How to make a seashell decorated miniature box

Hello dear readers,

My seashells decorated boxes are a big hit with miniatures' as well as with non-miniatures' collectors. Recently I had to make four of them for very special friends.  I became bored creating the same design again and again, so I'm trying to make some variation and thought I'd take you along, step by step while I do it.  After all the shells are free, a gift from nature, and the wood is easy to to find at craft shops so why not give it a try.

Materials required for the box:

One large wooden craft stick  (20/2.5 cm) or a 2 mm thick balsa sheet
One long narrow craft stick (18/0.7 cm)
wood cutting tools
tacky glue
Black, brown or any other color of your choice, acrylic paint

Cut two 2/2.5 cm pieces from the large stick, one for the box top and one for the box's bottom.
Cut one  2.00/1.5 piece          -     "      -          for the underside of the box top
Cut two 0.7/2.5 pieces from the narrow stick for the sides of the box.
Cut two 1.5/2.5           -      "     -

Glue together all the parts.  (See photo bellow)  Glue the sides on top of the bottom part.

Paint with the color of your choice and now we are ready for the decoration.

I painted the box black all over and used seashells.  I also spread some tiny no-hole gold colored
beads on top.

I am not so sure about the tiny gold beads.  It looks better in real life than in the photo.

Hope you'll be able to use this tutorial and do some variations of your own to show me.

I wish you a lovely weekend and blessings..