Friday, March 25, 2011

Puzzled?


  Old puzzles are not only great for the pieces but the boxes themselves.  I was fortunate enough to grab a car load of these at the Salvation Army one week.  The graphics are dreamy.  Most are landscape, some religious, but I think my favorite are the war time scenes.  Young sailor waving to mom, US flag fluttering in the wind.  One of the most interesting things I have found is 99% have all the pieces.  Remember when it wasn't a throw away society?  Perhaps this is why most of the coloring books are never colored in?  Things were treasured, loved, savored to the last petal.



Magpie Ethel gave me the idea to puzzle a cigar box.  A sweet 50's orchard puzzle, vintage local tickets, cute old kids heart card, wooden button, seam binding, found overall clip and some pages out of a school workbook from the 60's.  Along with Martha's mod podge clear glue and scrapbook tape. 


The corner was the logical point of the puzzle to start.  Once it was covered on top, I flipped it over and exacto knifed it off straight along the other edges.  


Imagine my excitement when a beautifully yellowed page fell out of one of my vintage coloring books.  Not one to waste I mod podge that sweet giant page around the base of the box.  If I had enough I would wall paper the kitchen.  More fun with these workbooks and their cute images.  I stayed with the earth tones and made my way around the box.


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And right there before my eyes...Betty's name appeared like magic...in the workbook.  Perfect for the box.  What's inside?


My partner in the Happy Homemaker Tag Swap, Betty of  She's Sew Pretty will be getting her tags in this fun vintage box.  I hope you like it Betty because it has your name all over it...  


5 comments:

Musings from Kim K. said...

What a lovely way to decorate a cigar box. Your puzzle pieces mixed with vintage graphics are just delightful. I continually check my favorite thrift store for vintage puzzles but haven't found anything to bring home yet. You've given me hope to keep looking!!

Have a splendid weekend! Tomorrow, my sunroom is getting an Easter makeover...including the year-round tree!

Angela said...

What a special gift for Betty!

GardenOfDaisies said...

I like the cute little girl picking the daisies! :-)
(not a big surprise to anyone, with a blog name like mine.)

Nan said...

I got rid of all my old puzzles as they take up a lot of storage room and I'm always working on thinning down things. I didn't have that many anyway in the first place. This is a darn cute idea to decorate a box and Betty will be thrilled I'm sure.

Betty said...

Oh my goodness!! Are you kidding me? Like it?! I love it! I was sitting here reading and thinking...hmmmm...I have a cigar box and some vintage puzzles...but you did it for me!! Now, I can't wait to see it in person!