Drawer Memory Boxes

Finally finished up a client project last week that I thought would be fun to share. It's a great way to use up some extra drawers that you may have laying around, and create some sentimental art for your home.

The project started with my client's desire to preserve and appreciate her families mementos through the generations. She had been sifting through boxes of photos and other ephemera, and was tired of them being in a closet. She had purchased different sized memory boxes from a big box store years ago, but was having trouble moving forward with the imposing project.

I suggested we first start grouping the items in some type of categories. We ended up with five piles on the bed: the family farm, her Dad's garden, red, white and blue, vintage toys, and doll parties. I encouraged her to add to the piles as she looked further. We worked on this project slowly over quite a few weeks.

Once we knew what we wanted in the memory boxes, we realized the items we had were too deep for the skinny, store-bought frames. Enter Patina General leftovers...

I've still got plenty laying around here! I sanded, glued up, and cleaned eight drawers of varying types and sizes and brought them over to her home. We liked the depth that the drawers would provide in the displays, and even liked the different vintage hardware. We'd use them with the handles down, so they could be seen as art themselves.

We determined which drawers fit above her big desk to fill the space, and which she liked the style of the best. We also decided if we wanted them to be painted white or black. We decided black looked better for the space and seemed more archival.

I took them back home and painted them all, and waxed the exterior, refreshing the wood ends, also. She started looking into the idea of getting plexiglass cut for the fronts, to alleviate dusting.She found out Lowe's would cut plexiglass to size for about $10 each. Not cheap, but well worth preserving and not dusting. She took the painted drawers directly to Lowes so they could cut each and fit to size.

  

We spent several hours drilling; the D-hooks to the back, through the plexiglass with a very fine drill bit at the corners of each drawer, and then putting heavy enough screws into her wall to accomodate the weight. She also had the great idea to pushpin a sleeve on the back of each to hold any notes or descriptions associated with what was in each of the boxes.

Once all those steps were done, we were ready for assembly. I took my basket of goodies with me, trying to anticipate all the ways we could adhere the different elements to the drawer backs. It's kind of nice that the vintage drawers have real wood backs to nail into.

I decoupaged the photos and other paper items, used hot glue and E6000 for other items, and attached a variety of small nails, eye hooks, cup hooks and upholstery tacks. I first laid everything out for a pleasing arrangement, and then adhered it all. Small, brass screws in each corner holds the plexiglass in place.

  

  

Each drawer ended up being it's own work of art, filled with generations of memorable tokens, which can now be enjoyed on a daily basis.

  

  

This was a time consuming project, but one that will be enjoyed for many years, if not generations, to come.

Linking this project up with these parties:

Knick of Time , Talk of the Town

Adirondack Girl @ Heart, Vintage Charm 

 

Comments

[Diana]

Hi ladies! What a neat idea--love these memory boxes to death. You're very talented at assembling artifacts and making them look lovely. Thanks so much for linking your posts up with us at Vintage Charm--so nice to have you join in :)

[Lora Bloomquist]

Thanks, Diana! Will certainly have to join your party more often, now that we found you!