SourceIf there's anything more exciting and fun than giving a present to your loved one and seeing their face glow, its the joy of actually making this present for her. As my girl's birthday, valentines, and anniversary were practically within the same month time period, i decided, instead of buying something, i wanted to make something! Something that would cover nicely all three events as a present. Of course i'll be taking her out for some nice food as well. Anyway, as i impulsively abandoned the vanity mirror she actually asked me to get for her birthday and walked past rows of shops, i was wondering what the heck i was going to make?!
I do do some oil painting back in the old days, but handicraft was generally out of bounds for me, and definitely out of my comfort zone. Unless its painting, unfortunately my imagination and capability of managing and manipulating materials to look pretty is just beyond my average handicraft skills. But still, i was so hyped up about the idea, i wanted to give it a shot anyway. I've never before made something for anyone (poems not included).
So i came across this shop in 1Utama, its sorta like on the bridge linking the old and new wing together, towards the end of the bridge, towards the old wing side. A nice well stocked shop with ample arts and crafts supplies! I spent about half an hour just walking to and fro in this shop thinking of the various combinations i could make before one of the shop attendants offerred some advice. After another 45 minutes, i walked out, and had already blown my budget, by almost 200% lol. But still, i was really hyped up with the idea of doing this. So this is what i did in the end.
The box costs about thirty bucks, and has various shapes and sizes. Of course price would vary based on design and size. There was one i really wanted to get, a nice mini cupboard to put on the table with cute drawers for jewelry. But it costs about 130 bucks. lol. Bad idea for a student like me.
Paint was another 30 odd, plus another 30 for Gloss. I decided to not go for the filler that i was recommended to get, nor this nice paint with glitters in them. I simply didnt have time. It was kinda impulsive and unplanned and i had a 1 week deadline. Filler itself would take almost a week to properly dry.
I recommend painting it in one direction, and buying a smaller sized brush to paint those tight corners. Make the whole surface even, dont keep doing a small part over and over again. When its done, then you may try to apply another coating. I applied three coatings. Make sure the paints truly dry and not just dry to the touch.
WARNING : Should dry fast unless you applied too thick a layer of paint. Avoid it, spread your paint and don't let it pool.
I recommend using a good quality nylon brushes, not those cheap rough brushes u usually find at book stores. Around 4 bucks a brush depending on size.
Use a pallet and make sure u shake the bottle of accrylic paint before pouring. Don't pour out too much first.
WARNING: I highly recommend using a plastic to put on the table. Newspaper would stick to the paint and come out and tear and stick on your box. A nightmare
For me, it took around 4 hours between coatings, with air conditioner on to make the room dry and under the sun.
I then wrote my poem which i composed for her (the first word in every sentence also reads I Love You). XD Pen costs about 20-30 bucks i can't recall. A special all surface pen.
After that. Apply the gloss. Be slow and light across the words, so that they don't run! I then cut out the wood carvings i bought (another 30 odd bucks), and pasted them as imaginatively as i could around the box.
I then pasted the mirror i bought, all with strong UHU glu. Other super glue would work as well. Incidentally, while i was still working on this, my girl and I were out shopping (window shopping) in Sunway Pyramid, Asian Avenue. She spotted this felt like material which she said was "so pwetty!!!". Its actually to be used for handphones and such. So i decided to tell her to choose one which i will incorporate into her surprise present. (i told her i was making her something, but didn't tell her what. Wanted to torture her with the suspense. heh heh.)
So she picked a pattern out, and i used it as the inside of the box. Its soft to the touch, and not very expensive, around 20 bucks, and gives it a posh look and feel.
When she finally openned the matching pink wrapping paper i used and finally saw her present, she was absolutely bursting with happiness! The smile and wide eyed happiness she displayed as she hugged and kissed me will be a memory i will cherish till the end of days. Despite blowing my budget, i'm absolutely glad i did what i did for her. The adventure of doing it and the anticipation of seeing her reaction was extremely exciting. And after so long of not doing any art work, it was a sweet and delicious reminder of why i used to do oil painting. Once classes start though i'll never have time unfortunately, sigh.
If there's anything i regret, is i wished i had more time to really soup up my present for my baby. She may love it, but i always feel like i could have done something more.
For references for people who may wish to try this and get a feel of expenses.
Box: RM 30 (vary on size and quality)
Brushes: RM 10
Accrylic Paint: RM 30 per colour
Gloss: RM 30
Wood Carvings: RM 30
Pallet: cheap, u can use anything, negligible
Thick Felt for the Bottom: RM 10 (cut to fit, u'll have left overs)
Velvet Material from Sunway Pyramid: RM 20
Mirrors: RM 20
Pen RM 20
Total: RM 200
Memory and joy of giving the present, and the love she showed me: Priceless
This post has been edited by Baronic: Sep 14 2009, 10:10 PM Attached image(s)
Sep 14 2009, 09:53 PM, updated 16y ago
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