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Duct Tape and Denim

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Misc Thrift Store Makeovers

How to Repurpose an Old Wooden Bread Box as a Unique Jewelry Box

Today’s project is a throwback to 2013… one of my FIRST repurposed jewelry cabinet makeovers that actually wasn’t even a jewelry cabinet! This one started its life as an old wooden bread box from the thrift store!

Sorry for the small, blurry photos. This was way back before I even had an iPhone. I think I took these on my old point-and-shoot camera. It’s amazing how much technology has improved since 2013!

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What is a Bread Box

Before we get started, I realize that some of you younger ones may be asking, “What exactly IS a bread box?” or “What is the purpose a bread box?”, or “Do bread boxes really keep bread fresher?”

A breadbox is a container used to store bread and other baked goods. It can be made of wood, pottery, or metal. These boxes or bins were much more common before most breads were baked commercially. Commercially baked bread is sold in plastic and uses ingredients to make it last longer.

Breadboxes have three things going for them:

  1. Bread is stored at room temperature.
  2. The lid is loose enough to allow air movement, which prevents condensation and mold.
  3. The lid is tight enough to slow the drying process and to protect from rodents or insects.

Personally, we don’t eat much bread at our house so we don’t need a bread box. But I do have LOTS of jewelry! So any breadboxes I find at thrift stores in the future may also be turned into jewelry boxes!

Supplies for My Painted Bread Box Makeover

  • Turquoise Bay paint from Ace Hardware
  • plaster of Paris
  • Express Finish in Walnut from Minwax
  • paintbrushes
  • old rag
  • sandpaper
  • crystal knob
  • hardware cloth
  • stapler
  • small cup hooks

Turning a Vintage Bread Box into a Jewelry Box

When I found this lovely bread box on a Goodwill shelf it was sitting on its side.  I got excited and thought I found another jewelry cabinet.  So it was a little disappointing when I realized it was only an old vintage bread box.  But my imagination had already seen it as a jewelry cabinet so I bought it anyway.

Here it is along with the rest of my thrift store haul that day:

BEFORE painting, wooden bread box

Step One: Clean

This breadbox wasn’t very dirty at all. I just wiped it down with some spray cleaner and a rag.

Step Two: Paint

I used my homemade chalk paint for this project. Personally, it’s not my favorite for pieces of furniture but it works ok for something that won’t get a lot of wear. I’ve had better luck with brand name chalk and mineral paints such as Shabby Paints. They have a similar color that I love — So Serene.

Step Three: Sand

I didn’t want to distress this wood box too much so I just took a little paint off the corners with a piece of 150-grit sandpaper.

Step Four: Stain

I thinned my walnut stain with a little water, brushed it on, and wiped it off with an old rag.

Step Five: Add Hardware

Since this was originally a breadbox and NOT a jewelry box I needed to add some way to store and display jewelry. I decided to add tiny cup hooks inside the door and staple hardware cloth on the back wall to hold earrings.

AFTER painting a bread box to use as a jewelry box

Again… sorry for the tiny photos!

Take a look at the before and after photo!  What a difference a little paint makes!Before and after photos of a bread box I painted and repurposed as a jewelry cabinet | DuctTapeAndDenim.com

Now that you’ve seen this makeover, what do you think? Are you going to look for a retro bread box to paint? Make sure you drop me a note and show me how it turns out!

Repurposed jewelry cabinet bread box, painted, now a jewelry cabinet

More Thrift Store Jewelry Cabinet Makeovers

So what do you think of my repurposed jewelry cabinet?  If you like it, here are a few more jewelry cabinets I’ve painted:

  • Jewelry Cabinet with Folding Door
  • Pink Jewelry Cabinet
  • Jewelry Cabinet in Coral
  • Thrift Store Makeover | Jewelry Cabinet in Gray

‘Til the next project,

 Ann @ Duct Tape and Denim

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AntiqueFarmHouse

First published March 12, 2013.  Featured on: Party in Your PJs #38, Princess Pinky Girl’s Great Home Organization Ideas


7 Comments

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Comments

  1. Lindi says

    January 7, 2015 at 10:59 am

    This is very cute!! Nice way to repurpose that bread box! Found you at Party in Your PJ’s 🙂
    Lindi @ Love Create Celebrate

    Reply
  2. Betsy says

    January 7, 2015 at 4:46 pm

    What a clever idea and I love the color. Thanks for the inspiration and thanks for sharing at Vintage Inspiration Party.

    Reply
  3. Julie says

    January 10, 2015 at 4:05 am

    That is such a clever idea. I can honesty say I have never looked at a bread box and thought “I could keep jewellery in here” Just goes to show what a little imagination can do!

    Reply
  4. Lynda Hardy says

    January 10, 2015 at 11:38 am

    This is a lovely repurposing idea! I’d be happy to have you share this post with us on our Awesome Life Friday Link Up! http://rchreviews.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  5. Jann Olson says

    January 13, 2015 at 10:26 pm

    Great idea and I love the color! Thanks for sharing it with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

    Reply
  6. Kathy A says

    August 16, 2019 at 8:36 am

    Loved this makeover. As a dollhouse lover, I love breadboxes to build kitchen room boxes! Can never have too many “granny’s kitchen” scenes. With a little bit of luck, you can arrange the kitchen table set on the “lid” so when you open the box, the scene “expands”, too! I have a stained glass one waiting for me to “build” an antique shop in!

    Reply
  7. David Butler says

    June 11, 2020 at 4:27 am

    It’s really such a great job. I would never think about this idea. It’s really helpful. Thanks for sharing this article

    Reply

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