THE MATCH-HOLDER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 302, 21 December 1935, Page 21

THE MATCH-HOLDER.

A SMALL CHRISTMAS PRESENT.

The sketch showing a group of cardboard match-holders illustrates how we may turn to account any interesting old pieties of manuscript —music or scriptnewsprint, or odd etchings, coloured flower pieces or even superior Christmas cards which we cherish because they seem too pretty to throw away. It does not need particularly clever fingers to make the triangular boxes of strong cardboard, bound together as they are with a piece for the base by passe partout or merely glued strips of linen or paper. One side or more may be decorated, the ornament being firmly stuck on in a frame which has a dark line round it, while a strip of emery paper

for the striking of the matches is secured beneath. Filled with long matches, either with plain tops or in harlequin colours, such cases make a Christmas present which is always welcomed by men or women. If the making of the box is too much trouble, bare containers can be bought cheaply, and then there is only the decorating to be done. Enamel, coloured inks or water-colour paint can equally well be employed and in cases where enamel is not chosen a coat of varnish will sive the finishing, professional touch besides providing for the necessity of dusting. Often the title pasre or illustrated leaf from some old and otherwise useless book will make an amusing and unusual decoration for a case. But here taste has free play and no rules need be In.id down. A good idea is to have a blottin" lxjok and a match stand on the same table, each bearing a decoration of the same type but not identical In subject matter.