Today’s makeover is small but mighty! Gorgeous friends, I am back with the mini Lane cedar chest that many of you were so kind to fill in the info on. I learned that young ladies were given a coupon for one from a local furniture store when they were seniors. They must not have been doing that anymore when I graduated in 1989, but I did always want a hope chest, so I’m not sure why they stopped by then.
Here is the mini lane cedar chest I found at the thrift store for $4.99:
Many of you said you still had yours, and I’m sure that is true for many ladies that received them as I don’t come across these too often.
I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
Clean
Like most makeovers, I got this one started with a good cleaning with White Lightning:
I already had it mixed up (one TBSP mixed with a half gallon of warm water) for this table I shared last week.
Paint
I got right to the fun part…paint! For this little box I chose Sea Glass:
I hit these edges with a small brush since I had planned not to paint the cedar part inside:
However, I just couldn’t leave it unpainted. It didn’t smell real nice, and so I ended up painting the inside in Sea Glass as well.
Sand
Once I had everything painted, I lightly sanded to smooth out the finish with a sanding sponge.
I didn’t plan to distress and the fine grit of these sanding sponges smooth chalk paint beautifully without distressing.
Seal
Once I wiped away any sanding dust, I sealed with Satin Clear Coat. I used the blue sponge applicator for the outside, but the mini angle brush was easier for sealing the inside:
Adding a Mould
I knew I wanted to do something fancy and pretty with this chest, so I looked through my moulds and chose this gorgeous Salon De Nobles mould by Redesign.
I used my favorite product for making these moulds, Amazing Casting Resin.
It is SO EASY to use!
It comes with two liquids that you mix in equal parts and pour into the mould:
Try not to fill it completely to the top, so you get a nice, level surface and no extra bits you have to break away.
It dries in about 15 minutes…
It seriously could not be easier!
See all the moulds available in my Etsy Shop HERE!
Once the resin is dry, you can just flex the mould and pop it out. (These moulds are FOOD SAFE too if you bake!)
I decided to paint my new resin piece before adding it to the box using Sea Glass and the Belle Brush to apply it to all those details:
Gilding Wax
I hit up the details with Gold Gilding Wax next:
I used a little E600 glue to attach the resin piece and left it to sit overnight with two jars of paint sitting on it to hold it tightly to the top.
Mini Lane Cedar Chest Makeover Reveal
Here is how this mini chest looks now!
I kept it pretty simple as I wanted to create a piece that would still be able to be treasured for years to come…
The addition of the mould is what makes it though!
And of course, Y’all know I had to add some pretty feet which really elevate it (literally!) also:
I used gold gilding wax on those as well.
The Inside
I already shared that I ended up painting the inside, but I went a bit further with this beautiful decoupage paper:
This is Patina Flourish from Redesign, and i thought it worked so well with the other elements in this redo:
I used Redesign’s matte Decoupage Gel and a foam brush to to adhere it:
This box is ready to be loved again!
That’s another makeover completed from my first haul of the year!
Visit any of the makeovers I’ve already done so far below:
DIY Herringbone Tray
Whitewashed Side Table
Sewing Basket Makeover
Louvered Door Cabinet Makeover
Painting the Smalls #25 (SIX mini makeovers!)
Shoe Shine Box Makeover
Metallic Vintage End Table Makeover
I’ll be back on Tuesday with my Trashy Treasures girls sharing what I did with this small pedestal side table:
UPDATE: Oops! I ran into trouble with this one, so I shared this flatware box instead:
See how elegant this looks now HERE!
Have a great weekend, everyone!
XOXO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
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Mary Kaiser says
Oh it is so beautiful now! My favorite part of the make over are the feet you added! I just love how it looks when you add them to a box. I love the moulds also, and it wouldn’t be complete until you added something beautiful inside, and once again you did not disappoint! It is a great box for storing special things!
Christy says
Thank you, my friend! Those feet really work some magic, don’t they? Perfect for special things….and chocolate! 🤣 XOXO
Janice Holt says
What a gorgeous piece now. Love the gold and the feet and the moulding, and the inside. Well as you can tell I love it all. What a difference your touch can do.
Christy says
Aww thank you, Janice! This was really fun to dress up! XOXO
Janice Redden says
Christy, one word…..gorgeous!
These “mini” chests were also used as door-to-door salesman’s samples to show what could be ordered. My great grandmother had a sample 3-drawer dresser with cheval mirror, very detailed. Perfect for my doll clothes..lol many many moons ago….
Christy says
Thank you so much, Janice! Oh that’s pretty cool! I would have loved to have that for my dolls! XOXO
Gloria says
I have this chest that I repurposed during Covid to hold our remotes. I followed your chalk paint recipe and striped it. Also lined with fabric. I was so happy that I had found you during those dismal days. Your project is so fancy and the paper couldn’t be more perfect. Has that old world look. Love it!
Christy says
Thank you, Gloria! I am so glad you found me too! What a weird time that was…I didn’t know what to do, so I just kept trucking along here lol. I bet your box is so pretty! XOXO
Debra Hubbs says
So pretty! Perfect mold and paper for it. I never heard of mini cedar chests. What a great little piece.
Christy says
Thank you, Debra! When I fist saw one of these many years ago, lots of readers chimed in to tell me about them. I always love learning from you guys! I never got one myself, so I didn’t know about them either. XOXO
Cyndi says
Wow. What a transformation! It’s so pretty! I will have to get my mom’s little Lane box out and do this! 🙂
Christy says
Thank you, Cyndi! Yes! Have fun with it! XOXO
Nana Diana says
Very sweet, Christy. I love the emblishments. Another fun little project. xo Diana
Christy says
Thank you, Diana! These simple boxes are so fun to redo! XOXO
Mary Smart says
I still have mine! It looks just like this one. All of the Senior girls were given one when I graduated in 1977. I have kept all of the beautiful romantic letters that my husband wrote me when we were apart one Summer in mine. We just celebrated our 43 Anniversary. I am surprised more of them are not for sale, but I guess everybody keeps theirs because it reminds them of a younger time in their lives.
