Welcome to the neighborhood. With the housing market continuing to improve, chances are you're getting new neighbor. What better way to welcome them to their new nest than with a box full of useful things all tucked into a fun, handmade container that looks like just their new home!
My absolutely favorite thing about these containers are that are made from recycled corrugated cardboard boxes. Choose a box of an appropriate size to fit your contents (I will give you some unique ideas at the end of this post). Tear away the first layer to reveal the corrugated surface. Call me jam packed with issues but there is something wildly therapeutic about tearing away the cardboard layers. When your done, cut one flap into a triangle to resemble a roof top. Fold the remaining flaps inward and secure with tacky glue.
I used Jacqaurd's Neopaque paint to paint my houses white. But with the array of colors the paint is available in, you can choose from so many other colors.
I like Neopaque paints because they are designed to cover dark backgrounds with light application. Neopaque paints brush on smoothly and remain soft and flexible when dry.
Use recycled corrugated cardboard for the features of the house as well including doors, little flower pots, a chimney, you name it.
For the flower pots, create little flowers cut from wool felt and centered with beads. First use wire nippers to cut off 3" of 20 gauge beading wire. Then insert one end of the wire into the center of the wire. Thread the wire onto the the wire and create a loop to secure with chain nose pliers.
Insert your flowers into your cardboard pot. I created a pot and a lid from the recycled cardboard but didnt expose the corrugated layer to create some additional texture.
Paint the door and pots a color of your choosing, I chose black and then dry brushed with white Neopaque.
For the windows, decide how large and where you would like them to go on your house, then use a square or rectangular template to cut from the box onto traced lines on the front of the house.
Back the windows with some recycled vintage book pages and some patterned paper for curtains.
Stamp a sentiment such as "Welcome to your new home" or "From our house to yours" on white cardstock, cut out and glue to the roof.
Finally I added a few more small touches, including this tiny bunting created from the leftover scraps from a previous project created from Lumiere.
Super Cute and all made from mostly recycled materials!
Need ideas of what to put into your house? Here are a few
- Where are the dishes? Paper plates, cups, plastic knives, forks and spoons and napkins
- We need to clean- Cleaning supplies such as a all purpose cleaner, sponges and cleaning cloths
- No time to cook- Take menus from local restaurants that deliver, if you can splurge maybe a gift card to the same restaurant along?
-Snack attack- Snack packs of cookies, trail mix, crackers, sweetened drink mixes, etc. O course, handmade goodies are always welcome!
Think about the last time you moved, what would you want tucked into your new home box of goodies? Leave me a comment- I would love to hear your ideas!
- Good info to have- local telephone numbers of sanitation department (garbage pick up), police, fire department, names and numbers of neighbors, neighborhood association meeting info and contact number
Live Life Creatively,
Another wonderful project Mel. What a great way to greet a new neighbor! Thank you.
d
Posted by: donna smith | January 27, 2012 at 08:34 PM