Seeing Red – Βλέποντας κόκκινο (Έχω τα νεύρα μου)

Another month, another party, another gift.  Yes friends, if you have kids you know what…

Another month, another party, another gift.  Yes friends, if you have kids you know what I mean. Being the DIY mom that I am, I always encourage my children to make gifts for their friends or at least some aspect of the gift.  In this way I achieve a double purpose.   The gift will have special meaning not only for the recipient who gets a hand crafted gift but also for the child who learns the value of  things. 

Ένας άλλος μήνας, ένα άλλο κόμμα, ένα άλλο δώρο. Ναι φίλοι, αν έχετε παιδιά ξέρετε τι εννοώ. Εφόσον είμαι DIY μαμά, πάντα ενθαρρύνω τα παιδιά μου να κάνουν δώρα για τους φίλους τους ή τουλάχιστον κάποια κομμάτι του δώρου. Με τον τρόπο αυτό πραγματοποιώ ένα διπλό σκοπό. Το δώρο θα έχει ιδιαίτερη σημασία όχι μόνο για τον παραλήπτη που παίρνει ένα χειροποίητο δώρο, αλλά και για το παιδί που μαθαίνει την αξία των πραγμάτων.
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A gift box wrapped in fabric, Seeing Red www.theboondocksblog.com
On the day of the party my lovely offspring came to me and with watery, pleading eyes asking for my help. (No matter that I had been n̶a̶g̶g̶i̶n̶g̶  asking politely to get it done beforehand.) As we brain stormed we realized she was in a bind because she had no idea what to get for her friend. She only knew that the gift had to have the color red!  At this point I was seeing Red!! Not having much to go on, I looked around the house and came up with this:

Την ημέρα του πάρτη το παιδάκι μου ήρθε σε μένα και με υγρά μάτια, ζήτησε τη  βοήθειά μου. (Δεν έχει σημασία που γ̶κ̶ρ̶ί̶ν̶ι̶α̶ζ̶α̶

, ζητούσα ευγενικά να το κάνει εκ των προτέρων.) Καθώς σκεπτόμασταν, συνειδητοποιήσαμε ότι ήταν σε δύσκολη θέση, γιατί δεν είχε ιδέα τι να πάρει για τη φίλη της. Ήξερε μόνο ότι το δώρο έπρεπε να έχει το κόκκινο χρώμα! Σε αυτό το σημείο έβλεπα κόκκινο, δηλαδή ο μεγάλος θυμός!! Κοίταξα μέσα στο σπίτι και κατέληξε με αυτό:
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An old laminate backgammon, chess box before, Seeing Red www.theboondocksblog.com
It was an old wood and laminate box, with a chess pattern on the outside and backgammon on the inside. Instantly I thought of chalk paint, because it was the only thing that would stay on without prior preparation and it would dry fast. Here is what it looked like after 2 coats.

Ήταν ένα παλιό κουτί από ξύλο και μελαμίνη, με ένα μοτίβο σκάκι στο εξωτερικό και το τάβλι στο εσωτερικό. Αμέσως σκέφτηκα μπογιά κιμωλίας, γιατί ήταν το μόνο πράγμα που κολλάει  χωρίς προηγούμενη προετοιμασία και θα στεγνώσει γρήγορα.  Έτσι  έμοιαζε μετά από 2 στρώσεις.
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painting the box with chalk paint, Seeing Red www.theboondocksblog.com
Nice but boring. I wanted to give it lots of texture and make it look like old wood.  So I mixed up some colors with the chalk paint and  randomly brushed them on. 

Ωραίο αλλά βαρετό. Ήθελα να του δώσω υφή και να φανεί σαν παλιό ξύλο. Γι ‘αυτό και ανακάτεψα κάποια χρώματα με το μπογιά κιμωλίας και το έβαψα τυχαία.
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dding colors to the chalk paint to give it depth and texture, Seeing Red www.theboondocksblog.com
I wanted it to have the feel of old wood, grainy with lots of texture. Not chalky paint smooth at all. 

