How Do You Make A Chinese Decorative Box?

Making a Chinese decorative box can be a fun craft project for people of all ages and skill levels. Chinese boxes can be decorated simply and minimally or as elaborately as those of the Ming dynasty. The look of Chinese lacquer, a natural substance derived from the resin of trees, is easy to duplicate with paint. The use of decorative rice papers will also lend your project an air of authenticity. Select a balsa wood box of your preferred size and shape. Pick out some objects to use to decorate the outside of your box, such as Chinese coins, flat plastic flowers, string and thin pendants. Common motifs used in Chinese art include dragons, flowers, birds, clouds, mountains and geometric designs. Arrange objects on your box and adhere with craft glue. Allow glue to dry completely. Mix acrylic paint to resemble Chinese lacquer. Use black paint for black lacquer. Combine red paint with a small amount of burnt umber to re-create the color of cinnabar lacquer. Paint the exterior of your ...  more