If you are creative and want to make something special for your little boy or girl, a cute music box would sure bring a smile to their face as well as create a memory to last a lifetime! If you are so inclined, here are the directions for a fun "Whistle While You Work" music box taken from Sharon Ganske's book, "Making Marvelous Music Boxes."

Materials Needed

For the Base, Including Music Box Accessories:

Wooden trunk
9" wide X 5 1/2" deep x 5" high
18 note key-wind musical movement
Turntable, 1"
Key extende, 1/2"
4 wooden bells, 1"
Sandpaper
Wood Sealer

Decorative Accessories for Music Box:

Assortment of Lego buiding blocks
Yellow Lego building board, 5" x 5 1/2"
Border stencil, 1 1/2"-wide design
Acrylic Paint Colors:

To match Lego building blocks

Blue
Green
Red
Yellow

Adhesives and Spray Sealer:

Industrial strength glue
Stencil, Adhesive, or tape
Gloss spray sealer

Tools and Brushes:

Drill with 1/4" drill bit
Old paintbrush
Paintbrush
Paper towels

Stenciling

Sponge brush

Step by Step Assembly Instructions

Step One:

Using sandpaper, sand the wooden trunk of the music box as well as the lid. Next, use an old paintbrush to apply wood sealer to the trunk and lid following the manufacturer's directions. Allow to dry throughly.

Step Two:

Using a paintbrush, paint the sides of the trunk with yellow acrylic paint. Next, paint the lid and bottom of base with blue and bells with red.

Step Three:

Using stencil, adhesive, or tape, center the border stencil between top and bottom of one side of the trunk. Using a stenciling sponge brush, sponge the stencil with green, red, and blue acrylic paint. Dip a small edge of the sponge brush in green acrylic paint, stenciling one side at a time. Blot on paper towels. Then, lighlty sponge one area at a time that is to be green, being careful not to get paint on unwanted areas. Allow to dry throughly.

You will next carefully sponge over the green areas again with enough coats to cover them completely-do not apply the paint too heavily or it will run under the stencil. Do not remove the stencil. Repeat the process with red and then blue. When dry, remove the stencil, and sponge the three remaining sides in the same way. Allow to dry throughly. Spray trunk, lid, and bells with gloss sealer.

Step Four:

Drill a 1/4" hole in the center front of trunk.

Step Five:

Using industrial strength glue, glue a few Lego blocks together for a winding knob. Glue turntable to back center for Lego winding knob.

Step Six:

Glue musical movement inside trunk, making sure the winding-key shaft is centered in hole. Remove the lid. Glue 5" x 5 1/2" yellow Lego building board to top of the lid, making sure it is centered. Turn the trunk upside down, and glue one bell to bottom of the box at corners for legs. Allow to dry.

Step Seven:

Wind the turntable onto key extender. Wind the key-extender onto the winding key-shaft. The turntable is the winding key. Using the remaining Lego building blocks, create anything you desire. Then, you can take the creation apart and build something new as well!

Making a music box for your child can be a lot of fun. All it takes is a willingness to try. Begin today and create a memory to last a lifetime!

Copyright 2006 Monique Hawkins