I really just could not think of a more befitting name for this post. I found this flatware box at the thrift store for just under $5.
Here it is as I found it:
Ooh good find, right? There are so many possible uses for a little chest like this…
Except it needed a little TLC:
Ok a LOT of TLC. So gross. It smelled so musty and yet I brought it home anyway for $5 more dollars than I should have. I would never have had the nerve to donate this!
But luckily for me, someone else did. š
And for the inside:
No more smelly, crusty mess. I used a scraper to scrape away as much of the crusty paper as possible. Then I shellacked the interior with Zinsser spray shellac twice to get rid of the musty odor. There’s not a trace of it left!
Then I lined it with pretty paper and fabric. The paper is Mod Podged in place and the bottom is lined with a piece of foam core cut-to-fit and wrapped in fabric.
The outside got a new paint job including a grey grain sack stripe…
Then I used this stencil to add this bold PARIS graphic to the top. I used spray adhesive on the back of the stencil to hold it in place. It makes it just tacky enough to stay put while painting.
The thing about stencils is that they usually look like stencils. The breaks in the letters are a dead giveaway…
So I paint them in with a small paint brush! Here I also smoothed any areas where the paint bled a little.
And voila! Much better. I also sanded the surface with a little 220 grit sand paper to make it smooth. I sealed it with Annie Sloan’s clear wax.
There really are so many uses for a chest like this.
It could hold jewelry of course, but how about a place to hide the remotes? A quick place to stash the daily mail that needs sorting? A pretty new sewing box or craft stash box?
So many possibilities!
I try not to pass these up when I find them.
You might also like this one I did a couple of years ago:
Or this one I shared as part of my March Madness, 31 Thrifty Makeovers in 31 Days series:
These all sold quickly, so I’m always on the lookout for more.
In my next post I’ll be sharing how I made over this pretty yard sale find that I scored for $40:
She turned out really pretty!
UPDATE: See how she looks HERE!
See ya then!
XO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
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ColleenB. ~ Texas says
Beautiful make over.
I have one that I use in my craft making room to hold my paint brushes ( little compartments that held the knives) as well as my colored pencils and markers
Tracey Martin says
Ooooo, that’s a great idea, Colleen!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Colleen! What a fantastic way to repurpose the cubbies! XOXO
Cheryl says
I’m in love with both boxes!! Wonderful job!!
Christy K. James says
Thank you, Cheryl! They are fun to redo š
Sue Farmer says
You are a magician!!! Great job
Christy K. James says
Ha ha it would be awesome to have a magic wand! š
Betty says
I love it and I know what I would do with it. I would put my sewing thread in it. Just love it.
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Betty! This would be absolutely perfect for that! š
Laura Lane says
Absolutely beautiful!!! I need to start looking for those.
Thanks for the idea Christy!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Laura and you’re welcome. š
Susan says
Beautiful transformation! I’ve always been a sucker for boxes…their uses are so versatile. And now I have to add Artistic Stencils to my wish list.
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Susan! I too am a sucker for boxes. Artistic stencils has a lot of cute ones and they have monthly deals too. š
mary says
so cool..i just found one of these for 5.00…will need to try thi
I had emailed you before about chalk paint…I finally got desk painted and sanded..now to apply the wax
you are my favorite blogger…we have the same taste and style
Have a great day !!!!
Christy K. James says
Thank you SO much, Mary!! Glad the chalk paint is working out for you. The wax is like the icing on the cake. š
Gina says
Sooo pretty!!! I love the idea of filling in the gaps on stencil lettering to look more hand painted….small changes with big impact! Also that Zinsser primer is great for any stinky situation, my daughter had a whole bag of potatoes go rotten in a bottom cabinet. LORD HAVE MERCY!! But that primer along with some cleaning totally removed the odor.
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Gina! Yes filling in the gaps takes that stenciled look right away! Glad to hear the Zinsser salvaged your daughter’s cabinet…I bet that was a stinky mess. That stuff is awesome! XO
Jo says
Oh my….it’s absolutely beautiful. I am impressed with your work…you are very talented!!
