Shine Bright and Create: May 2025

Saturday, 3 May 2025

Jane Austin Keepsake Box

I'm sharing a Jane Austin themed Keepsake Box with matchbox mini books that I have made for myself using one of the digital download kits from Polka Art Studios.

This year marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austin and celebrates the life of this amazing author and her six classic novels.

I was thrilled to see this kit which is a crafting mix of my love of these books and diorama in a perfectly executed kit.

The Jane Austin Keepsake Book with matchbox mini books is a digital download kit from Polka Art Studios. This charming vintage kit also comes with a printable template and a link to an easy to follow YouTube tutorial while you craft.

Everything has been carefully thought out, once downloaded, just print and craft.

I've recently upgraded my desktop pc, which I prefer to use from even though I have a Chromebook and I often use different software programs to print from, depending on what I am doing, but really like that fact that this whole kit is completely set out for you just to cut out an assemble, which makes your crafting so much easier.

You just need to add a few pieces of card to strengthen your box. I used some Kraft card.

I love these picture story pages for the mini books. Each one thought through and illustrated, with a lovely vintage feel to it too.

Sometimes you sit down to craft and don't know where to start, especially if your mojo has taken some time out, but what is great with a project like this is that all the hard work has been done for you and it has been set up ready for you to assemble and put your own personal finishing touches to it.

I've added a touch of copper metallic wax to the edges of the tea caddy shaped box and some 1cm pink organza ribbon around the edges of the box to highlight the decorated bands. On top of that I've added some small flat backed cream pearls.

I love this idea of a mini collection of mini books in this style. My favourites have always been Sense & Sensibility and Pride & Prejudice. All I need now is a Bronte Sisters set of mini books with Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights to add to my collection.

If I had printed my tea caddy box out on the correct printer setting my match boxes would fit snuggly inside but I am happy with how they look and think this design would make such a beautiful keepsake box to gift.

The inside of the box is just as pretty as the outside. I tend to use what I have in my craft stash when I am crafting and I used Navigator card (200gsm) for the tea caddy box, matchbox and book cover and copier paper for the book pages.

I have also edged my project throughout with vintage photo distress ink and used a clear sparkle overlay pen on the flowers on the front and inside lid of the box for a little shimmer.

I've added a 'love' charm with a tiny hanging heart shaped key on the front of the box and tied a piece of wired dusky pink taffeta ribbon across the front of my box.

I also added a heart shaped button to the top of my tea caddy shaped box and a few more flat backed cream pearls.

I have loved making this for myself, I'm normally a slow crafter and this didn't take that long to make which is an added bonus too.

Have a look a Polka Art Studios YouTube channel if you'd like some crafty inspiration too. They have lots of free projects to download that you may want to try out too that also come with free tutorials.

Thanks for stopping by today to view my little crafty space and have a weekend,

whatever you have planned for yourself.

Happy Crafting