How to Update a Boring Old Jewelry Box with Hydrangea Transfers

This was only the third jewelry box I painted this year but it has stayed my favorite throughout the whole year. Don’t miss how this blue jewelry box with hydrangea transfers turned out!

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Supplies for Thrifted Jewelry Cabinet Makeover

• jewelry box, thrifted
• 3 shades of Dixie Belle blue paint:
  • Haint Blue
  • Antebellum Blue
  • Bunker Hill Blue
• paint brushes
• sanding block
• small screwdriver
• Dixie Belle Clear Coat, Satin
• Mystic Hydrangea Transfer by Redesign with Prima — There are also many more on Amazon and Etsy.
• Decorative bronze feet for boxes — I bought these on Amazon. The exact style I used has sold out but there are many others similar and you can probably find the exact ones from a different vendor.
• Rub N Buff Metallic Wax, “Antique Gold”
• rags

{{{See a complete list of what’s in my toolbox and supply cabinet.}}}

Before Video

Lauren found this jewelry box for me at a local thrift store called Rachel’s Hope. (Burleson, Texas) She paid $3.50 for it. It was in the SheShed attic for several months until I pulled it out for one of my thrift haul videos on Facebook. This was in the winter, when I wasn’t doing much thrifting so I was shopping in my own stash!

Here’s the video, in case you missed it. The jewelry box shows up at 1:58 in the video. You can also see the pink jewelry box with rose transfers behind me.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Remove Hardware

The drawer handles were attached with tiny screws and were easy to remove. I don’t usually remove the lid but I knew it would be a lot easier to blend the paint with it off. So I unscrewed the hinges and removed the top, too.

TIP: Make sure you put all your hardware together in a safe place, ie small jar with a lid, zipper baggie, etc.

Clean

I usually use whatever cleaner I have nearby. These are the cleaners that I usually have on hand:

• Clorox wipes
• Windex (or generic) glass cleaner – for the glass doors but I’ve also used it on the entire piece
• Krud Kutter — Use if the piece feels greasy at all.
• Goo Gone — Great for removing stickers and price tags!

Whatever all-purpose cleaning spray you have will probably work.

Painting Tips

This jewelry box took a little more time and effort than most of my jewelry boxes. But it was worth it!!!

First, the whole box was painted with one coat of Dixie Belle’s Haint Blue.

Next, I added the darker Antebellum Blue around the edges, pulling the paint toward the outside of the box.

Then I added a tiny bit of the darkest color, Bunker Hill Blue, around the very outside of each side.

After that I blended the colors in circles, adding colors as I needed.

Sorry for the quality of the photos below, I had to pull them off a video.

I just worked it until everything was completely blended.

I blended the paint with the drawer in so all the colors would flow together.

More Painting Tips for Chalk Paint

• I always start with the jewelry box upside down so I can see parts that I might miss otherwise.
• If your chalk paint seems thick add a bit of water OR
• Use a mist sprayer to get the wood surface slightly damp before painting.
• Allow the first coat to dry completely.
• For the second coat, either water down a little of the paint or dip the paintbrush in water before dipping in the paint.
• Use a small artist’s brush to get into small, tight areas.

Distress

I used a 220-grit sanding block but you could also use sandpaper or wet distress. Take off as much or as little paint as you want.

Top Coat

After wiping off all the sanding dust, I gave the jewelry cabinet one coat of Dixie Belle Clear Coat in Satin and let it dry overnight.

Apply Hydrangea Transfers

These transfers are seriously so much easier than painting! Just cut apart the designs, decide where to put them, pull off the back paper, apply to the jewelry box, rub with the tool provided, and carefully peel off the plastic film.

HINT: It has been much easier for me to apply transfers after the topcoat has dried.

Wax Hardware

Sometimes I paint the hardware, sometimes I don’t do anything to it. But on this project, I used Rub ‘n Buff in Antique Gold. I squeezed out a tiny bit on my finger and lightly rubbed it across the surface of the handles and the feet that I added. Then I buffed it off with a soft cloth.

Replace and Add Hardware

After the top coat had dried overnight, I replaced the handles. I also added some feet to give the jewelry box a little more character.

After Video

I do have some videos showing step-by-step how I did this project. But until I get a video made, watch this little Facebook live recap video of the week’s thrift haul makeovers. The jewelry box shows up at about 2:50 in the video if you want to skip ahead.

You’ll also see the rose transfers on some old frames, a desktop bookshelf, and a basket.

FULL VIDEO — coming soon ???

Finished DIY Project

Well, what do you think? I still love it but it did take a little longer than usual to sell. I was expecting that. We had a lot of lookers who commented on it but it takes a special something to put this in your bedroom! It sold for $34.99 in about 4 months.

More DIY Projects

If you enjoyed this post, you might also like these:

• 10 Things You Need to Know Before Trying Jewelry Cabinet Makeovers
• 16 Thrift Store Jewelry Box Makeovers Anyone Can Do
• An Easy Jewelry Cabinet Makeover with Beautiful Gold Wax
• Where to Find Unique Hardware for Jewelry Boxes {VIDEO}
• How to do a Boho Chic Paint Finish on a Jewelry Box

Thanks for reading! Please let me know if you have any questions about my thrift flips!

‘Til the next project,

 Ann @ Duct Tape and Denim

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