At Paper Cowgirls, there will be a fund raiser where transformed Velveeta boxes are auctioned off. I was happy to join in and make one, even if it meant I had to eat some fake cheese. It had been so many years since I'd had any of the artery clogging stuff that I forgot just how creamy and decadant it was. I could easily slip back into my old trailer trash ways and start making pots of mac and cheese with it again... but NO, it was a one time slip, and I'll not be buying any more of that, no matter how tempting it is. I ate it growing up and I raised my kids on that goo when I had a near zero dollar grocery budget, but now Sugarwings gets to eat some good, healthy foods and I've never fed it to her. (but honestly, is there anything creamier when melted over macaroni??)
But I digress with my love/hate cheese saga. The story is really about the box itself.
Anyway, I turned the box into this.
The lid and the bottom are turned on end, side by side and covered in paper, inside and out.
It has feet made up of 4 Scrabble tiles covered in old velvet ribbon.
Shelves are chip board and the "hinges" are ribbon.
There is a chipboard drawer too.
Its topped with a beautiful, old rose, and decked out with lots of laces and trims. I added a heavy antique clasp from a vintage photo album to the chip board door.
(rhinestone chain sold for $3.50 per foot available here, to make your own trims!)
The clasp was hefty and made the piece top heavy, so I balanced it by hanging lots of pretties on the side, a key, a chandelier drop, and jewelry.
Speaking of jewelry, I filled it up with some jewels too, just in case no one guessed it was actually a jewelry armoire instead of a cheese box now.
So, is this a case of making a silk purse out of sow's ear, or just slapping lipstick on the pig?
ps-The Dolled Up Dress Forms online tutorial is available here.
Or leave a comment if you'd like a chance to win one. (if you already are signed up, and you win, you will receive a kit full of vintagey goodies to make the dress form)
Oh my goodness this is beautiful!
Posted by: Pinkie Denise | June 12, 2011 at 02:15 AM
Oh wow just when I was feeling good about my bit of craftiness and I see this lol its really beautful and I shall recover ha ha
Posted by: Nelly | June 12, 2011 at 04:18 AM
Love your box Karla. The color are perfect and so are all the details. Just beautiful.
xo Tina
Posted by: Tina | June 12, 2011 at 05:58 AM
Oh my goodness girl! just when I think you've outdid yourself you just jump to another level! This is just gorgeous!
Posted by: gypsy rose | June 12, 2011 at 06:55 AM
Karla ~ Your box is just beautiful!!! I love all of the sweet details ~
xoxo
Lori
Posted by: Lori | June 12, 2011 at 07:38 AM
OH, OH< OH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE THIS!!!!!!! LOVE this, love this! I'm probably the only person on the planet who doesn't like Velveeta though... Rats. The box is adorable. I could buy the cheese and give it to the food pantry sans the box. Do you suppose they'd mind? :o) "Here's the cheese, but I'd really like that box back." hahahahha! - Have a great Sunday! - Kathy
Posted by: Kathy | June 12, 2011 at 08:17 AM
That box is gorgeous Karla!!!! Love your little dress forms too. Hope I win that kit of goodies......
Posted by: JoAnne | June 12, 2011 at 08:20 AM
Your jewelry box is beautiful! Love all the lovely details!
Posted by: Sheila R | June 12, 2011 at 08:28 AM
Wow! What magic you created out of a cheese box! It's beautiful!
Posted by: Susan | June 12, 2011 at 08:30 AM
The Velveeta box is beautiful! You always transform ordinary items into beautiful pieces of work!
Velveeta melted with a can of Rotella (I think that's what it's called) makes a great chip dip! I could eat it all, but that would crash my diet!
Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Judy B. | June 12, 2011 at 09:06 AM
I never would have come up with the idea to use a velvet box, it was a fund raiser and challenge. But now I want to make more!
