Transfers For Wooden Gift Boxes!

Traditional ways of decorating a wooden gift box include painting, staining, carving, pyrography, inlay, laser etching, decoupage etc. But a novel way of decorating wood boxes that we discovered recently was by transferring photo images. This is a great way of personalizing wooden boxes and they make great gifts, not only at Christmas but at any time of the year.

Transferring any image from paper to another surface is fun and surprisingly easy. You don't need any special skills - just a little practice. Give it a go and soon you'll be looking for more ways to apply this simple technique!

Transfer Images On A Wooden Gift Box

The first thing you should bear in mind is that it's difficult to transfer an image obtained from an inkjet printer, as it will tend to smudge. That's okay if you like impressionism but not so good if you want a clean, crisp image transfer. So, what you'll need is a black and white or colour photocopied image.

The process of transferring the image involves applying a special transfer solution to the image you've chosen. You can purchase the transfer solution from any craft shop, or online. You then press down the image (photo side) onto the surface of the wooden box and leave it to dry.

The wooden box you have in mind can be unfinished, or if you want the image to stand out, it can be pre-painted with a water based emulsion paint, or even an oil paint.

Once the photo copy paper is dry, a damp cloth is used to wet the paper which is then gently removed leaving the image behind.

You can use a wood oil aerosol spray, or a proprietary seal from B&Q or Homebase to remove the paper residue and to provide a nice sheen or gloss finish.

The finished result is great because the image looks as though it's part of the wood rather than being stuck on like a paper transfer, or decoupage. So, what's stopping you - give it a go and release those creative juices!

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Hamper Boxes - A More Stylish Alternative To Traditional Hampers!

It's that time of year when people are thinking hard about food and drink and especially about Christmas hampers which is a tradition that seems to get stronger and stronger every year. Or does it?

Have you ever wondered why gift hampers have become so popular over the years? Everywhere you look - in high street shops and online stores, hampers are there. They're growing in popularity and this can only mean that people simply love receiving gift hampers!

Polmac Hamper Boxes For Fortnum & Mason

There is a great variety of hampers available for kids, for the older generation and for people who just want to be indulged. These are referred to as 'Pamper Hampers'.

If you check out this seasons hamper brochures you'll find that most feature traditional wicker baskets/  hampers. Traditional wicker hampers however, tend to have a slightly old-fashioned, colonial whiff about them although this may be a distinct advantage for some people.

A traditional wicker hamper will always figure in people's hearts but this year why not consider a more stylish, contemporary alternative.

Round Christmas Hamper Boxes

For instance, there are now hybrid hampers, or 'hamper boxes' that are made from a combination of wood and wicker infill panels.

There are also round hampers that look rather like tall hat boxes with lift off lids that are made from thin gauge Finnish plywood.

These hamper boxes can be supplied in a wide range of styles and finishes, including clear lacquer finishes, beautiful natural wood and colour stain finishes and vibrant block colours.

They can also be easily branded with printed logos or text, if a more personalised finish is required.

If you're feeling particularly creative, you can design your very own hamper boxes, so the next time you are thinking about sending a gift box, make yourself a cup of coffee, sit yourself down in your favourite easy chair and start designing. Now there's a thought!

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Bandsaw Boxes - Evocative & Appealing!

Band saw boxes are made from wood and are cut using a band saw. A solid, or laminated block of wood may be used to make a bandsaw box which often has a curvy linear shape, although not exclusively so.

They are quick, easy and fun to make and only require a 1/4 inch band saw blade with a hook profile. What looks good on the eye is simply marked up and cut out. The shapes and patterns that can be designed are almost limitless. 

Bandsaw Box

Other tools used to make bandsaw boxes depend upon the finish required. These may include sanding tools, carving tools and paint brushes if a painted colour finish is required.

Bandsaw boxes may be intricate and highly decorated, so are often used to store jewellery and trinkets and make great keepsake boxes.

