DIY French Matches

By | Projects

A while back my daughter-in-law gave me a great-smelling candle along with a little box of French matches.  They would be allumettes for all of the Francophiles out there.

  French matches

When I saw the sweet little box, I thought it would be fun to recreate it for those big boxes of kitchen or farmers’ matches.

 

IMG_1582

You know the ones I’m talking about.  The ones that cost under three bucks for three boxes totaling 900 matches.  Since fall is in the air, and outdoor evenings by the fire aren’t too far off, I decided to get my rear in gear and make my version of that cute box of matches.  By the way, DIY French matches would be a great hostess gift along with a candle.

 

 DIY French matches

This is what you need:

 

Matches

Pretty paper (I used scrapbook paper cut to size)

Glue stick

Scissors

Now, anyone who knows me knows I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer when it comes to graphic design, so I made my graphic design in Word.  I chose a font that resembled the one used on the original match box, but I couldn’t get it to curve.  So, my lines are straight.

 DIY French Matches

Once I had the lettering set-up in the correct size, I simply cut out some scrapbook paper the same size as computer paper and printed it out with my fingers crossed.  Then I trimmed it down to fit the box exactly, covered the box top with the glue stick, and pressed the print-out onto the box.

 DIY French Matches

I even did a monogram for the back, but it didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to at all.  It’s back to the drawing board for that one.  You monogram experts out there know it needs major work.

 

 DIY French matches

I made two versions.  One is yellow, and for the second one, I used burlap paper.  It’s my favorite for fall.  (Now that I’m looking at this photo, I see I need to do a little trimming.)

 

This took just a few minutes once I completed the graphics.  If any of you would like a copy of the graphics, just send us an email, and we’ll send it right out to you.

Thanks for stopping in.

Take care.

 

Linking to Savvy Southern Style. and No Minimalist Here

 

Related posts:

Give a plain match box the French touch with a printed cover - The 2 SeasonsEasing into August DIY French Christmas Matches Creating Art from Scrapbook Paper Nine Ways to Add Some French to Your HomeFrench Details – Nine Ways to Add Them

Comments

  1. Cindy Kline says

    Hi Janette,

    I ‘d love a copy of the graphics for the French matchboxes, when you have a minute!

    Thank you,

    Cindy Kline

    P.S. I enjoy your and Jordan’s blog so much. 🙂

  2. says

    I love this idea! Just the other day I was looking at the little matchbox I keep in the bathroom to light all my candles. While those Diamond matches are just fine, the box is not pretty. I am off to find some pretty paper to cover mine right now.

    Big Texas Hugs,
    Susan and Bentley

  3. Kimberly Turner says

    I would love a copy of the graphics for the French matchboxes. This is such a cute idea!!

  6. Jeanette Landgreen says

    Janette, I would like a copy of the matchbox graphics also. What a neat idea. We keep a box on our fireplace mantle for easy lighting (we use our fireplace most nights in the fall and winter). This is a great idea!

    Thanks!
    Jeanette (although spelled with an additional letter!)

  8. Candy says

    Do you have the graphics posted, am I missing them? Or are you emailing them? I would love to have them.

  9. Kathy says

    Do you have a link for the graphics or where can I find them. I need to do this for my guest bathroom. Love it ! so smart!

  15. Katherine Huffman says

    So lovely! I’d love a copy of the graphics when you have a chance. Thank you.