Casket-inspired Gift Boxes

The bridesmaids boxes are probably too small to properly display the gifts, but dammit - they were the most casket-like things I could find of even a decent size! I didn't want to make overtly-creepy things (my bridesmaids are decidedly less morbid than I am, but I wanted something unusual and creepy-inspired that they still might keep).

These are little pressed-wood jewelry boxes from Hobby Lobby, each cost less than $5 (I think they were $2.99, but don't quote me). The lids slide off.

I removed the little jewelry dividers inside (well, husband-to-be broke them out at my request) and spray painted them flat black (letting it dry, of course). To make the lining pillows, I traced the lid onto some scrap cardboard, put the board in the box and trimmed it as needed to make sure it fit (a close fit, but not to snug - we're going to drape it fabric after all!). I covered one side of the card board in just a few dots of no-sew glue, and pasted down some fluffy cotton (err... polyester) batting to give it some softness. I cut my fabric to wrap around the board, wrapped it like a present, and glued down all the flaps on the back of the cardboard to hide them.

Once dry, the silky orange 'pillows' were laid in the bottom of each box -- but not before a few drops of the amazing "Coffin" simmering oil Mr. Macabre gifted me were dripped along the bottom. Though not it's intended use, it made the boxes smell FABULOUS.

I designed the name "plates" in photoshop, printed them, cut them out, and decoupaged them onto the front of the box with Modge Podge. I decoupaged the whole lid, which gave it a nice shine.

At least one box lid had to be sanded down to fit after I was done painting and decoupaging, but I'm really pleased with the final results.

Now, if we can just fit the jewelry in there in an attractive way... I need to purchase some short straight pins to hold things in place!