Hello awesome friends and welcome back! Today, I’m giving a $10 flatware box, that I bought at my neighbor’s yard sale, a sweet new look with the help of a cherry blossom transfer! Funny after just sharing my new Fall wreath yesterday, eh?
Here is what this box looked like before:
This one was nicer than most that I have found. I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
Here’s a shot of the inside:
Typical flatware box! I removed the innards first using needle nose pliers, a hammer, and sheer brute strength. You don’t have to remove all the glue and junk that remains because that will be covered anyway. Just be sure the inside edge of the top is clean. It should be beacuse the fabric isn’t usually attached in that area. (That piece across the middle should come out by rocking it back and forth.)
Painting the box
Next, this box got a quick cleaning and two coats of Fluff:
This was after only one coat…Fluff has amazing coverage! And as you can see, I also painted the inside lip of the lid and the very top edge of the inside bottom also.
Then I gave it a quick sanding with 220 grit sandpaper.
At that point, I decided to add stripes around the bottom portion. I used my favorite tape for painting stripes, FrogTape for delicate surfaces. This can be used even when the paint is just barely dry.
I painted in the stripes in this vibrant Peony pink:
I applied two coats and removed the tape right away…
Then I gave everything another quick sanding to smooth everything out.
Adding a transfer
I chose to add the Peony stripes to go with this new Cherry Blossom Transfer Dixie Belle just released:
This box was the perfect blank canvas to play with!
This transfer comes with lots of smaller peices as well that you can use your imagination with and arrange however you like.
I do have a tip though!
For small pieces like this where you have to cut close to the edges of the transfer…
Take a piece of the clear plastic top layer that you have left from a larger piece of the transfer, and place it right over the smaller piece:
Then you don’t have to worry about going off the edges and damaging your surface with the burnishing stick.
Sealing the box and transfer
To seal this box and protect both the paint finish and the transfer, I used Clear Coat in Satin, applying it with the blue sponge applicator:
You can also use clear wax over transfers. Gator Hide is not recommended for sealing transfers.
Lining the Box with fabric
The final step in this pretty box makeover is lining the box with fabric.
To do that I used foam core, cut to fit the top and bottom interior of the box, and fabric.
I used less than a yard. The cute cat was not used in the lining of this box.
You can see all the steps to lining boxes with fabric HERE.
The After
Here is the final result of this flatware box!
Hello cherry blossoms!
How sweet is this transfer?
Limited time offer!
This is a limited release at only $19.95! It comes with four sheets total and I only used one, so I still have three sheets left for other projects.
Dixie Belle was testing out another vendor for their transfers and had this Cherry Blossom design and this Vintage Floral design made by them. However, they are not going to stay with this company, so they priced these at a discount, and once they’re gone, they’re gone.
I had fun playing with the placement of all the pieces…
And here is how the inside turned out:
That’s another piece done!
And crossed off the list!
If you’ve missed any from my Summer Haul, you can catch up below:
DIY Fall Frame Wreath
How to turn a Sewing Table into a Dressing Table
$5 Barn Sale Mirror Makeover
How to Paint Nicotine Stained Furniture (Trestle Table)
80’s Country Cabinet Makeover
Four Thrifty Basket Makeovers
Farmhouse Hutch Makeover
How to Repurpose small lamps
How to Repurpose an Old Swivel Mirror
Painting the Smalls #12
Coastal Dresser Makeover
$5 Bulletin Board Makeover
$3 Thrift Store Basket and Lid Repurposed
Summer Basket Wreath from a $3 Thrift Store Find
$7 Thrift Store Mirror Makeover
Vintage Cane Club Chairs Updated
$6 Thrift Store Shelf Makeover with Transfer
Pub Table Makeover
Becky’s Secretary Desk Makeover
Update a Thrift Store Box with Fabric
$5 Buffet Lamps Updated with Decoupage Paper
Mirror Harp Repurposed
I see a lot of smalls left to be done, so I’ll be back on Tuesday with a round of smalls:
UPDATE: They’re done and you can see them all now HERE!
Have an amazing weekend!
XOXO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
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Mary Kaiser says
WOW—WOW I LOVE IT!!!! That turned out so beautiful!! I love the Cherry Blossom transfers so much that I already went on and ordered that one and the vintage one as well because I didn’t want to miss them. You should see my order come through your shop this morning. I was looking for inspiration to do a box like this and boy oh boy did you provide that, which I knew you would, but you knocked this one out of the park–home run!!!!
Christy says
Oh yay! I’m so glad you love it, Mary! Thank you!! I was sad to hear these are a limited run because they’re so pretty! I’ll get them out to you today…have a fabulous weekend! XOXO
Laura says
Oh, your Creative Muse was over your shoulder with this beauty! I love it!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Laura!! XOXO
Melanie says
I love what you did to this box! It is stunning. I actually have a similar box that I made over and it did not sell in my booth . I think I will alter what I did to it and add transfers. I may do something to the inside as well. You are always full of inspiration.
Christy says
Thank you, Melanie! Just updating the inside will really help…people like to see a pop of pretty inside, but yes the transfers will add so much too! XOXO
Janice Holt says
Imagine my surprise when I saw the pink stripes. It turned out beautiful inside and out. I always love your flatware boxes. You are the best and have a great week-end.
