BOX PREPARATION AND BACKGROUND
The box can be designed with the lid to open up, down or to one side. The main label is pasted inside the lid.
The box is painted on the outside, either with any of the rubber-base (latex) paints, or with paint from a spray can. The inside of the box is given one or two coats of the black latex paint. (Other flat black paints may also be used.)
Be very sure to wash any brushes that are used with the latex paint very soon after use. Use warm water and bar soap (such as Ivory). Once the rubber-base paint hardens there is little that can be done to restore the bristles.
A piece of black construction paper is cut to fit the box interior in a curve from one side to the other. The magazine picture or large post-card you are using for the background is pasted to the construction paper, using Tri-Tix rubber cement. Then this curved paper is pasted to the box.
FOREGROUND BLOCKS AND FIGURES
If it is desired, a foreground base can be made with a block of balsa wood or a piece of styrofoam plastic. The material is carved to blend, in surface contours, with the background picture. If the background picture has land with uneven contours, with hills or bluffs, it will be best to carve the block with a slope down away from the front of the box.