Το ήθελα να έχει την αίσθηση του παλιού ξύλου, κοκκώδη με πολύ υφή. Να μην  είναι  ομαλό.
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laminate made to look like old wood, Seeing Red www.theboondocksblog.com
close up of the paint made to look like old wood, Seeing Red www.theboondocksblog.com
Now for the red, my little helper added distressed red on the sides. 

Τώρα για το κόκκινο, η μικρή βοηθός μου πρόσθεσε κόκκινο στις πλευρές.
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Adding red on the sides, Seeing Red www.theboondocksblog.com
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And on the inside…

Και στο εσωτερικό …
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red acrylic paint on the inside, Seeing Red www.theboondocksblog.com
The box was done.   We quickly added a layer of homemade furniture wax and  hoped for the best.  

Το κουτί τελείωσε.  Γρήγορα προσθέσαμε μια στρώση σπιτικό κερί για έπιπλα και  ελπίσαμε για το καλύτερο.
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finished box, Seeing Red www.theboondocksblog.com
top of finished box, Seeing Red www.theboondocksblog.com
Angled view of painted box, Seeing Red www.theboondocksblog.com
And she filled it up with lots of homemade goodies.
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Και αυτή το γέμισε με πολλά δωράκια.
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Some extra gifts inside the box, Seeing Red www.theboondocksblog.com
adding texture to a laminate box, Finished backgammon laminate box painted to look like old wood, Seeing Red www.theboondocksblog.com
Here it is before:

​Εδώ το πριν:
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Box before, Seeing Red www.theboondocksblog.com
Considering that we finished this in a few hours I would have to say that it turned out pretty well.  Was there a lesson in all of this?  Will I be seeing red again?  Or will we have enough common sense to plan out our gift preparations, instead of waiting for the last minute?

Λαμβάνοντας υπόψη ότι το τελειώσαμε μέσα σε λίγες ώρες, θα πρέπει να πω ότι το  αποτέλεσμα ηταν αρκετά καλό. Υπάρχει ένα μάθημα εδώ;  Ίσως ξαναδώ κόκκινο και πάλι; Ή θα έχει αρκετή κοινή λογική να κάνει προετοιμασίες για τα δώρα, αντί να περιμένει την τελευταία στιγμή;
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Finished backgammon laminate box painted to look like old wood, Seeing Red www.theboondocksblog.com
Of course the real lesson is in the joy of giving and to that end she was very ecstatic and the  birthday girl was equally happy. 

Φυσικά το πραγματικό δίδαγμα είναι στην χαρά της προσφοράς και προς το σκοπό  αυτό  ήταν πολύ εκστατική και η παραλήπτρια ήταν εξίσου χαρούμενη.
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adding texture to a laminate box with chalk paint, Finished backgammon laminate box painted to look like old wood, Seeing Red www.theboondocksblog.com
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86 Comments

  2. Mary, this is stunning! I’ve never used chalk paint before, but absolutely have to try it out!!! I love the outcome! And I so hear ya! We have parties going on like almost every week and I love the idea of making presents. It’s so personal and just great!

    1. Katrin, chalk paint it the best. It gave me loads of texture and I was able to customize the paint color. Also I make my own because we do not have it where I live. If you are interested you can contact me. Thanks for your sweet comments.

  3. Μπράβο σου Μαίρη μου ,για το όμορφο αποτέλεσμα και το μάθημα προσφοράς ,δημιουργίας και χαράς ! Ίσως στο ελεύθερο χρόνο σας να κάνετε ,μαζί κάτι και να το κρατά ως απόθεμα για κάποια άλλη περίπτωση !Καλ’η σου βδομάδα !

    1. Ολυμπία, χαίρομαι πάρα πολύ που με επισκέφτηκες. Ευχαριστω για τα καλά σου λόγια, και όντως, τα περνάμε καλά με τις κοπέλες μου. Καλή εβδομαδα και σε σένα.

