Hello beautiful friends! I have whittled down my latest thrifty haul to just a few remaining pieces. Today I’m sharing these two ornate boxes I picked up at two different thrift stores:
I always pick up pretty boxes when I see them. They are quick and easy to paint up and usually sell quickly. I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
I started with the larger of the two:
I paid more than I would have liked for this one at $4.25, but I couldn’t resist those pretty feet!
This one got a good wipe down with some Lysol wipes and a simple paint job:
This is two coats of DIY Chalk paint in Behr’s Bit of Sugar. (Recipe HERE.)
A very light sanding with 220 grit sandpaper highlights all those pretty parts!
I could have spray painted these much more easily, but I prefer the depth and texture you get with chalk paint that you just don’t get with spray paint.
Now this box is a pretty piece that fits in perfectly with my decor!
It would be a great place to drop our keys when we get home!
The second one started out like this:
This is actually the third time I have found this same box, so it must have been a hot seller from somewhere at some point. Maybe y’all know?
I decided to use my favorite blue, Sunken Pool by Behr, made into DIY chalk paint also.
The tray and the tulips are from Hobby Lobby.
(I added water for the photo, but if you leave them in water, the metal wire inside the stems will eventually rust at the bottom. One of my dear readers suggested adding a touch of hot glue over the the ends to prevent that. Great idea! )
This one has a ton of nooks and crannies that would be a pain to paint with a traditional brush, but this round flathead brush makes light work of all those ornate details:
I only needed one coat! Again, I gave it a super light sanding with 220 grit sandpaper. This is one of those pieces that if you sand too hard, you’ll go right through the gold top layer to the white beneath, and that doesn’t look so pretty. A very light hand is all you need, or you can wet-distress it by taking a damp washcloth to the raised areas as soon as it is dry to the touch. I missed my window for that method.
They both got a coat of Rustoleum Clear Matte Spray to seal:
And a peek at the inside…I left the gold as is in there:
I don’t always share these smaller pieces. I just paint them up and stick them in my booth, but it’s fun to share even the simplest of makeovers sometimes!
I think the white one is my favorite! (Of course.)
I only have two pieces left!! Can you believe it?
Revisit all of these makeovers at the links below:
$24 Estate Sale Cabinet Makeover
Thrift Store Baskets go Coastal
$6 Thrift Store End Table Makeover
Estate Sale Shelving Unit Makeover
I have that small gold mirror and the yellow mirror on the left to go. However I’m considering a mirror gallery wall for our stairwell, so I’m going to hang onto that smaller one for now, but the yellow one is next!
Unfortunately, I may not have it done in time to share on Thursday.
I’ve been planning to have a yard sale with my Mom on the 18th of this month. We are long overdue since we haven’t had one since the Spring before we moved in two years ago. I’ve been getting ready for it slowly, but then I got a flyer in our mailbox this weekend announcing that our neighborhood yard sale was going to be held THIS weekend coming up! I lost a whole week of prep time! I didn’t even know there was a neighborhood yard sale planned, and whose idea was it to have it on Mother’s Day weekend anyway?
I’ll still be here on Thursday though, and if I don’t get the mirror finished in time, I’ll definitely have it ready for Trash-to-Treasure Tuesday next week.
Anyone else planning a yard sale any time soon? You might find my yard sale tips helpful!
Read all about them HERE!
UPDATE: Here’s that mirror:
See how it looks now HERE!
Have a great day! 🙂
XO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
If you like what you see, there are several ways to follow along!
Email * Facebook * Pinterest * Twitter *Instagram
Mary Kaiser says
I LOVE it when you share the small stuff. The small stuff is really important to learn how to make over because it is the stuff we can find and change up easily. I love how these turned out. Good luck with your garage sale.
Christy says
Oh yay! I’m so happy to hear you enjoy the smalls too! Sometimes I feel like everyone wants to see the bigger pieces, but you are right…these are easy changes that anyone can do! Thanks, Mary! XOXO
Christina in SW FL says
Pretty boxes Christy! The white one is so cute. I, too, adore those feet.
Interesting timing on the neighborhood sale. Yet, may it be a soaring success.
Here’s to a great week!
Christy says
Thanks, Christina! We have rain in the forecast for now for Saturday, but thank you for the well-wishes…hopefully the weather will hold out! XOXO
Cyndi J says
I have that gold box. I bought mine at Bombay Company. It holds dusting powder and sits on the back of the bathroom toilet. I’ve had it for about 17 years. Happy mother’s day!
Christy says
I just knew someone was going to be able to help me out on that. Thank you, Cyndi!! I used to love Bombay and was devastated when they closed down! I’m not surprised you still have yours…it’s a pretty piece! XOXO
ELIZABETH MARCHAK says
Nicely done. I’m glad to see you rescuing the world’s castoffs and giving them a new life. Watching you is a nice – as well as inspirational and instructional – break from all the work I am doing to get our house ready for our island house tour.
Christy says
Thank you, Elizabeth! I am thrilled to hear you enjoy what I share around here. Sounds like you are part of a fun event there…good luck with that! XOXO
sharon austin says
Super cute boxes and so many things you can use them for. I can’t wait to see what you do with the small gold mirror because I was a similar one from a yard sale at home I’ve been planning to do. I might have to steal some ideas!!
Christy says
Thank you, Sharon! Oh yes, these can be used for so many things! I may save the small gold mirror to use in a mirror gallery wall for our stairwell, but I’m not sure yet! It’s kind of too pretty to do anything with! XOXO
Denise Zdziennicki says
Both boxes are beautiful Christy… but if I had to pick I’d say the white is my fav too! 🙂
Christy says
Thanks, Denise! White always wins lol! XOXO
Cheryl Atkinson says
Hi Christy! I love finding pretty boxes and painting them too. these are really neat. Why would you have a tray from hobby lobby when you make the prettiest trays your self? Thank you for your blog.
