Transform window boxes into Christmas craft projects guaranteed to delight loved ones.
Spring feels so far away when Christmas cheer is in the air, but you can remind your loved ones of its ultimate arrival by re-purposing window boxes to create unique gifts for every age and stage of life. Window boxes come in a variety of materials, from wood to wrought iron. So pick the medium that best suits the person opening your gift, and you'll understand the true meaning of "a gift that keeps giving."
Instructions
1. Make or find a wood window box with a scalloped or other decorative edging. Turn the box over, paint the exterior a color that matches the gift recipient's interior and morph the former window box from flower holder to decorative shelf. Give your loved one a bonus: Wrap a few of the recipient's favorite collectibles in tissue paper or tuck them inside the box so she has a few pieces to display once she turns the box over and mounts it on the wall.
2. Convert a window box from floral receptacle to a fun toy bin for kids by building or buying a large wood window box, painting it a bright color to match the child's room and adding decals or cut wood embellishments. Consider painting the toy bin/window box white and giving the child acrylic paints and brushes so she can create her own art on her new catchall.
3. Help a loved one transform a disorganized kitchen into the model of neatness by tacking decorative napkins into the interior of a wrought iron or prefabricated wood window box using either a needle and thread or glue. Place brackets or other hardware into a baggie with a note that invites your gift recipient to hang and use your decorative innovation to collect everything from take-out menus to bread and snack bags that tend to wind up littering kitchen counters and drawers.
4. Give a family you adore a clever, efficient way of gathering essentials by crafting or buying a wood window box that will serve as the family's go-to headquarters. Paint the box an attractive color. Use stencils to letter this message: "Don't Leave Before Checking This Box!" Provide brackets to mount the former window box on a wall beside the door so homework, lists, gloves, scarves and easily forgotten items can be claimed on the way to the car. Add cup hooks for car and house keys.
5. Welcome a baby into the family with this Christmas gift idea for the parents: Refinish a window box of your own making or purchase an unfinished one. Sand and paint it to match the nursery. Use stencils to letter, "Welcome to the World, Tiffany," or another message. Fill the interior of the box with disposable diapers and count on giving parents-to-be an ingenious example of your creativity and love. Include brackets and hardware needed to mount the box on a wall adjacent to baby's changing table.
Tags: wood window, former window, gift recipient, loved ones, stencils letter, window from, wrought iron
