Hobbies

 by: Monique Hawkins

Creating inlaid music boxes, wooden jewelry boxes, musical jewelry boxes, children's jewelry boxes, and other music boxes is an enjoyable hobby for some people. Here are seven hints to help the process go more smoothly.

Secure the Musical Movement

Use industrialized strength glue to secure musical movements into music boxes. Place a few dots of hot glue around the edges of the music movement if it is in a place where it can shift while the glue is drying.

Boxes with Pre-Drilled Holes

If one does not desire to drill holes into their music boxes, boxes can be purchased which already have holes. These are called "musical mementos boxes". Make sure the accessories fit the holes, however.

Simple Outlining

A liner paintbrush used with thinned paint helps to make outlining more easily; make sure the paint is not too thick.

Making Perfect Dots

When needing to paint decorative dots on an inlaid music box, wooden jewelry box, or other styles of music boxes, use the end of a paintbrush (opposite the bristles). Use different brushes for a variety of sizes.

Perfect Hearts

Use the end of a paintbrush to make a heart. Make two dots next to each other with them touching at the center. Next, pull the paint down into a "V". Fill with paint.

Correcting Mistakes

Babies' wipes quickly and efficiently blot out mistakes. The wipes clean the paint before it is absorbed into the base coat of paint.

Sealing Difficult Surface Areas

If a musical jewelry box, children's jewelry box, or any music box that is being created has a hard surface to coat, acrylic primer/sealer can be sued. The sealer finish is white, but it can be painted over with colored paint for the desired color.

Creating music boxes is a great hobby. Whether it is a musical jewelry box, inlaid music box, wooden jewelry box, or any style of music box, the process does not have to be difficult. Follow these seven helpful hints and be on your to making a dream music box to last a lifetime.

Copyright 2006 Monique Hawkins