Christy says
They are fun to redo…these two were too pretty to pass up for sure! And ha ha…I found this tray when I was looking for a large one for our kitchen island after we redid it. I didn’t have any of my own that fit the bill at the time. Thank you, though…I appreciate that!! 🙂 XOXO
Joanne Guerriero says
Put a dab of hot glue on the bottom of each of the wire stems and they will not rust through. Love your site. Is it possible that you can talk about pricing in your booth? We know prices of what you pay for things but would like to know more about how you mark things for sale. Thanks.
Christy says
Ooh I love that tip and will definitely try it! Thank you, Joanne! I did talk about pricing a bit in this post here: https://www.confessionsofaserialdiyer.com/10-tips-to-a-successful-booth/ You may find that info helpful if you have a booth. 🙂 XOXO
Karen says
I have to say, I love your blogging style! I love that you show you thrift hauls and tick them off for us as you make them over. I also do like seeing those little smalls as well, they make for very achievable project for someone who is unsure of their capabilities! And really, I chuckled when I read that that pretty tray was purchased from a craft store! With all the beautiful trays you make! ????
Have a beautiful day!
K
Christy says
Aww I’m so glad you like seeing my thrifty hauls knocked out piece by piece! I have to say that it really helps me to stay on track sharing makeovers in this way also! And I’m thrilled to hear you like seeing the smaller items. Sometimes I feel like people only want to see the big makeovers, but it makes sense since these are projects that everyone can do! And yep…I buy decor sometimes too lol! XOXO
Marie says
Love how paint made all those lovely details pop. So pretty and my fav is the white one too. Much success with your neighborhood garage sale this weekend!
Christy says
Right? Sometimes even the smallest of makeovers still makes me excited lol! Thanks, Marie! XOXO
Lizzy Leff says
It’s always great finding small projects like these. I love what you did with them, especially the larger one. I bet they get snapped up immediately.
Christy says
Thank you, Lizzy! These were really fun finds for sure! XOXO
Rose Lefebvre says
I never would have thought to paint something like this. I am wondering if a rose gold spray paint would also work.
Christy says
If it stands still…you can paint it ha ha! You could absolutely use spray paint too! XOXO
Becky says
Pretty boxes! Amazing how a little paint makes such a difference! I too like these little makeovers because it’s so practical. …All the little things in my house, that I need to be reminded can be changed and made new and pretty again… with something as simple as paint. I appreciate your reminders and inspiration!
Christy says
Thanks, Becky!! Even I am looking around and seeing a couple of things that could use a little paint lol. It’s magic! 🙂 XOXO
Julie Briones says
So pretty, Christy. The white one is my fave, too!
Christy says
Thank you, Julie!! Those cute feet on the white one just make it! XOXO
Addie says
You have proven that indeed you can put white paint on anything!!! I love the first box!!!!
I love seeing the “small” projects as well as the big ones. Keep going!!!! ….and tell the kids not to stand still too long or you might paint them!!!
XXOO Addie
Christy says
Ha ha yes…paint it all!! Thanks, Addie!! XOXO
Constance Colvin says
Hey Christy! I haven’t commented in a loooooong time but just wanted to tell you again how much I love your blob…….and how much I enjoy seeing your awesome skills in action!
Christy says
Hi Constance! So glad you took a minute to say hello…thank you!! XOXO
Alison Horne says
I love your vision, especially when you makeover an item that looks like a total eyesore to me. I was patiently, excitedly waiting for you to do this one because that kind of baroque style golden leaf box is something I would’ve wanted to hurl into a bonfire >;) And it looks so lovely now, like a delicately sculpted fondant cake. I honestly believe you could make a treasure out of anything. Beautiful work!!!
Christy says
Oh ha ha! You made me laugh out loud! Thank you so much, Alison! I’m so glad you like the outcome! XO
Sandy says
I love your posts and look forward to all your makeovers! These boxes are especially cute! Thank you for sharing and giving out all the details!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Sandy!! It’s my pleasure! XO
Marie says
Let us know how your garage sale goes. I’m curious. I discovered that I do better when I don’t have to compete with the neighborhood sales. I also have the smaller Bombay box. It’s nice to be able to see how it would look if I painted it.
Christy says
I sure will! Looks like it might get rained out…hoping that will change! XO
Cecilia from Georgia says
While you are knocking out all your treasures, I am trying to make my mind up what to do with one simple piece! You must share how you get things done so fast! I have 4 different projects going— I have some great help from my 3-year-old grandson for a few days!! You girls that have children amaze me how you balance everything so well! I have just retired and can’t wait to finish some things. Love the little boxes! Have a wonderful Mother’s Day! Hope you get to see your Mom! XOXO
Christy says
Ya’ll keep me going for sure! I know I have a makeover due to share every Tuesday and Thursday, so that keeps the fire under my you-know-what lit lol! It certainly was a bit tougher when my boys were younger and some days when they are out for the Summer. Thanks, Cecilia! Happy Mother’s Day to you too!! XOXO
cristina kadonsky says
Beautiful! What are the boxes made of? Metal or wood?
Christy says
Thanks, Cristina! They are neither…honeslty I’m not exactly sure what they are made of? Some sort of resin maybe?
Saundra says
Hi Christy,
These boxes are just adorable! What a great project. Now I’m on the hunt for some boxes to make beautiful. Lol Girl you do great work that inspires me to go for it!
Thanks for sharing your awesome projects!
Have a blessed day!
Saundra
Christy says
Thank you, Saundra! I love that you are inspired…that is the best!! Good luck in your search! XOXO