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Misc Thrift Store Makeovers

How to Update an Ugly Old Metal Recipe Box with Paper Clay Castings

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!

Vintage metal recipe file box BEFORE makeover. More thrift store makeovers at DuctTapeAndDenim.com

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!

Vintage recipe files in box. DuctTapeAndDenim.com


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Supplies for Metal Recipe Box Makeover

  • vintage metal recipe box
  • DecoArt Chalky Finish, Yesteryear
  • white paint
  • Iron Orchid Designs Vintage Art Decor Mold – If these are sold out, this style is very similar. And find lots more Baroque style molds HERE.
  • cornstarch
  • paper clay
  • wood glue
  • paintbrush
  • 7 Gypsies paper, Honeymoon
  • DecoArt Decou-Page, Matte

How to Update the Thrift Store Recipe Box

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.

Close up of paper clay detail on recipe box | DuctTapeAndDenim.com

Paint the entire box with gray paint.   No need to prime if you use 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.

Vintage metal recipe card box | DuctTapeAndDenim.com

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.

Finished vintage metal recipe box makeover. Thrift store to kitchen! DuctTapeAndDenim.com


More Thrift Store Makeovers

If you liked this DIY recipe box, check out all the other AMAZING upcycled projects!

An InLinkz Link-up


Thanks for reading about my DIY recipe box!  Let me know what you think about the molds.

‘Til the next project,

 Ann @ Duct Tape and Denim

Pinterest | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Etsy | YouTube

AntiqueFarmHouse

DIY Recipe Box - Vintage Metal Recipe Box Makeover with Chalky Finish paint and paper clay molding. You won't believe how it started out! DuctTapeAndDenim.com

Featured on:  Merry Monday #143, Craft Schooling Sunday, Crafty Weekends Party  Originally published on January 26, 2017.


37 Comments

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Comments

  1. Claire says

    January 26, 2017 at 7:11 am

    I didn’t even know you could buy moldings like that, that’s definitely sparked my imagination. Great upcycle.

    Reply
  2. Amanda @ The Kolb Corner says

    January 26, 2017 at 8:46 am

    What 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!

    Reply
    • ducttapeanddenim says

      January 26, 2017 at 12:00 pm

      I’m still looking for vintage recipe cards!

      Reply
  3. Deborah says

    January 26, 2017 at 9:43 am

    Oh, it’s just beautiful and the color is amazing.

    Reply
    • ducttapeanddenim says

      January 26, 2017 at 12:00 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  4. Michelle James says

    January 26, 2017 at 12:04 pm

    This is so great! I’ve been dying to try the iron orchid molds!

    Reply
  5. sherry cole says

    January 26, 2017 at 1:05 pm

    It looks totally different. Great job!

    Reply
  6. Debrashoppeno5 says

    January 26, 2017 at 2:08 pm

    I 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.

    Reply
  7. Kimm at Reinvented says

    January 26, 2017 at 5:53 pm

    Love this Ann! I’ll be looking forward to your video on the clay technique! Have a great weekend!

    Reply
  8. Sue Purdy says

    January 26, 2017 at 5:27 pm

    Oh wow! I love this cute little recipe box. And that baroque appliqué is perfect.

    Reply
  9. Dru says

    January 26, 2017 at 8:52 pm

    I see these metal boxes all the time at the thrift store and never know what to do with them. Now I know. Love it.

    Reply
    • ducttapeanddenim says

      January 27, 2017 at 8:48 am

      Try it! I’m sure they’ll turn out beautiful.

      Reply
  10. Kim~madeinaday says

    January 27, 2017 at 11:27 am

    This looks like it always should of looked this way. Love the blue!
    Kim

    Reply
  11. Lora says

    January 27, 2017 at 7:35 pm

    I love old recipes, and this is a perfect little box for them 🙂

    Reply
  12. Ashley ~ 3 Little Greenwoods says

    January 28, 2017 at 6:26 am

    Adding that wooden piece to the front is so smart! Love the painting technique too.

    Thanks so much for the DIY inspiration!

    {BIG hugs}
    ~ Ashley

    Reply
  13. Chelsea @ The Johnsons Plus Dog says

    January 28, 2017 at 8:08 pm

    That’s adorable! I love how it turned out. I love the little touch that the white dry brush adds.

    Reply
  14. Pili says

    January 29, 2017 at 3:54 pm

    Any box looks better with a mold, and yours is perfect! Love the color too

    Reply
  15. Toni | Small Home Soul says

    January 29, 2017 at 9:39 pm

    I 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!

    Reply
  16. Kim says

    January 30, 2017 at 11:32 am

    Ooooh, I love that molding you added!!! It looks fab!

    Reply
  17. Megan says

    February 4, 2017 at 3:12 pm

    So clever to add the molding! Nice update!

    Reply
  18. Sam @ Raggedy Bits says

    February 5, 2017 at 12:11 am

    Gorgeous upcycle! Love the moulding you put on the front of the box!

    Reply
    • ducttapeanddenim says

      February 8, 2017 at 4:47 am

      Thanks, Sam!

      Reply
  19. Janet Vinyard says

    February 21, 2017 at 3:04 pm

    Lovely transformation! Love the baroque detail! What a great idea! Well done! Blessings, Janet

    Reply
  20. Florence @ VintageSouthernPicks says

    February 22, 2017 at 5:39 pm

    I 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!

    Reply
  21. Marilyn Lesniak says

    February 23, 2017 at 7:38 am

    Thank 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!

    Reply
  22. Carol ("Mimi") says

    February 25, 2017 at 7:02 am

    I 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.

    Reply
  23. Sharon@BlueWillowHouse says

    February 25, 2017 at 11:47 am

    I 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!

    Reply
  24. Angie ~ ambient wares says

    February 26, 2017 at 11:58 am

    Very clever and cute! Thanks for sharing with us at Funtastic Friday! Pinned & sharing

    Reply
    • ducttapeanddenim says

      February 26, 2017 at 8:10 pm

      Thanks, Angie!

      Reply
  25. Emily says

    February 26, 2017 at 3:30 pm

    What 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!

    Reply
    • ducttapeanddenim says

      February 26, 2017 at 8:10 pm

      Thanks so much! I just linked back to the party, too!

      Reply
  26. Kippi says

    July 29, 2018 at 9:21 am

    Cute card file box. I still use them, but mine is not that cute. Happy Summer, Kippi

    Reply
  27. Rebecca says

    August 1, 2018 at 7:29 am

    Such a great upcycle! We’d love for you to come link up at Wall to Wall DIY Wednesday over at R&R at home!

    Reply
  28. Debrashoppeno5 says

    August 1, 2018 at 3:27 pm

    I love how you updated the recipe box. Thank you for sharing at Snickerdoodle Create Bake Make Link Party.

    Reply
  29. Angie Chavez says

    August 3, 2018 at 7:06 am

    I’ve missed seeing you projects at Talk of the Town! The party is every Tuesday at 18:00. I hope you’ll come back!

    Reply
  30. Beverly says

    August 5, 2018 at 6:03 pm

    Love how you updated the recipe box and the color is perfect. Stop by over The Moon since you are being featured.
    Hugs,
    Bev

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. How to Make a Nail Polish Rack out of a Wooden Spice Rack says:
    July 24, 2019 at 3:34 pm

    […] Recipe Box Makeover […]

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