Betty Gearen, executive director of the Green House in Pauoa, was turning trash into treasures long before it was fashionable. She reuses wrapping paper, greeting cards, wallpaper, fabric scraps and pages from books, magazines and catalogs for her decoupage craft projects.

Decoupage involves gluing or lacquering cutouts and paper scraps onto a surface, but Gearen also likes to incorporate materials found outdoors.

“You can take a hike with the kids and collect things from nature,” Gearen explained. “Leaves from the forest, leaf skeletons, herbs, flowers and other items can be used to create one-of-a-kind objects.”

The Green House opened its doors in 2006 and promotes sustainable living through tours and classes for children and adults on such topics as edible landscaping, composting, mulching and renewable energy. Gearen said decoupage projects are ideal for families and can introduce children to the concepts of recycling and repurposing objects that might otherwise end up in the trash.

While this project uses boxes as a base, decoupage techniques can also be used on lampshades, old furniture, picture frames, shelves, vases and even shoes, she said.

“It can be an old box or even a trash can,” Gearen said. “The sky’s the limit.”

Gearen offers instructions on how to make decoupage gift boxes:

Step 1
Choose a box or other item to decorate. Decoupage glue, such as Mod Podge, is available at craft stores, or simply use white glue diluted with a small amount of water. (Elmer’s recommends 3 parts glue to 1 part water.) For larger projects, wallpaper glue may be used. Also needed: a paintbrush or foam brush and a damp rag to remove any excess glue.

Step 2
Once you’ve chosen paper scraps, photos and embellishments, arrange them on the item to be decoupaged. Consider overlapping the materials, and if you don’t like what you see, keep rearranging or switching them out until you are happy with the layout. Consider decorating both the inside and outside of the box.

Step 3
Brush glue mixture onto the back of paper scraps and other decorative materials, and press them onto the base. When everything is secure, brush the glue mixture over the entire surface of the box to seal the collage. Let it dry for at least an hour. Apply a second coat of glue over the entire surface.

Step 4
Use a hot glue gun to attach beads, buttons and other larger embellishments. To create “feet,” glue flat pebbles or glass accent gems to the bottom of the box.