Welcome to the first Thrift Store Decor Upcycle Challenge of the year! We took a few months off for the holidays, but now we’re back to share more upcycled thrift ideas! This year we have even more bloggers and TONS of thrifty upcycle ideas to get those wheels spinning. Today I’m sharing a DIY recipe box. You won’t believe the transformation! Here’s what it looked like when I found it at my local thrift store. Can you see the price tag? Only 50 cents!
And the best part was inside. The old recipe dividers were still there. Looks like they were owned by someone who actually did some cooking! Too bad they didn’t leave the recipe cards. I would have loved to have those, too!
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Supplies for DIY Recipe Box Makeover
- vintage metal recipe box
- DecoArt Chalky Finish, Yesteryear
- white paint
- Iron Orchid Designs Vintage Art Decor Mold
- cornstarch
- paper clay
- wood glue
- paint brush
- 7 Gypsies paper, Honeymoon
- DecoArt Decou-Page, Matte
First, make the baroque detail piece by rolling a piece of paper clay in your hands to get it flexible. Brush a little cornstarch onto the mold so the clay won’t stick. Press the clay into the mold. Remove excess. Turn the mold upside down and gently roll the paper clay piece out. It doesn’t need to dry in the mold.
Here’s the video to show how easy this really is.
Glue onto the front of the recipe box.
Paint the entire box with gray paint. No need to prime if you use a chalk or mineral based paint. Touch up if needed. One coat may do it.
Allow gray paint to dry completely. Dry brush white paint very lightly over the entire box.
Now for the inside, trace around the bottom of the box on the scrapbook paper and cut a little smaller to fit in the top and bottom. Brush on a thin coat of decoupage medium, apply paper, and brush another thin coat on top.
If you liked this DIY recipe box, check out all the other AMAZING upcycled projects!
Thanks for reading about my DIY recipe box! Let me know what you think about the molds. I’m also linking to these parties.
‘Til the next project,
Ann @ Duct Tape and Denim
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nfdone – We share at these blog parties. Featured on: Merry Monday #143, Craft Schooling Sunday, Crafty Weekends Party
Claire says
January 26, 2017 at 7:11 amI didn’t even know you could buy moldings like that, that’s definitely sparked my imagination. Great upcycle.
Amanda @ The Kolb Corner says
January 26, 2017 at 8:46 amWhat a score it would have been to have those original recipe cards! I love the detail you gave the front of it and the gray color is perfect!
ducttapeanddenim says
January 26, 2017 at 12:00 pmI’m still looking for vintage recipe cards!
Deborah says
January 26, 2017 at 9:43 amOh, it’s just beautiful and the color is amazing.
ducttapeanddenim says
January 26, 2017 at 12:00 pmThanks!
Michelle James says
January 26, 2017 at 12:04 pmThis is so great! I’ve been dying to try the iron orchid molds!
sherry cole says
January 26, 2017 at 1:05 pmIt looks totally different. Great job!
Debrashoppeno5 says
January 26, 2017 at 2:08 pmI love it. And yes it would have been great if the recipes were included. Nevertheless, you did an amazing job making the plain recipe box so pretty. I need to check the molding technique.
Kimm at Reinvented says
January 26, 2017 at 5:53 pmLove this Ann! I’ll be looking forward to your video on the clay technique! Have a great weekend!
Sue Purdy says
January 26, 2017 at 5:27 pmOh wow! I love this cute little recipe box. And that baroque appliqué is perfect.
Dru says
January 26, 2017 at 8:52 pmI see these metal boxes all the time at the thrift store and never know what to do with them. Now I know. Love it.
ducttapeanddenim says
January 27, 2017 at 8:48 amTry it! I’m sure they’ll turn out beautiful.
Kim~madeinaday says
January 27, 2017 at 11:27 amThis looks like it always should of looked this way. Love the blue!
Kim
Lora says
January 27, 2017 at 7:35 pmI love old recipes, and this is a perfect little box for them 🙂
Ashley ~ 3 Little Greenwoods says
January 28, 2017 at 6:26 amAdding that wooden piece to the front is so smart! Love the painting technique too.
Thanks so much for the DIY inspiration!
{BIG hugs}
~ Ashley
Chelsea @ The Johnsons Plus Dog says
January 28, 2017 at 8:08 pmThat’s adorable! I love how it turned out. I love the little touch that the white dry brush adds.
Pili says
January 29, 2017 at 3:54 pmAny box looks better with a mold, and yours is perfect! Love the color too
Toni | Small Home Soul says
January 29, 2017 at 9:39 pmI love that box now but the old way reminded me of my sweet grandmas recipe box. I love the new update, and that mold technique is pretty cool!
Kim says
January 30, 2017 at 11:32 amOoooh, I love that molding you added!!! It looks fab!
Megan says
February 4, 2017 at 3:12 pmSo clever to add the molding! Nice update!
Sam @ Raggedy Bits says
February 5, 2017 at 12:11 amGorgeous upcycle! Love the moulding you put on the front of the box!
ducttapeanddenim says
February 8, 2017 at 4:47 amThanks, Sam!
Janet Vinyard says
February 21, 2017 at 3:04 pmLovely transformation! Love the baroque detail! What a great idea! Well done! Blessings, Janet
Florence @ VintageSouthernPicks says
February 22, 2017 at 5:39 pmI think I even have one of those “dullsville” recipe boxes around here that I figured was hopeless for selling. You have given me new inspiration! Love how yours turned out with the decal!
Marilyn Lesniak says
February 23, 2017 at 7:38 amThank you so much for linking at #overthemoon! I look forward to seeing what you share every week. Please come back next week and allow us to promote your content!
Carol ("Mimi") says
February 25, 2017 at 7:02 amI never knew you could make embellishments from a mold like that. It really completely changes the look of the box, along with the paint. Really nice transformation.
Sharon@BlueWillowHouse says
February 25, 2017 at 11:47 amI would have walked right by that metal recipe box at the thrift store. You have a great imagination for creating such an adorable recycle. Thank you for sharing your upcycle at the Snickerdoodle Create~Bake~Make link party!
Angie ~ ambient wares says
February 26, 2017 at 11:58 amVery clever and cute! Thanks for sharing with us at Funtastic Friday! Pinned & sharing
ducttapeanddenim says
February 26, 2017 at 8:10 pmThanks, Angie!
Emily says
February 26, 2017 at 3:30 pmWhat a great makeover! I love that the old dividers were still in there. Thanks for linking up with Merry Monday; I’m featuring your project in my round-up for this week’s party, which goes live tonight!
ducttapeanddenim says
February 26, 2017 at 8:10 pmThanks so much! I just linked back to the party, too!
Kippi says
July 29, 2018 at 9:21 amCute card file box. I still use them, but mine is not that cute. Happy Summer, Kippi
Rebecca says
August 1, 2018 at 7:29 amSuch a great upcycle! We’d love for you to come link up at Wall to Wall DIY Wednesday over at R&R at home!
Debrashoppeno5 says
August 1, 2018 at 3:27 pmI love how you updated the recipe box. Thank you for sharing at Snickerdoodle Create Bake Make Link Party.
Angie Chavez says
August 3, 2018 at 7:06 amI’ve missed seeing you projects at Talk of the Town! The party is every Tuesday at 18:00. I hope you’ll come back!
Beverly says
August 5, 2018 at 6:03 pmLove how you updated the recipe box and the color is perfect. Stop by over The Moon since you are being featured.
Hugs,
Bev