Christy says
What a fantastic use for yours…I love that so much! Happy Anniversary! I imagine they are kind of sentimental. I probably would have kept mine too if I had one! XOXO
Lizzy says
That’s so sweet & pretty! I must buy that mold. Great color, too.
Christy says
Thank you, Lizzy! The last batch of moulds released are all so fancy and beautiful! XOXO
Karen Harrison says
I graduated in ’87 and I received one. My father graduated in ’54 and he received one as well. It was a more rustic style than my mother’s.
Christy says
Oh I didn’t know the guys got them too! What a great way to promote their chests! XOXO
Mario San Diego says
The inside cedar can be lightly sanded to bring the good smell back if you don’t want to paint it!
Christy says
Thank you! Now why didn’t I think of that? I’ll try that next time! XOXO
Cecilia says
That turned out so pretty! I adore the little feet and of course, the special touch of the paper inside! Ready for the next person to love!💕
Cecilia
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! Those feet really do add so much! Hope you are enjoying your weekend so far! XOXO
Paula says
This makeover turned out so cute! I love the sea glass and gold colors and those sweet little feet. It is sad that it didn’t smell nice anymore because the aroma of cedar is so lovely. However, you made up for it with pretty. PS thank you Michelle Barnes for the background info about the years they gave out the minis (1925-2004), I was too slow in responding, but I have wondered about that.
Christy says
Thank you, Paula! Someone suggested sanding the interior to bring back the lovely cedar scent. I didn’t even think of that, but I’ll remember next time! Glad you enjoyed this one! XOXO
Caye Cooper says
That little box is really a beauty! Those feet are just what the doctor ordered! Really a lovely piece–again–made by your talented hands.
Christy says
Aww thanks so much, Caye! The feet are my favorite too! XOXO
Mary Bodie says
I loved the pretty mini cedar chest makeover this morning. I stopped by my local children’s hospital thrift store today in Hampton. Thursday is senior citizen day, 25% off everything. I couldn’t believe it but there on the shelf was a mini lane cedar chest. Now knowing the story behind these cute chests, I scooped it up. With my discount I got it for $3.00. I’m definitely inspired to work on it.
Christy says
Hi Mary! I am so glad you enjoyed this one and what a lucky find! That was a steal for it! I’m so glad you scooped it up! XOXO
p says
So cute. I love the feet. I really need to check out using moulds. They add so much !
I still have one of these boxes as well.
Hmmm…. I’ll need to look at some paint colors. 🙂
Thanks for the inspiration.
Christy says
Thank you, P! The moulds are great since you can make as many resin pieces as your heart desires. Have fun if you decide to redo yours! XOXO
Sharon H says
I think your mini cedar box turned out great but I’m saddened that you had to paint the cedar. I found this online and wanted to share with you, in case you ever need to refurbish another cedar lined box or chest of some kind.
https://amishhandcrafted.com/how-to-maintain-a-cedar-chest/
Christy says
Thank you, Sharon! Yes, someone else mentioned sanding it would bring back the lovely cedar scent. This one just did not smell nice. I figured it was ok since you aren’t really storing anything inside that would benefit from the cedar lining. Thanks for the info! XOXO
Naomi Shelton says
Christy, that is so doggone cute and actually beautiful. I had one of those little cedar chests but gave mine away filled with little gifts as a graduation present for a special girl several years ago, along with an explanation about how I had received it. I would love to find another one. I love those little feet you added to the chest. Great job!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Naomi! I love that you gifted yours to someone special…what a fantastic and thoughtful gift! I do hope you find another! XOXO
Vicki says
So very pretty! I had one of these but don’t remember seeing it lately, so hopefully it’s in my house somewhere. I would love to give it a makeover and especially to add those adorable feet!
Christy says
Thank you, Vicki! I hope you find it. It will be fun to redo! XOXO
Addie says
Yep….my older sister got one at graduation. By the time I got there they stopped doing that. My sister still has hers. It was a nice tradition. I see them at thrift shops all the time….I won’t buy….I am still pissed I didn’t get one.
We went to school in Burlingame, CA……just putting it out there…it might be fun to see where others went that got them too.
Good job on it and have a great weekend!!!!…xoxo
Christy says
Hahahahah!! “I won’t buy…I am still pissed I didn’t get one.” You crack me up, Addie! That is so funny! Well, I didn’t get one either. I told my sister maybe it was because we went to a poor school and they didn’t think they’d get any sales from us, but I’m sure that’s not true lol. We are in Virginia Beach, VA. The one I found had the stamp of a local furniture place, so someone around here got one! Enjoy the rest of your weekend, my friend! XOXO
Michele M. says
WOW- she’s certainly all dressed up for a fancy life now, isn’t she? Love the feet you added….and the sea glass color is just so beautiful.
Christy says
Yes, she is so fancy now lol! Thank you, my friend!! XOXO
Teresa says
I just wanted to say that I agree with all the other ladies the box turned out beautiful.
Christy says
I’m so glad you like it, Teresa, thank you!! XOXO
Robin says
Nice redo, Christy. I might have gone for a white glaze, porcelain knob & feet. But for now, I’m not going to reimagine my mini-Lane. I’m going to ask my girlfriends if they still have theirs!
Christy says
Thanks, Robin! Ha ha smart! I never got one, but I surely would cherish mine to if I had! XOXO