box

I was recently commissioned by an artist to make an A3 clam shell box. Embossed on the front with the title '19 Minutes of History' it holds a piece of work looking at Obama's inaugural address...


I think this picture (copyright Sam Knott) gives a good idea of how the finished piece worked (click to enlarge!) I wish I got to see it in person :)


The making of the box was a challenge as it always is when making something for somebody else. I always hope my expectations of how a piece should look are the same as theirs, but it's always a relief when the response to a work (especially one that is commissioned via email without the commissioner seeing my work in person) is positive! And I was pleased with how this box turned out, just the right amount of space between box and lid, not too flappy or too tight, nice neat corners and no wrinkles on the lining, in fact I quite wanted to keep it myself...


Here's a close up of the test piece for the emboss on the front...


As this box was needed for quite a tight deadline, instead of etching a copper plate to emboss the text (like this one) which is quite time consuming, I tried out just embossing with a piece of thick card and then photo mounting the printed text into the recess and I'm really pleased with the result. Quick, easy (as long as it lines up right...) cheap, better for the environment (no wasted copper) and looks good too :)

I'm hoping to try out more embossing techniques soon; the woodwork department at work is getting a lasercutter and I have high hopes for lasercut embossing plates...