Christy K. James says
Thank you so much, Jo! š
Maggie M says
What a great idea (and makeover). I’m going to start looking for these in thrift shops…so many uses come to mind. Thanks for sharing these terrific makeovers:)
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Maggie! These would be great for so many different things. š
Marie@The Interior Frugalista says
Oh girl talk about a From Junk To Treasure Story! Oooooh she was ugly. You’d never know it was the same flatware box. I connect the dots too when I stencil – anal about the lines in the letters not connecting. LOL Where did you get that awesome stencil?
Christy K. James says
Oh my gosh…so ugly! I wasn’t even convinced as I was buying it that I could bring it back lol! The stencil came from Artistic stencils. I included a link in the post…they have a bunch of great ones and very reasonably priced! š
Tracey Martin says
I love what you do with these flatware boxes! This one especially. I was so inspired by your March Madness one that when I stumbled upon one at a thrift store for $4, I snatched it up. Once I tore out all the velvet, which I didn’t know would be SO much work, mine looked like yours on the inside. Ugh. It was my first attempt at something like this and is not nearly as beautiful as yours, but I was pleased with how it turned out. I wish I could share a photo here, but don’t know how. Suffice it to say, you, My Favorite Blogger, are an inspiration!! š
Christy K. James says
Oh Tracey…you always say the nicest things!! Thank you! š That velvet can be such a pain! I actually broke the first box I did trying to remove it, but was able to put it back together luckily. That said, I still love to redo them. I bet yours turned out great! š
Paula@SweetPea says
Pretty makeover! I can see why these sell quickly when you put them in your shop. They do have so many practical uses. I have yet to see one when I’m thrifting but after seeing your projects, I’m going to look harder for my own to make over.
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Paula! People love things that have a purpose…I guess that’s why these sell quickly. Hope your shop is off to a good start. š
andi says
I have that song, “I’m gonna wash that stink right outta my box” going through my head. But then I realized that’s not exactly how the song goes. There’s something wrong with me. But I love what you did!!
-xoxo
-andi
Christy K. James says
Bahahaha! I probably reworded the title to this post three or four times before calling it what it is…stinky gross box he he š
MaryJean says
I love it! You just gave me an idea for something that I bought from a thrift store awhile ago that I didn’t know what I was going to do with it. Thanks for the inspiration!
Christy K. James says
Oh fantastic…I love when inspiration strikes! š
Tina Matteson says
That is just beautiful! Another great makeover. And I love the idea of keeping the remotes in it!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Tina! I think if I were to keep it, that’s what I’d use it for. š
Karen Harper says
Beautiful transformation! all of them. Thanks so much for visiting my blog and leaving such a sweet comment.
Christy K. James says
Thank you, Karen! Everything you share is so thoughtful and lovely š
Kim says
I seriously just passed on a bunch of these and now I am kicking myself! Never again…these are incredible! nice work!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Kim! Oh no…go back and get them ha ha! It’s a bit of work to remove the linings, but they can be so functional. š
Wendy says
The box looks lovely. I just did one of the flatware boxes. It was made into a coastal jewelry box. I sold it within 24 hours in my booth. It was really cute. Stinky as well, I lined it with burlap.
Christy K. James says
I love the sound of that…coastal is right up my alley! I shellacked the inside of this one and that took care of the smell thank goodness!
Krista @ the happy housie says
What an impressive makeover Christy- it’s beautiful! I bet your previous life as a nurse makes you pretty impervious to gross stuff – a great quality in a thrifter!! Lol
Christy K. James says
Ha ha maybe! Thanks, Krista! š
Tonya says
Great makeover!! As soon as my daughter & I saw it, we were amazed. Now I’ll be on the lookout for one of these to makeover. Hopefully I can find several. One definitely will be a jewelry box, but it would make a great place for toiletries in a guest bath (whether left open or closed!) Thanks for sharing!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Tonya! I wasn’t sure about that one as I was buying it because it really was so stinky, but I’m glad it worked out so well. These little boxes are great for so many uses. Love the idea to use it in a guest bath!
Teresa says
where can I find a grey grain sack stripeā¦stencil. I love the look. Have not been successful in finding it.
Thank you,
Teresa
Christy K. James says
Hi Teresa…I use Frogtape to tape off the stripes.
Teresa says
thank you. so you just measure the stripes off the surface?
Christy K. James says
Yep! I find the center and use strips of tape to help me measure out my stripe. Here is another project I used the grain sack stripe on that might help you get a visual: https://www.confessionsofaserialdiyer.com/grain-sack-bench/