GIFT BOXES

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 136, 5 December 1935, Page 19

GIFT BOXES

HANDCRAFT WORK USEFUL

Half the joy of Christmas presentgiving is in devising dainty boxes, wrappings, and other outside coverings which are to enclose the season's gifts of remembrance, states an exchange. Indeed, when it is a matter of boxing, the box itself often forms part of the gift, to be used for some purpose during the following months. ' This is where a little knowledge of handicraft work is useful, and it is not too soon to begin preparations of this kind with a view to having a little collection of "containers" ready for the chosen gifts. Golden coloured parchment is one of the best-looking backgrounds for a decorative box there are also shades in oft* white in a thin "sheepskin" paper which are effective. Peach-pink parchment or vellum, with a canvas or filet net surface, are new ideas. This type of paper is seen also in a range of other delicate tints, including a pale creamy yellow. There are papers with modernist designs, in which the bright and colourful design of the paper is a decoration in itself; and there are the brilliant mirror foil papers, which are cut out in the shape of a modernist flower group and posed on a dark matt background. A velvet surfaced paper in various colourings suitable would bestow distinction on the, simplest of gift boxes. / IN KEEPING WITH THE GIFT. When the box is to be hand decorated it should be in keeping with the enclosed gift; the boxes can be bought in either the hinged lid or sliding drawer styles. For beauty gifts the container -may be as.decorative as you please. There is a novel triangle shape designed for handkerchiefs, silk stocking boxes with divisions, and long necklace boxes are useful shapes to remember when choosing. Lace accessories, jabots, collar and cuff sets, and other vanities each have their own special type of box, all the more attractive with a slight touch of artistic and individual decoration, which may be achieved with some of the lovely decorative papers which are sold, or on a more ambitious scale with parchment paper and coloured stencil work or the dainty pearl and stamen handicraft which is so much seen this winter. For bridge sets, cigarettes, and other gifts of this kind, the decoration of the "container," although gay, is more conventional. One of the novel ideas which will appeal to the needlewoman is a parch-ment-covered needlework diary, with spaces for the description of new ideas and stitches,, date notes of the commencement and finish of pieces of cmi broidery and so on. ■ The cover can Ibe stencilled or adorned with slightly raised barbola work outlined with fine gold braid. Pastel-coloured pearls and stamens are being used with a barbola paste to decorate both parchment and painted wood boxes as well as other articles. Fascinating Christmas gift containers can be achieved by mounting the tiny I pearls and stamens, which are made in a variety of charming colours, in a centre design or as a border on the lid of the box.