This cheery box makes great
gift wrap.

Shaped papier-mâché boxes of all sizes are available at crafts and hobby stores, and they are easy to decorate with acrylic paint. This box features a fleur-de-lis design in red and green, and a painted wooden ball on the lid.

• 6-inch papier-mâché box with faceted shape
• Delta All-purpose Sealer
• Delta Ceramcoat Acrylic Paint
  Fire Red
  Green Isle
  Burnt Umber
• Delta Satin Exterior Varnish
• 1-inch wooden ball for lid
• Paintbrushes, flat and liner
• 1-inch foam brush
• Tracing paper
• Pencil
• Masking tape
• Glue gun and hot-melt adhesive

1. Using the foam brush, paint the box with sealer. Let dry.

2. Paint the facets of the box, alternating red and green in each. To paint the lid, divide it into six equal triagular sections and paint them as for the box. Let dry.

3. Trace the fleur-de-lis pattern onto tracing paper. Cut out around traced line. Tape pattern to red portions of box and trace around, referring to the image, right, for guidance.

4. Mix the red and green paints with Burnt Umber to darken the colors. Paint over the green sections with the darker green, letting the lighter shade show through. Let dry.

5. Paint the fleur-de-lis pattern with the darker red. Let dry.

6. Using the foam brush, paint the entire box with sealer. Let dry.

7. Paint the wooden ball with the darker green paint. Glue to the top of the box.