    1. Hi Suzan with the furniture. It does not look like a laminate box, and that is enough for me! Thanks for dropping by!

  5. I love what you’ve done here! Personal gifts are always the greatest to get. I’m not good at crafting, but I admire people who can. Thank you for leaving a comment on my post the other day. I replied there and am so glad you stopped by. 🙂

    1. Trying to come up with personal gifts can be hard some times but in the end it is so worth it. Thank you for your kind words and I am so glad you were able to stop by.

  6. Love that you are teaching your children the value of “made with love by your own hands” gifts. There is nothing better than receiving something made by someone you care about. Love this makeover and the handmade goodies inside. Mom saves the day!!!

    1. Thank you Marie, I wouldn’t have it any other way, gotta teach them while they’re still young. I’m so glad you stopped by.

  7. Ενα όμορφο κουτί είναι πάντα η καλύτερη ιδέα! Καθώς θα μεγαλώνει το κοριτσάκι, θα το χρησιμοποιεί και για διαφορετικό σκοπό. Μπράβο στην κόρη σου που ασχολήθηκε να το φτιάξει!

    1. Ευχαριστω Αγγελική μου, είναι πάντα ομαδικές προσπάθειες, όπως κι αυτό το μπλογκ… πάντα ζητάω τις γνώμες των κοριτσιών μου.

    1. Pili, thanks, it was such a rush job, that is what got me angry.. but in th end it turned out well, althought that red on the inside could have used another hand.

  9. Hi Mary,
    What a pretty red box you fixed up with goodies to use for your daughters party. It was nice you worked on it together.
    Thanks for joining and sharing this at Cooking and Crafting with J & J.
    Enjoy the week.
    Julie

  10. Well, the box turned out great and was the perfect vessel for the goodies inside! Do I think you will see “red” again? Absolutely, because our little darlings seem to think it’s their duty to spring things at the last minute. My kiddos have kiddos, so I can only smile when I think of the times they will receive payback…..lol!
    Thank you so much for the visit, Mary, and for your sweet comments!

    1. Jessica, if I can teach them to be environmentally friendly in this way that I am one happy mom. Thanks for stopping by.

  12. Πόσο όμορφο έγινε και δείχνει σαν καινούργιο! Σίγουρα τα χειροποίητα δώρα είναι δώρα καρδιάς Μαίρη μου… Καλή συνέχεια

    1. Ευχαριστω Χριστίνα, όλα καλά πήγαν στο τέλος, αλλά μέχρι να φτάσουμε εκεί…. Ευχαριστω που πέρασες από δω.

  13. Ειναι πολυ ωραίο που τους μαθαίνεις να φτιαχνουν μόνα τους δωρα για τους φίλους! Και το κουτι σας βγήκε πολυ καλό, απίστευτη μεταμόρφωση!

    1. Ευχαριστω Ντινα μου. Να μεγαλώσουν να γίνουν DIYers σαν και μένα 😉

  16. Fantastic transformation! Hello my dear! Thank you for the beautiful and inspirational post! We would love for you to share this post at our WIW Party today! Hope you can join us!
    Paula
    ivyandelephants.blogspot.com

  18. Mary, completely fabulous as always! The box looks great, and the loot inside even more so! You and your daughter are pretty clever cookies, I have to say. I’ve encouraged my 15 year old to offer to make the birthday person their birthday cake. It’s been a great experience for her and for them! Thanks for sharing this one at Five Star Frugal. Love, Mimi xxx

    1. And Mimi, the sense of accomplishment and the smile on their faces is priceless. Thanks for stopping by. xxx

  19. Looks like a great gift – even if it was last minute! Thanks for sharing with us at the #HomeMattersParty link party

    1. Thank you Ann Marie, yes it is memorable all right, now she wants to work on a Birthday gift that is for next year. I guess my “seeing red’ lesson worked. Thanks for dropping by.

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