Upcycled vintage candy box

Vintage wood candy box I found at an estate sale.

The top was fairly beat up.

Nice clean ‘innards’ though!

I would have guessed that it was maybe a cigar box; but the label on the bottom tells otherwise.

I sanded off the picture on the top with my orbital sander; then hand sanded the rest of the outside.  (it had a glossy varnish, so it HAD to be sanded before painting.)

Painted the whole thing aqua; then sanded.

BEFORE I had decided how to decorate the top of the box, I decided to use this pretty turquoise glitter paper on the inside because . . . well because I just got it and was itchin’ to use it!  (probably should have waited until I finished the outside first though!)

I selected this paper napkin for the top of the box.

This particular design ‘opens out’ to cover the whole napkin.  (not ALL decorative napkins do though!)

This was the napkin I wanted to use at first.

Alas, this design just repeats, limiting how it can be used.

The sheerness of the napkin allows the distressed wood to show though.  I used Mod Podge to apply the napkin to the box.

Then I glued a reproduction skeleton key to the front.

It’s available in my booth at Stars; along with several other upcycled little boxes!

Frame projects

I KNOW!!  Perfect color for me, right?!?!

But I decided to paint it white and distress it!

Some of the aqua shows through in the distressed areas.

I glued the key onto a piece of grey card-stock, then put the glass from the frame behind the key, sandwiching it between the card-stock and backing.  That way it can still be used as a photo frame if someone wants to.

It has gone to my booth at Stars.

A couple of 5×7 frames.

I resisted the urge to ‘add something’ to this little frame, other than a pretty piece of paper.

White satin spray paint over the originally gold frame, then sanded to distress.  Easy 5 minute project (not counting paint drying time!)

I painted that other one white as well, distressed it and tied on a big old cast iron skeleton key.

Great big bow!

ALL of these frames are in my booth at Stars.

Outdated / updated: Treasure box

Okay, it’s not that TERRIBLY outdated . . . 

But I just didn’t like the color combo on this little ‘treasure box’.

Very pretty adornments on the front corners and corners of the lid, and the inside of the box is even LINED.

The colors just didn’t ‘float my boat’!

Ivory spray paint and some scrap-book paper to the rescue!

And a repro skeleton key tied to the handle with some sheer ribbon.

Shabby CHIC perfection!

I didn’t get a picture that shows the sides, but they also got a smaller square of the same paper.

Little outdated cabinet ~ updated

Little cabinet I found at the thrift store.  FIRST thing I do is look inside the door to see how difficult it will be to remove the stained glass.

It’s MY lucky day!!!  The glass is just TAPED in place!!  SOLD!  I can just add a piece of plywood in place of the glass.

It had an eye screw hook and latch on the right side, which I removed; as well as the knob.   Since it was not painted or varnished, I didn’t even have to sand it before I painted it!

Since I saved so much not on prep (or lack thereof!) I decided to spend extra time on painting; and painted the inside too.  NOW I kinda like it AS IS.  Not sure I want to cover up the front opening?!?!?!

I paint the front piece and ‘try it on’ and decided to go ahead with it.

Flip through my stencil collection to see what design might work for the front, and settle on this chandelier.

Ran a bead of glue (tacky glue) on the inside rim and plop it in and let the glue set overnight.

After replacing the knob I decided a skeleton key would be a good addition, so I tie one onto the handle.

Nice little cabinet to hang on the wall or set on a counter.

It’s available for purchase in my space at Stars for $45.00.