Working "inside" and "outside the box"

I've been watching tons of YouTube videos like a sponge lately.  By that I mean that I'm absorbing everything crafty that I can get my hands on.  I want to learn how to do this, how to do that, how to do it all!  At our recent Christmas Tag making session I was showing my sister and my niece a box of baby shower invitations that I had made.  Just a simple box made out of cardstock and ribbon but really cute. 

So my sister asked me if I'd be able to make her a box like that containing assorted cards for her to have on hand.  That got me thinking that her birthday is January 1st and because of  it being so close to Christmas, it always seems to sneak up on me and I end up buying something.  This time I thought I would start now and perhaps work on something new for me.  Altered objects.  I thought I would make something not quite as flimsy as a cardstock box.  I've had this old box for probably more than 20 years and it used to contain stationary but lately it's been storing some odds and ends in my crafting room.

I gave it a quick coat of gesso. 

I chose the Graphic 45 "On the Boardwalk" paper collection to use for this project.  Such vibrant colours and images.  I really must admit that I don't think I've seen any Graphic 45 paper that I didn't care for. 

I went over the gesso with Tim Holtz's Distress crackle paint in broken china.  I must have done something wrong because it didn't quite come out looking crackled, although it does have a distressed, worn look to it.  I love the look.  Serendipity!  I put Mod Podge over the broken china paint just to give it a bit of shine but also to give the box more strength.  I also used Mod Podge as the glue to put the paper down and seal it in place

I wanted to add a little spot where she could store a pen, stamps and maybe something that contains all the important dates to remember for sending out those homemade cards.  Don't laugh....this was my first attempt at doing anything like this and I thought it turned out ok.  Not great, not perfect but acceptable! 

Coats and coats of Mod Podge to keep it all in place.  The only problem with this is that after so many coats it starts to "eat" in to the paper.  I'll have to come up with something else next time. 

I know you can't see it properly on my pictures but on the left hand bottom corner I have a seashell, a bottle cap with a tiny Graphic 45 image inserted and covered with Glossy Accents, a roll of 5cent tickets, also covered with Glossy Accents and punched out and Copic coloured lobster. 

 I also made her a little booklet with some more Graphic 45 images and the pages have been stamped with the months of the year.  The booklet fits nicely into the little pocket that I created.

Here are the final pictures.  It took me about a week to make because I had to keep stopping to let things dry properly.  Especially the Mod Podge, I let those coats dry overnight.  So now I just to make her some cards to go in the box and pick up stamps.  I am not worried about her seeing this before her birthday because she doesn't spend that much time on the computer and even if she does; she's even more forgetful than I am....so by the time her birthday comes in January she will have forgotten that she ever saw it in the first place!  LOL.  Ah the advantages of getting older...I try to see the brighter side of it.

As always, please feel free to leave any comments, suggestions, etc.  All in all, I'm quite happy with the finished product, especially since it was my first.  Keeping my fingers crossed that my sister will like it as well.