You have a friend or loved one who is getting married or is a newlywed. You desire to give a special gift to show your love and support, but don't know what to give. If you are one who loves arts and crafts, and are creative, why not give a handmade wedding music box? It would make a creative and unique gift! If you are game, here are instructions for a beautiful, handmade, "Wedding March Music Box". This is taken from Sharon Ganske's book, "Making Marvelous Music Boxes."



Step One: Prepare chipboard boxes. Another name for them is chipwood boxes. Since the sides of the boxes are flimsy, you would need to reinforce them by applying hot glue around the inside of the box between the side and bottom. After the glue has hardened, apply a heavy layer of Tacky glue to the insides of the box and then allow to dry.

Step Two: Cut two strips: one 2" x16" and another 13/4" x 11 ?", and two circles: one 5" and another 3/2", from white jacquard fabric. Using thin-bodied Tacky glue, laminate fabric strips to sides of boxes. Make sure bottom edges are even. Wrap ?" of excess fabric circles to box bottoms.

Step Three: Drill a ? hole in center lid on large box. The small lid will not be used.

Step Four: Using a paintbrush, paint the outside of lid with white acrylic paint. Spray with matte sealer.

Step Five: Using industrial-strength glue, glue turntable to center of cake plate with the shaft sticking up. Glue musical movement to inside of lid, centering winding-key shaft in hole. Using Tacky glue, glue lid on box. Allow to dry thoroughly.

Step Six: Turn boxes over. Bottom of boxes will now be referred to as top of boxes. Using a glue gun, hot0glue scalloped flat pleated lace around the bottom, open end, of small box. Glue remaining lace around the bottom edge (lid) of large box. Glue pleated satin ruffle on top of scalloped flat pleated lace on large box only so it is on the bottom. Glue pleated icing satin ribbon around the side of lid at bottom of large box. Glue ?" scalloped wedding lace around sides of large box. Glue bottom open end of small box to the top center of large box.

Step Seven: Using industrial strength glue, glue plastic standing heart cake decoration and bride and groom figurines to top of cake. Allow to dry thoroughly.

Step Eight: Glue two flower sprays to the front of plastic heart and two to the back by placing large end of the flower spray at bottom of heart and curving it toward center of heart. Cascade remaining flower spray down left side of bride and groom.

Step Nine: Wind cake onto turntable. The turntable is the winding key.

Note: To wash cake plate, remove cake from turntable.

Music Box Variations

Instead of making this music box into a wedding cake, try a birthday cake. Two layers are not necessary, but can be used. To replicate frosting roses, use small porcelain or ceramic roses. To make candles, simply cut thin dowels into an appropriate length. Sand if necessary, and paint with acrylic paint. For the wick, glue a small piece of white string to the center top of painted dowels. Cut the stem from a "Happy Birthday" floral pick and glue it to the top of the birthday cake. If the cake is for a child, it can be decorated with pre-painted plastic or resin clowns and balloons. Use a bright-colored ribbon as the icing to go around the edges. Of course, simply using black jacquard fabric instead of white can make an "Over-the-Hill" cake. Using white puff paint, carefully print sentiments to the birthday honoree.

Weddings are beautiful occasions. It is important to give someone a gift that will bring special memories for years to come. Giving a handmade wedding music box would m

Copyright 2006 Monique Hawkins