Introduction:
Every kid needs a box for their trinkets and treasures. The basic rectangular box is easy to build. Unusual, less conventional boxes are all just variations on the basic design of the box we will make today. Our boxes will be made out of balsa wood, which is a lightweight but sturdy, paintable craft wood usually used for models. The finished box in this lesson is delicate and best for holding lightweight objects. Boxes of this same design can be made out of decorative paper or clay as well. This lesson not only carries over into other media, but is an essential lesson in coordination for budding artists.

Materials:

Directions:

1. The easiest way to build a box is from the bottom up. Find the 4" x 6" piece, the (2) 2" x 6" pieces, and the (2) 2" x 4" pieces. Apply a generous bead of white glue or wood glue around the edge of the base piece (4" x 6"). Make sure that the side pieces are glued so they sit on top of the base piece on their edge. When the box is finished, the bottom should still measure 4" x 6".


2. Gluing the sides on your box and lid is the hardest part of this lesson because it takes at least a minute for the glue to set. The easiest way to put the box together is to do two adjacent sides at the same time, making sure to also apply glue where they join, and then hold the pieces steady at least a 30 seconds till they set. (You also have the option of inserting thin stick pins into the balsa where it is glued. This makes it a bit easier to put the box together since you don't have to hold it and the pins can be removed when the glue is totally dry.)


3. Now, being careful not to disturb the first two sides, apply glue to the last two sides and set them in place. Hold for at least 30 seconds till set. To ensure a strong bond, after the sides are set, apply glue along the outside of the box over all the edges that meet. You can do this with your fingers or a brush. This simply gives the most fragile parts of the box some extra protection.


4. Follow the same procedure with the lid, making sure to glue the sides onto the base so that the finished lid is no wider than 4 1/2" x 6 1/2".


5. Be sure to dry the lid and the box separately from each other so that they do not get glued together by mistake. Put the box and lid together when both pieces are completely dry.


6. Decorate your box with acrylic paints or collage it with sequins and plastic jewels, or decoupage it with playing cards, magazine or newspaper clippings, fabric, or anything you can think of that's not too heavy.

Art Terms:
Collage – the technique of creating a pictorial composition in low relief by gluing paper, fabrics, or any natural or manufactured material to a canvas, panel, or other surface
Decoupage – decoration of a surface by covering it completely with cutout paper figures or designs

Resources:
Boswell, Holly. The Decoupage Book. Sterling Publishers, New York. 1994.

LaFosse, Michael G. Make It With Paper: Paper Boxes. Quarry Books, Mass. 1997.

Mayer, Ralph. The Harper Collins Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques. Harper Collins Publishers. 1991. Moxley, Juliet. Decoupage. Henry Holt and Co., New York. 1992.

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