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Janice! I’ve been wanting to use Peony on something for a while, and I just love it! Enjoy your weekend too, my friend! XOXO
Christina says
Wow, I adore this makeover! I love how you added the blossoms over the edges and on the sides with the stripes. So glad you had Lyla to help you!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Christy says
Thank you, Christina! This was a fun one to play with, and I can always count on Lyla lol! XOXO
Donna Nance says
This box is adorable! Such a sweet idea! Would you believe I have three silverware boxes waiting to be made over into something pretty and useful? I know, sinful! ha!
Christy says
Thank you, Donna! That sounds like me…I usually have a few at at time also since I can rarely say no to them! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
I love your flatware box makeovers, Christy! That beauty’s going to fly out of the booth.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Marcie! XOXO
Kim Brunette Smith says
Stunning…as always! ❤️
Christy says
Aww thank you, Kim! XOXO
Peggy says
Beautiful. Never enough room in traditional jewelry boxes. Who KNEW? I am amazed and overwhelmed with your creativity. Thank you.
Christy says
Aww I appreciate that so much, Peggy! Thank you! These make wonderful jewelry boxes! XOXO
Sharon says
Every detail is oh so cute!!!!
Christy says
Thank you, Sharon! XOXO
Mikki Gilmore says
I need these Cherry Blossoms! I love this! I can’t find the makeover on the metal basket, pictured on the second row, second in from the right side. It gets marked off between the $5 Bulletin Board and the Old Swivel Mirror. Am I just missing it? Could you tell me what you called it? Did you include it with another piece? I have one very similar and want to see what you did with yours. Thanks! Have a great holiday weekend! XOXOX
Christy says
Thank you, Mikki! Oh no…I left out a Painting the Smalls post. Thanks for catching that! You can find that basket in that post here: https://www.confessionsofaserialdiyer.com/painting-the-smalls-12/ Enjoy your weekend too!! XOXO
Niki says
Very cute! Our pastor has what he calls a worry box. He writes down whatever frustration he is having and puts it in the box to give it to God, with the rule that he can not take it back. When I saw this I thought it would make a great worry box or a place to store my Bible on my nightstand.
Christy says
Thank you, Niki! I love that idea, and yes, this would be perfect! XOXO
Debbie in TX says
You sure did bring this little piece back to life! I’m loving the pink and all those gorgeous transfers. Glad to see your little helper had some input, too : ) Have a great weekend!
Christy says
Thank you, Debbie! Lyla is always there lending her support ha ha! XOXO
Sharon L Austin says
OMG I love it; pink is one of my favorite colors. I have one that I’ve started painting and I’m making it into a watch case for my grandson. Now you’ve got me wanting to keep it for me. LOL
Christy says
Thank you, Sharon! Yes, keep it ha ha! Or find another one, but I would be tempted to keep it too ha ha! XOXO
Kathryn Buckland says
Well, those transfers are so great and just what I have been looking for and they are SOLD OUT! I mean I just saw the cherry blossom for the first time yesterday and went to your store to order and GONE!! So bummed. LOVE everything you do!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Kathryn! And I’m so sorry…I couldn’t believe they all sold so quickly! Dixie Belle still had them available, so I ordered more. If you click the link to the transfers in the post, you can click on a button to alert you when they are back in stock! XOXO
Karen Moore says
That was a very nice box to begin with, but what a pretty transformation. Love it!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Karen! XOXO
Robin says
So cute, Christy. I just bought one last week for $6. I’ve noticed that they’ve increased in price since 2019. This may be the new normalized price. There are so many design choices for them I think may be frozen?
Christy says
Thanks, Robin! Everything at my local thrift stores has gone up in price as well. Hoping it is a trend that works its way back down! XOXO
Patty says
So pretty, Christy!! Love the pink. I have one that was my Mom’s – 70+ years old. I just can’t make a decision on how to refinish it – all of yours are beautiful. And that sweet little kitty makes me smile every time❤️
Christy says
Thank you, Patty! I might have trouble deciding too if I had a personal attachment to one, but you can always change it up again later with a little sandpaper! And that sweet kitty…always wants to be where the action is lol! XOXO
Rebecca Payne says
Gorgeous!
Christy says
Thank you, Rebecca! XOXO
Catherine A Schaller says
You always have such vision and creativity! You inspire me! I always have trouble thinking outside the box, lol!
Christy says
Aww I appreciate that so much, Catherine! Often times, the ideas don’t really start to flow until I start painting. So sometimes, you just have to slap some paint on it lol! XOXO
Cecilia from Georgia says
Cherry blossoms are a huge thing in Macon, GA during the Cherry Blossom Festival! I want to get those transfers and start rubbing! Love the stripes! Have you gotten the Succulent transfers? I can’t get any ideas how to use them since they are small and mostly singles. I bet you can create something fabulous with them. Have a safe Labor Day weekend!
Christy says
Oh yes, I bet cherry blossoms are big there! I do have the succulent transfer but haven’t used it yet. Here is a beautiful dresser I saw with them on it…they kind of just placed them in clusters: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1037552312/epoxy-resin-topepoxy-dressersucculent Of course, I probably love it so much because of the color they used lol! Enjoy your long weekend! XOXO