My dear friend, Pat, has a granddaughter with a First Communion  ceremony coming up this weekend.  While we visited with them on vacation in Ft. Lauderdale, Pat came up with the idea of a momento box for her granddaughter, Sidney, to commemorate this special day.  She left everything totally in my hands except that she wanted a particular quote from Anthony DeMello, JS.  And she was very definite about Sidney being a very girlie girl even at the tender age of 8.  This is the box I created.

And, a couple more views:

Remember, if you click on the photo, you can see an enlarged photo.

I even captured some of the work along the way.  Knowing it was for a youngster of 8, I put little ribbons connecting the top and bottom so the lid would not fall all the way back each time it was opened.  The entire box had to be sanded and done with a base coat of gesso.  Then came some paint and, finally, the whole box was decoupaged with design paper from the pinkpaislee Butterfly Garden collection and some white paper embossed with  communion symbols and the word “communion” in various type faces.  All were glued and then coated with ArtQuest PPA Gloss adhesive to complete the decoupage process.

I have no idea where I got that beige piece around the bottom of the box, but it is gorgeous!  I added an unfinished wooden cross I bought at Michael’s and stained.  I popped it up on dimensionals so I could slip the quote Pat had wanted under its edge.  The frame around the quote (Spellbinders Fancy Ovals) was also popped up on smaller dimensionals and dotted with  individual pearls.  The actual saying was cut with a Spellbinders Ovals and shaded with ink while still in the die.  Then the bottom edge was filled with tiny roses and carnations I had in my stash, leaves cut with my Martha Stewart punch and all glued in with Ranger Glossy Accents.

You can barely see that I decoupaged lace around the lid and touched with a little Distress Ink in Tattered Rose but the Recollections bling is easy to see!  I cut the paper lace border from another Martha Stewart punch and all paper pieces on the top were also touched with a bit of Distress Tattered Rose.

I used white seam binding for my bow and flowers from Prima, Recollections, Wild Orchid Crafts and I Am Roses.  I made the lace flower and used a bit of Websters Pages bling in the middle.  In fact, I made that flower while on the very vacation I mentioned after seeing a Rubber Cafe tutorial on the uses of their Sheer Glue.  I love the way it turned out!

Although it doesn’t show here, I lined the inside edge of the box with tiny pearls as well and am creating a pocket there to slip in a miniature album with pictures of the intended recipient, Miss Sidney.  I will show that album and the finished inside of the box in another blog.  I think I shall make a gift card to match as well.

Let me hear from you.  I always appreciate the time and thought you put into your comments.  Blessings and Hugs!