Happiness in a Box

As a mother of 8, I’m always looking for things to create that are fun and that give me a chance to be able to also give happiness to others in my painting obsession. Plus it’s also nice to have that little get away of time to just enjoy myself and what I love to do, and that’s paint. I really love to paint anything, well except for walls LOL. I also love peacocks and flamingos! So what better thing to do than to paint what I love and what others are passionate about as well.

Because of my bird passions and my daughter’s love for sea turtles I decided to create some custom hand painted mailboxes. I figured they would brighten our days in our comings and going’s and she’ll have a small reminder of how much I love her every time she gets her mail or drives in or out of her driveway. For other special people in my life as well in the near future as well as offering them to others who may have a passion they’d like to incorporate in their lives as well to cheer up their days! It’s just FUN!

I start by cutting my craft paper with my handy dandy, tried and true, super sharp Fiskar scissors to the shape of the mailbox, then I carefully hand draw the design for each main part of the body (peacock, etc) for the mailbox. Once that is designed, the extra 3-D dimensional parts of the heads or wings or whatever is needed get drawn out on craft paper as well and using my Fiskar scissors again I carefully cut out the patterns for my hubby who then helps me create these beautiful boxes. He traces the patterns on the different wood pieces required and carefully cuts them and sands them smooth to create the special wood body parts needed for each specific box. Then he primes them and let’s me loose. Now it’s my time and turn to let my artistic ability flow. I passionately hand painted each one! I’m no expert by any means, but I think my passion shows in each piece.

I was so proud and excited with my first peacock mailbox. I displayed it outside the front of my house and by the second day someone bought it right off my post out front! So now it has a new home that loves it and proudly displays it and enjoys it as well. One of a kind pieces of art like this are so enjoyable too because it gives you something that no one else has, this is a great way to express your passions.

I’ve since replaced it with a new one and I have secretly finished a sea turtle to surprise my daughter for her upcoming 26th birthday! We’re going to install it at her house while she’s at work. What a grand surprise she’ll have when she gets home!

I’ve had a couple of requests that I have designed as well (mermaid etc) and I try to do whatever people are interested in. It’s a nice side hobby to help get that little money xtra income in these times.

It’s fun and satisfying knowing someone has a one of a kind piece of art that you made and proudly displays for all to see! It’s nice knowing you can help create a little happiness in someone passion that they might not have had otherwise! It’s the little things sometimes that create happiness...in this case a little craft paper, paint, some sharp Fiskar scissors and a blank slate of a mailbox.

Hopefully you can find something you’re this passionate about too that everyone involved thoroughly enjoys. And don’t forget those Fiskar scissors to help you on your crafting journey!