Craft Day - Butterfly Matchboxes

Butterfly Matchboxes,

a nice Christmas or hostess

gift just in time for holiday

giving.

For this craft you will need:

matchboxes ( a wonderful dollar store find)

Gesso, Paint brushes, Watercolors,

A butterfly stamp, Ink pad, clear bags

and ribbon

Let's get started.

Cover your work surface.

 Place a little of your gesso in

a pallet or any kind of container.

Now start painting your matchboxes with your gesso. 

Start painting one side of each box, then the other side.

When your gesso is dry, put on another coat.

 It will take about three or four coats to cover

the matchbox print.

Once your gesso is dry,

It is time to stamp.

Slide the matches out of your matchbox cover.

Ink your stamp. Place your matchbox

cover on the stamp. Carefully put your fingers into

the matchbox cover and press your fingers all 

around the stamp. 

Be very careful not to move the cover.

 Do this on both sides of your match box cover.

Once all of your covers are stamped

slide the matches back into the covers.

Let's bring out the watercolors.

I found it easier to paint one color at a time 

on each box because I was painting so many boxes.

So I started layering on paint, starting with

my greens, pinks and purples then I moved on

to painting the butterflies.

For my background,

I painted a little wash of blue at the top

and a wash of green throughout.

Once your boxes are dry place them in

clear bags and tie them with ribbon.

Now you are all ready for gift giving!