The universe has interesting ways of correcting this thing we call 'pride'. I was diligently scraping and gluing and cutting and taping and just generally doing a bang-up job turning this junk into funk. And pretty darned pleased with myself for doing so.

Then I knocked it shut. Locked. Key inside. All kinds of pliers and crowbars came out, as did some foul words from my mouth.

Exhausted efforts. So my Dad took it and (without taking his eyes off the tv) popped it open. Using the button that was there all along.

Jewellery box: $0, roadside find

Ribbon and fabric: $0, scraps

Ego: Unfortunately that's free, too