Materials:

• a wooden box blank;
• fine-grained sandpaper;
• white acrylic primer;
• white wood putty;
• a palette knife;
• rice paper for decoupage;
• white glue;
• a synthetic brush,
• a porous sponge;
• white acrylic paint;
• pearl red acrylic paint;
• brown acrylic paint;
• beige acrylic paint;
• acrylic lacquer.

1. Process the box with fine-grained sandpaper. Carefully remove the dust with a synthetic brush.

2. Apply acrylic primer on the sanded blank in several layers and let it dry according to the instructions for the primer. I dried it for about one hour at a room temperature. Between each layer of the primer I also carefully sandpaper the blank with the same sandpaper to remove raised fibres of wood. Remove the dust with a brush.

3. Before the final sanding, inspect the blank for cracks, bumps, dents. Gently close them with a thin layer of putty applying it with a palette knife.

After the complete drying of the putty sandpaper the blank again and remove the resulting dust.

4. Select a picture for the box lid, and then cut it with a size of the lid leaving some space in a circle (about 0.5 cm).

Choose a picture for the inside part of the lid and cut it. In order to hide the border of the rice paper, gently process the pattern at the edges, making it uneven.

5. Cover the lid with white glue (do not use too much glue, otherwise it will be spread on the side faces of the box).

Carefully transfer the rice paper on the lid "face up" trying to avoid the formation of bubbles, jams and breaks. If you did not manage to evenly glue the paper for the first time, cover it with an ordinary office file and using any plastic card expel excess glue and air and smoothen the paper with soft stroking movements from the centre to the edges. Remove the excess glue that spilled on the side face with a damp cloth. Make sure that the paper going beyond the face of the top cover is not glued to the sidewall of the box.

Cover the top part of the pattern with a thin layer of white glue and let it dry naturally. The time of complete drying of the glue depends on the thickness of the layer and the quality of the glue.

6. After the complete drying, bend the protruding parts of the paper around the perimeter of the top lid, and then carefully sandpaper them with gentle movements, applying a fine-grained sandpaper exactly on the edge of the top cover. We get the picture within the borders of the top lid.

7. Apply the remaining pattern prepared according to the method described in step 6 to the inner side of the upper lid.

8. Cover both pictures with a thin layer of acrylic lacquer. This is made to ensure that if the background appears there will be an opportunity to correct mistakes or extra paint, just erasing the paint with a damp cloth until it is dry. Give the lacquer time to dry. My lacquer dries for 1 hour.

9. Take white acrylic paint and paint the outer side faces of the box, the top lid inside the box and ribs using a synthetic brush. Carefully apply the paint around the pattern. If you accidentally paint the picture, quickly remove paint with a damp cloth.

Apply required number of paint layers to create an even color without spots. Let the paint dry after each layer.

10. After drying of the white paint cover it with a thin layer of lacquer and let it dry.

11. Then cover the bottom of the box and the inner side faces with red pearl acrylic paint color. If paint is applied on a white surface remove it with a damp cloth.

12. Put a porous sponge in a red pearl paint, leave the excesses on a sheet of paper, and then apply the sponge to all faces of the box from the inner side and the outer side. Apply the sponge to the background around the cats in exactly the same way.

13. Choose the colors used in the picture with a cat. In our case, they are brown and beige. Gently draw the cats on the inside and the outside.

Paint the ball in the cat's hands with red pearl paint to blend it with the bottom of the box.

13. Let the paint dry and cover the entire box with acrylic paint in several layers, letting each layer dry before applying the next layer.

14. After drying of the lacquer, glue a ribbon on the lower side faces. I use organza ribbon, since it is better linked with the surface, and that is important for the box, because it will be constantly in use.

The ribbon is glued by applying acrylic lacquer (not suitable for satin ribbons, as the lacquer will penetrate the ribbon and leave stains on it).

After drying of the lacquer, tie a bow using the remaining ends of the ribbon, cut the excess and seal the tips with a lighter.

A sweet and touching "Cat in Love" jewelry box is ready for use. It will be pleasing its owner for many years and bring a romantic mood in any interior.

Thank you for your attention and good luck with your creativity!