They are particularly pleasing on the eye because everything fits so perfectly together. This is possible because all the various parts of the box are cut from the same block of wood and the 'kerf' or cut the bandsaw makes will be even all round.

Polmac (UK) Ltd uses this 'kerfing' technique to make it's wooden boxes, to ensure a perfect fit between the lids and bases. All six sides of the wooden box are glued together to make a composite carcass and the lid is then cut out from the top using a circular saw. In this instance the 'kerf' is made by the circular saw blade!

Bandsaws may be used to cut practically any irregular shape, which means that bandsaw boxes may be made into virtually any shape. If drawers are included for example, they may be a traditional rectangular, circular or oval shape.

No two bandsaw boxes are ever exactly alike because there are always variations in colour and texture from one piece of wood to the next, even if the wood is from the same tree. This is what can make bandsaw boxes so evocative and appealing!

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MDF - The Pros & Cons!

Medium density fibreboard (MDF) is a wood panel material made from wood cutting by-products in the saw mill, such as saw dust and wood chippings. These are bound together at high temperature and high pressure using resins and wax to make panel products.

The materials used in MDF often come from Pinewood but just about any type of wood waste can be used.

MDF is an extremely versatile material. It can be used around the home, in shops and offices and other commercial premises and can even be used to make gift boxes. It's generally denser than plywood and has similar applications.

Large scale production of MDF board started in Europe and North America in the 1980's and is still going strong with more and more demand.

MDF Board

MDF is a relatively inexpensive material compared with real wood and it glues and paints well.

It has a smooth, even finish without the irregularities associated with other panel products and there is no grain direction to worry about.

It's also very strong in compression, having almost twice the strength of particle board and it can be easily sawn, drilled and screwed using suitable wood fasteners.

However, just like particle board, MDF acts like a sponge and will absorb water readily and quickly unless it's properly sealed.

MDF has less strength than real wood which means that it may crack or split under pressure. It doesn't take nails well, so screws are always a better option. However, even when using screws, more may be required to prevent 'drooping'.

MDF also has some major environmental disadvantages...

The resins and binders used in MDF may contain formaldehyde which is a substance capable of causing cancer and which tends to 'off-gas' for years. This means MDF should always be sealed using laminates, veneers or painting to lock the gas in and not left 'raw'.

MDF can be recycled but the re-cycling processes are relatively new and there are few re-cycling centres available, so it's generally burned, or sent to landfill after use.

Unfortunately, in landfill the chemicals in the MDF may leach out over time and pollute the surrounding ground and water supply.

Furthermore, the resins used to produce MDF are emitted as dust when the material is drilled or sawn, so this can create a serious health and safety issues in the workplace.

This means that effective and often expensive mechanical extraction systems need to be installed in the workplace and operatives must wear suitable masks to filter the air they breathe.

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North American Bent Wood Boxes!

Traditional square or rectangular wooden boxes sometimes have rounded corners for effect. The process comprises making wood boxes with 90 degree corners, using traditional jointing methods such as mitres, butt joints, finger joints etc. and then reducing the corners to a rounded shape, either manually or by machine.

Bent wood boxes however are traditional wood boxes made by the First Nations people of North America from one piece of wood that's steamed and bent at the corners to form a box. The rounded corners are therefore formed naturally by the way they're made.

North American Bent Wood Box

Uses for bent wood boxes were varied and included food storage, cooking utensils, clothing accessories, for ceremonial purposes and burials, water carrying, canoes and dwellings.

Bent wood boxes were often elaborately decorated and / or carved, particularly if they were made for trading purposes, whilst other more utilitarian boxes were left plain undecorated.

Today, many bent wood boxes of different shapes and sizes are made for specialist collectors and can be purchased online, from museum gift shops, as well as directly from the craftsmen themselves.

