A Touch of Nostalgia

If you’ve worked as long as I have, you probably remember these wooden boxes that used to be on everyone’s desk.  These were in/out boxes, and there was always an “in” box on one corner & an “out” box on the other.  As papers came in, they were signed & then put in the “out” box for pick up & distribution.  Occasionally the boxes would be stacked with metal connectors & include a third or fourth box which was “hold for later” or “file.”

Computers have changed the work process flow & papers now come & leave via electronic means.  It is scarce for any document to be hard-copy signed because of secure electronic signature capability.

These boxes are now old dinosaurs & during office clean-up, they get thrown into the waste basket.  When I see them in the trash, I am overcome with nostalgia & I have to take them out & spare them from going to the landfill.

They make great trays & I have seen some pretty fancy ones decorated with handles, but it is a rare occasion that anyone uses a tray and serves anymore.  I like to use the trays as a catch-all to contain other items on a dresser or in a drawer. 

I have a bedroom with touches of pink & I plan to use this one to corral some other smaller items.  I have a lamp which I will place in it and then work the other things around it.

The polka dots are a gift wrap tissue paper that I used mod-podge to hold in place.  I love working with mod-podge, making many Christmas ornaments with it.  There are a few wrinkles in the finished product because large paper pieces are challenging to manage – it’s like hanging wallpaper – but once you get your items on the tray, you will not notice any tiny flaws.

I have a few other boxes & right now don’t have any ideas, but something will come to me later.  If you have an idea, please share.