when less is more!!

On one side I've stuck little mullberry paper flowers, and on the roof corners I've hung tiny golden hearts - the perch is appropriately a match stick.

And on the other side, I've stuck some tiny brown mushrooms my sister made from fimo.

Another little advent house...

This house is done in traditional Christmas colours and I've also added a chimney (cos Santa's going to need that!)

The drawer handles this time are made from brass split pins, which were so much quicker, easier and neater to use

I still haven't got a nice little stamp to put the numbers on the drawers tho! I think I might have been happier if I'd darkened the drawer fronts a little bit to match the red colours of the house.....

Christmas Advent House

I saw this gorgeous little advent calendar on a lovely blog called 'Floweline'. I haven't written the numbers on the tiny drawers yet as I don't have the perfect stamp but will do it as soon as I get one.
Each little drawer will be filled with tiny sweets and gifts
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I have used beads and pins to make the drawer handles and have hung a metal angel embellishment under the eaves, and tiny silver hearts hand on each corner. I'll soon be making another one in more striking Christmas colours and have already bought my 24 boxes of matches!