Bent wood boxes are made from a single piece of wood in which three grooves called 'kerfs' have been cut where the corners occur. The wood is then steamed at each groove position, bent and pegged at the final corner to create the four sides of the box.

A cedar wood base is then fixed to the underside of the box using pegs and finally a lid is made for the top which is usually rebated to fit.

Steaming the wood makes it softer and therefore more pliable, especially if the wood is green, so it bends easily at the groove positions where the wood thickness has been reduced.

The First Nation people of North America used cedar wood because it was readily available in the areas they lived and because it has a straight grain, lending itself to being bent and is also lightweight and easily worked, making it the ideal material for making boxes.

Important members of the tribe were able to demonstrate their status by the number of bent wood boxes they possessed and how elaborately they were carved and / or decorated.

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Counter-Top Display Stands - An Effective Sales Tool!

It's essential that products offered for sale at events such as exhibitions and retail premises are displayed in a visually attractive manner, so as to draw people's attention to the display.

In retail premises, particularly smaller ones where display space is often at a premium, it's important to fully utilize all available display space particularly on counter tops.

Polmac Jura Whisky Counter-Top Display Stands

Point of sale displays are very effective sales tools because potential customers are invariably drawn to them and encourage them to make a purchase.

However, if products are displayed haphazardly on counter tops, not only does this detract from the overall appearance of the products on display, it also tends to encourage pilfering, which is a serious problem in retail!

It's therefore useful to have a display stand that can be placed on the counter itself in order to present a neat and visually attractive display that attracts the attention of potential customers.

Polmac Aromatherapy / Homeopathy Counter-Top Display Stand

Point of sale, counter-top display stands allow the products on display to be fully visible at all times and displayed in a logical and attractive manner, so customers can make their selection quickly and easily.

They're also particularly useful for special promotions, because they will act as a centerpiece for the display.

Counter-top display stands also discourage pilfering because products are displayed in a logical manner and the display is closer to the salesperson, so a missing item can be more easily spotted.

Furthermore, counter-top display stands and the products displayed can also be more easily cleaned to ensure an attractive appearance is maintained at all times.

Counter-top display stands may be manufactured as permanent display items, or supplied as flat packs to be quickly assembled for an exhibition or disassembled and shipped to another event.

Polmac (UK) Ltd supplies customized, wood counter-top display stands for a wide range of sectors including the health and beauty and premium quality whisky industries!

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Wood Presentation Wine Boxes - Elegant & Appealing!

Wooden boxes are an elegant and appealing way to present wine and make great gift ideas. On the more practical side, wine bottles in wood presentation boxes can be securely stored and easily accessed by means of hinged or sliding lids.

For most wine aficionados what counts of course is the finest vintage wine. However, I'm sure anyone who loves wine will enjoy any vintage even more when it comes in a finely crafted, wooden wine box.

Fortnum & Mason Single Bottle Wine Box

Wood is an extremely versatile material so wine boxes come in all shapes, sizes and designs. They can contain a single wine bottle or multiple bottles of wine. These 'wine cases' typically hold up to 12 bottles of wine and have a carrying handle because of the excessive weight.

Wine gift boxes can also include wine accessories such as cork screws and glasses to provide a complete wine tasting package.

There are also many variations on the theme such as champagne boxes, port and stilton boxes, with personal touches added, such as engravings, scrolls and hand written, or printed personal messages.

Fortnum & Mason Port & Stilton Box

Personal touches add value and an 'emotional charge' to the entire experience, so make the wine box, or wine gift set more memorable and therefore more marketable.

That is why many companies give gifts of wine in elegant wooden boxes to their customers particularly at Christmas time, as an expression of thanks for their continuing custom.

This custom is reminiscent of the time when wine was packed in rustic wooden cases to provide a perfect addition to anyone's wine collection.

Wine makes a wonderful gift for family, friends and business associates who take wine seriously. Nothing makes a more thoughtful statement than a fine bottle of wine in a beautifully crafted wooden gift box.

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