Sent from my iPad
Posted by: Karla Nathan | June 12, 2011 at 09:08 AM
Are you kidding me?? This is amazing! Your creative spirit just amazes me!! I am sure your box will be one of the more bid on boxes!!
Posted by: Jenny Sellars | June 12, 2011 at 09:35 AM
Gorgeous!! This is so creative.
Thank you for the inspiration.
Much love!
Posted by: Marcia | June 12, 2011 at 09:51 AM
Who would have thought you could make something so beautiful out of a velveeta cheese box! And yes, I used to love velveeta and macaroni!!
Posted by: Janet Ghio | June 12, 2011 at 09:53 AM
beautiful job Karla. How about a class in this at the next Bird Song???
Posted by: Sharon, Morrison Mercantile | June 12, 2011 at 10:45 AM
Silk purse and then some!
Holy Moly, that is a gorgeous piece. Wonderful work
and now I do want that casserole my mom made with
the velveeta......MMM MMM Good...
I would be bidding on that for sure!!
Posted by: fairyrocks | June 12, 2011 at 10:56 AM
Karla, only you ... it looks like it could be a miniature of one of the cabinets in your studio! What lucky gal got that at Paper Cowgirls, I wonder? I can't wait to hear about the event!
Posted by: Laurie Jackson | June 12, 2011 at 11:00 AM
Beautiful!! Love the little drawers! You are, indeed, a very talented woman!!
Sandy
Posted by: Sandy | June 12, 2011 at 11:02 AM
Holy Smokes! That is one amazing box! You are unbelievable in your creativeness. WOW! I'm so inspired, if I could just get my jaw off the floor and move now and get busy!
Posted by: Rhonda C. | June 12, 2011 at 12:01 PM
So this is absolutely 100 percent true. Thursday night I made White Velveeta Queso Blanco sauce... (Try it, says the temptress).... As I pitched the box, I gave it a long look. My mind was saying: "Do I pitch this or keep it? I mean... I think it could be something... I'll bet Karla or Beth would make something adorable."
But it's gone. And oh, baby... You sure did.. That is awesome... and I have only the inches on the hips to show for my guilty pleasure... Hmmmm.. There's a lesson there somewhere.
Posted by: Gayla | June 12, 2011 at 12:05 PM
Oooo! That box turned out soooo pretty! You are awesome Karla! xoxo karen...
Posted by: karen | June 12, 2011 at 12:22 PM
Karla, You have the most Creative Ideas, and the Armoire is just precious. Now I know what to do with the pieces of chipboaed I have had hanging around and almost tossed!
I hope you are having a Great week end!!
Huggs, Nancy
Posted by: Nancy | June 12, 2011 at 03:09 PM
Isn't that just the prettiest little jewellery box, and to think it started life so humbly.
Posted by: Lululiz | June 12, 2011 at 03:41 PM
Love it!
Posted by: Southern Lady's Vintage | June 12, 2011 at 04:12 PM
Such a cute box. Perhaps I'll have to buy some velvetta, although as far as I know I have never had any.
Posted by: Nancy Stone | June 12, 2011 at 04:14 PM
oh goodness,I grew up with Velveeta....made into a cream sauce with lots of pepper and smothering little cubes of pototoes, an Easter Brunch staple! My mom would always save the box bottoms, and every drawer in her house used them as drawer organizers. And now I have drawers of them too, inherited from her, perfect for holding pencils and brushes and xacto knives and... I don't eat the "cheese" (if you can call it that) anymore, but my mouth started watering remembering those potatoes ;-)
Posted by: maggieraguse@comcast.net | June 12, 2011 at 05:23 PM
and your box is gorgeous!! forgot to mention that...
Posted by: maggieraguse@comcast.net | June 12, 2011 at 05:23 PM
OH I am loving it..... it is just gorgeous.... I wish I could have seen it before you transformed it.. you have such a great talent..
Hugs;
Alaura
Posted by: alaurajane | June 12, 2011 at 06:11 PM
what a yummy darling "velvet" box..fabulous..loved that cheesy stuff once upon a time myself...
