Hello lovelies!! I have been working on our Halloween decor all week and I think my display is finally complete! Today, I’m pulling out one of my favorite Halloween makeovers, a DIY Halloween Box that you can make out of an old flatware box!
This flatware box I picked up at the thrift store for less than $2 was the perfect candidate for a spooky redo:
It was marked $3.25, but all yellow tags were half off, so for $1.63, I just couldn’t leave it behind.
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I didn’t even remove the insides for this one. I just started painting! I gave it one coat of Caviar:
You can also see that I removed some of what was on the inside:
I found some sparkly glitter black spray paint in the garage and decided to hit the parts of the insides that would be showing with it. (I would skip the sparkles next time.)
To cover the ugly insides that were left, I cut a piece of fabric to fit from top to bottom. I cut it the exact width but left it a bit long so I could trim it the right size as I was finishing.
I just hot glued it all in place with my hot glue gun.
Adorning the Top
Then I moved on to the top of the box.
I gathered several items that could possibly work to decorate this box, but in the end, I kept it pretty simple with these letters I picked up at Hobby Lobby and some dollar store skeletons:
The skeletons aren’t supposed to be posable, but I was able to manipulate the plastic enough on one of them to give it a different pose. I used Gorilla Glue to adhere everything to the box. The four corners got nail heads that had I removed from another project, and I replaced the pull on the front with a vintage one I had in my stash.
When the pieces were secure, I added a layer of matte Mod Podge on the top only using a chip brush, working in sections:
I placed black tissue paper right over everything, lightly tapping it into all the crevices with my chip brush and adding more Mod Podge on top of the tissue paper…
This was to mimic the look of leather. It’s not looking so much like leather here or like anything really lol.
I wanted to “embed” the skeletons into the surface with the tissue paper.
I allowed it dry before trimming the edges with a razor blade.
When it was completely dry, I gave everything a light coat of Rustoleum black satin spray paint.
Highlighting the details
Then to highlight the letters and other details, I applied Dixie Belle’s Gold Gilding wax with my finger:
And that was it!
The After
What a fun Halloween prop this turned out to be!
I just love Halloween! Can you tell?
Every lady needs a place to keep her jewels, right?
This was really fun to make. I used a similar technique on this pumpkin I redid WAY back in 2013!!
Wow, 2013 seems so long ago, doesn’t it? See more of this pumpkin makeover HERE.
And a peek at the inside…
The pattern hides any imperfections since this was a quickie liner job lol.
I used Gold Gilding Wax to highlight the skeletons and some of the texture made by the tissue paper also:
It really brings out the details and adds dimension.
I also hit up the pull I added to the front…
It does kind of look like leather, right?
This really was such a fun project to work on!
Halloween not your thing??
Here’s another one that I gave a more respectable makeover:
See how pretty it turned out HERE!
I’ll be back on Tuesday with this night table that turned out to be the sweetest night table ever:
UPDATE: No need to wait…see how sweet it is now HERE!
XOXO,
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Mary Kaiser says
I remember when you did this one. Not only are you the Queen of DIY, but you are also the Queen of Halloween! I love it and wish I could trick or treat at your house!!
Christy says
Ha ha I’ll take that title and wear that crown proudly…I do love some Halloween!! I wish you could come trick or treating here too!! XOXO
Janette says
LOVE this fabulously spooky box, it looks great, I also popped over to see your pumpkin, omg, how amazing, will have to try get my grandkids doing something like this.x
Christy says
Thank you, Janette! This would be so fun to do with kids! XOXO
Janice Holt says
You do such a good job on Halloween decor. My granddaughter (almost 13) asked me yesterday if you had decorated for Halloween yet. I told her you were working on it and when you posted it I would let her know. I’ve shown it to her the last couple of years and she never forgets it. Look forward to seeing it again myself.
Christy says
Thank you, Janice! I love that so much, and I love that she gets a kick out of it!! I will be sharing for sure…I changed some things up a bit, so I’m looking forward to sharing it! XOXO
Niki says
It does look like leather! We don’t celebrate Halloween in our house, however I can see the fun you had in crafting this box to fit the occasion!
Christy says
Right? Halloween lets me feel like a kid again lol! XOXO
Jackie C says
I really be liked this one. After downsizing to a small house when I retired, I don’t have storage for many holiday decorations. If I did, I’d make one of these! Love the ‘leather’ look. A far cry from back in the day when we used masking tape and cream shoe polish to get the leather look 😂😂
Christy says
Thank you, Jackie! Yes, this doesn’t take up much space. And masking tape and shoe polish? Hey…whatever works lol! XOXO
Fran says
What a fun idea. It would make a great box for candy for trick or treaters! Being a Halloween junkie myself I would put it to good use.
Christy says
Ooh yes, absolutely! What a great idea, Fran!! Hmmm…now you’ve got me thinking!! XOXO
Cheryl Atkinson says
Hi Christy! Your Halloween decor is always so amazing and fun. Where did you learn that frick with the tissue paper? It looks so cool. Great job!!
Christy says
Thank you, Cheryl! I learned it on a website that was around in 2013 when I did the pumpkin project, but it is no longer around, unfortunately. XOXO
Cecilia from Georgia says
The box looks great! Can’t wait to see your house decorated for Halloween this year!!
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia!! I can’t wait to share…I had so much fun with it this year! XOXO
ROBIN says
WOW!!! YOU ARE SO CREATIVE THAT BOX IS OUT OF THIS WORLD. YOU JUST AMAZE ME!! YOU ARE THE QUEEN OF HALLOWEEN!
Christy says
Aww you are the sweetest, Robin! Thank you! I LOVE Halloween!!! XOXO
Mary Smaryt says
I love this Skeleton box! I have been making Halloween things too! I just made a headless horseman from a plastic horse and Ken Barbie Doll and it turned out so cute! Thanks for thinking outside of the box, no pun intended!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! Oh my goodness I bet your headless horseman is amazing!!! Halloween totally lets us be kids again!! XOXO
Sandra Magle says
Clearly you should make Halloween all year long…fun stuff and some cool techniques! Love the pumpkin, and will have to look that up! Sandi
Christy says
Wouldn’t that be awesome?? My neighbors might not agree lol! Thank you, Sandi! XOXO
Jane Fuller says
Love the Halloween box! My birthday is on Halloween and is my absolute favorite holiday. I have a tip gor you. If you heat the little skeletons with a heat gun lightly it softens them enough to bend to your will.
Christy says
Thank you, Jane! And what a spectacular day to have a birthday!! Oh yes, great tip about the heat gun, thanks! XOXO
Debbie in TX says
This was one of my favorite fall projects. So spooky! I too have been anxiously waiting for your Halloween decorations post. Love seeing what the skeletons are up to at your house 🙂
Christy says
Oh yay! Thank you, my friend! I took my time this year and changed it up a bit…I’m so excited to share!! XOXO
Michele M. says
Hahaha – that is such fun with such whimsey!
Christy says
Glad you enjoyed it, Michele! It was fun to do! XOXO
Jeanne says
How creative! I love it! I do have to ask, however, if you have ever kept one of these boxes for your silverware?? LOL!
Christy says
Thank you, Jeanne! Ha ha no! I don’t actually own any nice flatware though or I probably would lol. XOXO
Tina Casey says
This looks so cool. I wish I had half your talent.
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Tina! XOXO
Marietta says
Woooo! I got the oogies!
Christy says
Ha ha! 😀