Japan-Inspired Jewelry Packaging II - Bamboo Boxes

by Karen of Paper Demon Jewelry
(Eugene, Oregon, USA)

This is Part Two of a three-part post about Japan-Inspired Jewelry packaging ideas that I have developed.

In Part 1, Origami Gift Boxes, I mentioned that Paper Demon Jewelry is Modern jewelry from Japanese things.

So, Japan has to be evoked in a modern, clean lined, sophisticated way.

For my Geisha Hairpicks, which are long and skinny, my origami boxes from Part 1 won't work.

So for these items, which are somewhat more traditional than my jewelry line, I created a box from bamboo that I harvest right here in Eugene, Oregon.

People around here are always cutting down their extra bamboo and trying to get rid of it. For a few bucks I can get yards and yards of bamboo that is about 2" across.

When I get it it's dirty and gross, but it cleans easily. It's also easy to cut into 6" or 9" segments.

Bamboo splits very easily into two halves, so I split the segments. I set the hair ornament in one half, put the other half over as a lid, then wrap the whole thing in a chiyogami "ribbon" (washi tape is also great), and finish it off with a gold cord bow.

Then punch cardboard circles as end caps and glue them on.

This fits easily into a padded envelope and off it goes!

It's a bit of a pain so now I only use it for the Geisha Hairsticks.

The other two photos show the bamboo as a photo backdrop to my vintage mahjong dice earrings and my upcycled bamboo chiyogami necklace.

Karen Kelsky
Paper Demon Jewelry blog
Paper Demon Jewelry on etsy

More of Karen's Japan-Inspired Jewelry Packaging:
Part I - Origami Gift Boxes
Part III - Chiyogami Paper Heirloom Gift Bags