Posted by: bettyann | June 12, 2011 at 07:42 PM
Karla,
That is just stinking cute! I hate Velvetta, too. Never liked it as a child either. There is on recipe in which is is melted with mayonnaise and horseradish, then chilled and you eat it on crackers. That's pretty darn good!!!!
Great piece, though...I also digress!!!
Hugs,
Suz
Posted by: Susan Reaney | June 12, 2011 at 07:43 PM
That is so fabulous!
Posted by: Lisa H. | June 12, 2011 at 08:02 PM
Hi Karla I bought the dress form tutorial where do I go now to download it?
Posted by: Nelly | June 12, 2011 at 08:49 PM
I want to come play with you one day and eat mac-n-cheese for lunch. This box is just fabulous and what a neat place for antique treasures. Hope-hope-hope I win the tutorial. Keeping my fingers crossed (toes, too).
Posted by: Lorelei | June 12, 2011 at 09:55 PM
Our pal, kana won the box in the silent auction!
Sent from my iPad
Posted by: Karla Nathan | June 13, 2011 at 12:50 AM
I LOVE that box, Karla! It's gorgeous!
Hugs,
Julia
Posted by: Julia - Vintage with Laces | June 13, 2011 at 01:25 AM
I have absolutely no idea what Velveeta cheese is (as I'm not from America) but when I scrolled down and saw what was done to the box I was stunned - so beautiful!
Posted by: Elizabeth | June 13, 2011 at 01:29 AM
I would have hardly guessed this was a Velveeta box!! So beautiful - I LOVE it!! xxoo Heidi
Posted by: Heidi Meyer | June 13, 2011 at 04:04 PM
I never would have guessed that was a Velveeta box!! Very nice!
Posted by: Lisa Russell | June 13, 2011 at 08:59 PM
Karla,
Down here Velveeta (along with Cheez Whiz) are included in the basic food groups. You can't attend a Sunday social without a casserole laden with it. Wars are fought over it...just as they were Saturday night over yours and the other beautiful boxes!
Debbie
P.S. Next time...bring me the Velveeta. I'll dispose of it for you!
Posted by: debbie york | June 13, 2011 at 10:48 PM
Very beautiful, Karla! I'm sure the bidding will be heavy on this one! Totally worth the Velveeta escapade! :)
Posted by: mercedes scott | June 14, 2011 at 12:30 AM
Stunning creation, Karla! What an incredible transformation!!!
Posted by: Zita - Mlle Magpie | June 14, 2011 at 07:51 AM
Hi Karla, the velveta box is so adorable, what fun, you are so talented, makes me want to drop everything and play, then look around and realize oh, yeah, have to finish these other projects first! ha!, Celeste, victoriantailor.com
Posted by: Celeste Hude | June 14, 2011 at 10:12 AM
Hi Karla!
Love the box.
I am organizing a virtual party my blog, I invite you to participate if you like it.
The theme of the party are the fairies.
On 24 June, "World Day of the fairies".
You can wear a button to your blog.
In my blog I have a translator.
Hugs
Posted by: Jorgelina | June 14, 2011 at 03:48 PM
Absolutely stunning Karla!!! Who would of thought cheese box. Incredible details! Great job! Xoxo,Jenn
Posted by: Jennifer hayslip | June 14, 2011 at 09:15 PM
Wow -- a Velveeta box? Who knew? Looks fabulous in every way!
Posted by: jeanie | June 16, 2011 at 09:40 PM
ahhhh- that is soo gorgeous! i bet it helped raise some good money!
Posted by: cassie | June 16, 2011 at 10:44 PM
That is stunning!
Lori
Posted by: lori oles | June 18, 2011 at 08:22 AM
What a gorgeous box! I would love the chance to win a dressform tutorial. I just found your site and love your work! Kate
Posted by: kate | June 20, 2011 at 09:16 AM