I Don't really Cook, So Why I Even Have One Of These...

Since starting this blog, I've realized that in order to get some traffic onto my page, I need to well... actually do some things.  Right now, my husband's asleep with a humidity-induced migraine, so I'm sure he'll appreciate waking up to the fumes from the paint and varnish, wafting into the back room on top of a 90 degree forecast!  Again though-- oh, well!-- I need to get this thing going! :)

(Nevermind the paperpunch thing-- it's from another project.)

For the past year, I've had a plain, hinged box, specifically made to hold recipe cards.  I've never known what to do with it (as far as finishing and decorating it went), and because of that, it's been left, unfinished on my kitchen counter.  And as the title states, I don't cook that often.  (I usually let the microwave do it for me!)  I do though, have some recipes that I've used for special occasions, along with some my mom left for me.  So, putting them away in a nice little place would be nice.



It's one of these kinds of boxes.  (I forgot to take a pre-photo of my own before I started this project.)

It's not like I haven't have ideas for it.  I have, but I could never settle on a finish.  But I really love espresso.  The thing is, though I've got all these other eclectic mixes of woods in my place, that I don't want everything mismatched.  (For example, I've got this cherry corner cupboard that my mom left me.  It drives me absolutely nuts!  I inherited that, along with a cherry (I think) cookbook shelf and spice rack.  They go with absolutely-- NOTHING!) 

But realizing this morning, that I've been fretting over a $2.50 box all year, I decided to make the sacrifice, and try for something in an espresso finish that I like.  Even if I fo screw it up, it'll be a good excuse to go back to the craft store to get this mdf box that I saw...

What is my inspiration for working on this today?  Looking for ideas on the web, and coming across a few recipe boxes that were probably purchased for the same price, done up pretty, and are now selling for almost $100. 

(I'm sorry-- but really?)

You can find the basics on how to finish the box on here:  http://notenoughcalgon.blogspot.com/2011/08/tic-tac-toe-apparently-without-kiddo.html .  And don't worry if you don't get the perfect finish, because I didn't.  It goes with the shabby/antique-y thing that's going on with it.  (I don't have a printer, so I had hand-write the Recipe label myself.  Again, that's alright too, because you don't want it looking like it came off an assembly line.) You can also customize it, by lining it with scrapbook paper.  However, keep in mind that by doing so, it will take up some of the space for the cards.  (Plus, you don't really see the inside of it anyways.)  But it would add a nice touch to add on the interior of the lid.)

If you go to the craft store (Michaels or Craft Warehouse), you can find a lot of embellishments in the scrapbook aisle.  For me, I already had a few small frames and then I found these utensils at the same time I purchased the box.  (And of course, you can streamline it with borders, raffia, etc.  But I did it minimally, because I'm actually going to use it, and had to consider it getting bumped with dishes, groceries, etc.)

(Hmm... I suppose you can even finish it by gluing balled feet on it.  But I'm going to stop at here for now.)

Using Glossy Accents, I dropped it over the 'Recipes' label, to protect the ink from ever running from exposure to water, etc.

A project under $10 (if you don't have the Glossy Accents on hand), and just another idea on what you can do with those boxes at the craft store!

Ps-- No fumes!