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A Box of Ancestor Stories

1/8/2020

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Do you have some treasures you want to pass down to your children and grandchildren? How about decoupaging a box?

In previous blogs I wrote about telling stories that have been passed down about your ancestors. Your children need to hear those stories. I chose to do it with little mini-books. Pinterest is full of ideas about those little books, and I wanted to give them a try. I had so much fun, I wanted to pass that idea on here in my blog.

But I needed something to keep those little books in. There are tons of decorative boxes that you can get in craft stores. But I needed one wherein I could try my hand at decoupaging. Also I wanted to personalize it. In my search for the perfect box, I found a "Santa" box at my local craft store that looks like a big book. I decided that was perfect.
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This "Santa" box that looks like a book. I found it at Hobby Lobby. I thought it was perfect for my books, and I simply decoupaged over the image on the front.
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At the same store, they have papier-mache boxes that look like books. These would work great as well.
Finding the perfect box!

After I found the box that fit my needs, I got out my Mod Podge and started decoupaging. I put the youtube video that includes directions at the end of this blog. I simply used scrapbook paper and card stock that I deemed appropriate for my box. I was set to go!

Note the papier-mache box above that I also found. One could really get creative with such a box. You could even use paints. Whatever...just have fun. If you're looking for a "New Year's" craft, I think this fills the bill. 

And you don't have to use it for ancestor stories as I am doing. It would be great for favorite family photos, essays about your children and grandchildren, or essays about those ancestors--you don't have to create a mini-book.

I've heard of grandparents writing a letter to their grandchildren to be read upon the grandparents' passing. These little boxes would be perfect to house those letters. The ideas are endless.
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My box after I decoupaged it.
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The inside of the book/box. I left the bold Christmas plaid. I thought it was perfectly fine.
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My mini-book about my great-great-great grandfather walking home after the Civil War. I fell in love with that story when my mother told it.
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The story about my husband's grandmother doing the back-breaking work of picking cotton on the South Plains of Texas.
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My little book with my mother-in-law's description of coming to America.
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The book about my grandchildren's great-grandfathers and their participation in World War II.
I plan to include more mini-books to this collection.

​Previous blogs about writing ancestor stories:

​www.gigisseasonings.com/blog/ancestors-stories
​www.gigisseasonings.com/blog/sharing-stories-of-grit
Youtube video on how to decoupage:

​www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGNsRu_3KLI
Websites for making mini-books:

​www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHa6kR2SZok
​blog.consumercrafts.com/paper-crafts/smash-books-the-un-scrapbook/


​Parting thought~


I'll end with a quote from previous blogs. I simply love it:

"I am bound to them, though I cannot look into their eyes or hear their voices. I honor their history. I cherish their lives. I will tell their story. I will remember them." Author unknown.
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    Retired school teacher and now full time grandmother sharing ideas and looking for new ones about grandparenting!

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