Birthday box

As I'm still waiting for the weather to become summer-ish finally, I'll dig out a summer project from my stash again. 

However, first things first - a short backstory:
When my sister's Kiwi in-laws toured Europe last year, she prepared a hiking holiday for them in one of the most beautiful parts of Slovenia, the Triglav National Park. After they'd be done exploring the country on foot, they'd spend a couple of days in Ljubljana and head towards Austria to meet our mom before going home. 
As the mother-in-law would celebrate her birthday in our place, one cannot go without giving presents - if only it would be something she could actually bring back home to New Zealand!
Due to the entry requirements of the country, we could forget about your usual Slovene treats: potica, honey, jam... Another option would be some traditional handcraft, but all that came to mind was either too bulky to travel with or something that she'd already have. 
We were slowly running out of ideas until we had lunch with my sister's friend and her husband the other day, and she suggested Idrija lace. Of course! How come we didn't come up with this delicate piece of art that certainly doesn't violate any laws and is easy to carry in one's luggage? 
Needless to say, we went straight to the lace shop right after lunch. It is conveniently located in the city center of Ljubljana, and the lady at the counter gave her best guiding us through the products they offer: from napkins to tablecloths, towels and decorative ornaments - obviously, their huge selection didn't make it easy for us to find the one piece that would do the trick. 
We finally purchased a traditional ornament and decided it would look great on a piece of coloured cardboard placed behind one of those glass plates without a frame.

Once my sister made her choice (because why would a son pick his mom's birthday gift if he can transfer responsibility to his girlfriend?), she asked me if I could take care of the glass and else.  Being a good sister, though, I thought I might as well improvise and focus on that "else" thing.

The glass frame thing was an easy one thanks to a local photographer/photo supply shop, meaning I could get lost in my crafting corner to create a matching gift box. Not knowing the recipient, and having the travel/packing thing in mind, I decided to go with a rather neutral outline without any major embellishments that might get damaged or ripped off in a suitcase. In the end, I stitched her initial letter with a floral embellishment, which I glued on dark red cardboard. 

The colour scheme would fit the present that was hidden inside, and I decided to match it with light brown shades that would go with the parchment-imitation paper of the box itself. To make up for the absent decorations, I placed a piece of handwriting-paper onto the box lid, right behind the stitched motif.

On the strip of lace in the bottom, I placed another brown-ish ribbon, which I then decorated with a pair of wooden butterflies. For a little bling, I decided to add a couple of tiny white pearls on each of the butterflies. 

And while I left the inside of the lid blank...

... I tried to incorporate the little information leaflet that came with the lace in my paper project.

To make the bottom of the box more stable, I covered it in corrugated cardboard. Onto it, I placed a flap fold pocket made of red and parchment coloured cardboard. For the closing mechanism, I carefully peeled off the sticker from the original packaging. 

Inside, I placed the booklet with information on Idrija lace

And how did the present look like in the end? Once you'd open the box lid, a beautifully done carnation would come to light. Placed on bright red background for the contrast, it can be hung on a wall, placed on a commode, or even used without the frame as a small napkin-like decoration on a table.

Turns out my sister was more than pleased with the result - and even managed to get her SO to write a little birthday dedication to his mom right next to the pretty flower.

A little contribution to the May collection of Create in Austria - artwork created by Austrians and/or in Austria.
A little contribution to the collection of hand-stitching at made with Blümchen.

challenges: 
- 613 avenue create: ATG
- a place to start: ATG with optional twist "favourite technique" (paper embroidery)
- as you like it: not a card (I'll go with any other paper creation, especially one that can be decorated with some stitching, pearls and flowers)
- butterfly challenge: F (flowers, flap fold - does that one count if it's technically not a card?)
- crafty cardmakers: birthday
- crafty catz: ATG with optional twist "buttons/flowers"
- craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper
- creative moments: ATG with a twist "animals"
- cute card thursday: stitching
- everybody art: lace/pearls
- friendship challenge: ATG with optional twist "animals"
- love to craft: ATG 
- pennys papertake: ATG
- through the craftroom door: ATG
- worldwide open design team challenge: ATG