Remember the toolbox I brought home recently?
I fear that some of you are going to be disappointed when you read that I have painted it, but yes, I did. Of course I did.
I followed my usual process. Washing it with Dawn dish soap and the hose out in the yard, letting it dry and then giving it a coat of Dixie Belle’s B.O.S.S. inside and out. Oh, and there is a tray with this one, and that got the same treatment.
Next up I painted the interior of the toolbox and the tray in Dixie Belle’s new Cottage Core color called Cottage Door. Once dry, I added some wording to the tray from an old prima transfer called Catalogue.
This is another of the transfers that my reader Monica donated to me.
I once used this same transfer on a dress form, and I absolutely loved the result.
Transfers have come a long way since the early days when they were much more simple (and less expensive), and were mostly just cool typography and nothing else, like this one.
After adding the wording to this tray, I’m reminded of how impactful adding even just a simple bit of typography can be!
Next up I painted the outside of the box in Dixie Belle’s Drop Cloth, and then I added the last two pieces I had from I.O.D.’s Elysium transfer.
As a reminder, this transfer comes on four 12″ x 16″ sheets. It’s a little bit pricey at around $30 – $35, depending where you shop. But I was able to use it on three different pieces. This toolbox, and these two other boxes …
So I got three items out of one $30+ transfer. That’s not too bad.
Once I had the floral transfer in place, I had a couple of somewhat blank spaces in the opposite corners that needed just a little something.
I added a small portion of the old, small Seeds transfer (also sent to me by Monica!) to the front corner.
That tiny crown at the bottom is from one of the knob transfers from re.design with prima.
As are the bees and crowns that I added to the latches.
I added a few more scraps here and there from various transfers. I have a big pile of random bits that have been left over from previous projects.
Once the transfers were in place, I protected everything with Dixie Belle’s flat clear coat.
I did opt to leave the handle unpainted …
And as a nod to the original finish and color, I also left the little clasp thingie unpainted.
I just have to say, that Elysium transfer is so pretty. And it works just beautifully with that new Cottage Door paint color from Dixie Belle.
Don’t you agree?
By the way, I just couldn’t resist using my Limelight hydrangeas as a background for these photos.
They are looking particularly fine at the moment.
I absolutely love the way this one turned out, and I hope not too many of you are disappointed that I painted it.
Leave a comment and let me know what you think!
This toolbox is for sale locally (sorry, I don’t ship my items). Check out my ‘available for local sale‘ page for more details.
Thank you to Dixie Belle Paint Co for providing the B.O.S.S., paint. and flat clear coat used in this project.
q is for quandie 
Beautiful and I love this transfer and colors ♡ Your hydrangea is beautiful also ♡ Wow!!!
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You just gotta love those Limelight hydrangeas! At least here in Minnesota. They require very little care, just some pruning in early spring. And maybe a little bit of watering when the summer is as dry as this one has been.
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I must confess I was a bit disappointed you painted it- UNTIL I saw the results!!! WOW. How awesome are the combo of colors and transfers. A beautiful job Quandie! I predict a quick sale.
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Good prediction Sheri, it’s already SOLD!
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The colors are absolutely beautiful! Love the colors of the transfer and the interior color really pops with the transfer! And the color of the hydrangea is awesome! Another beautiful make over!
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The Cottage Door pairs just perfectly with the Elysium transfer for sure! Thanks Cheryl 🙂
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Wow! It is gorgeous!! I love the colors that you chose. Your boxes never disappoint! Glad that you are getting use out of the transfers. ❤️
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Thanks again for sending them Monica!
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I love it!!Much better painted ,the color is gorgeous as well as the transfer. Great make over.
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Thanks Charleen!
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It’s absolutely beautiful, Linda! Love it! I still hope to create one myself one day…if I don’t end up buying one of yours 😉!!
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Well, I’ve got a few more to work on, so you never know!
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Gorgeous! I am so glad you painted it. I’ve never been a fan of the distressed look. You have really outdone yourself with this transformation.
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Although I personally really like the look of some authentically distressed items, I know from experience that they don’t sell terribly well. That being said, I did sell the red tacklebox that I left unpainted (here). I painted just the inside of that one, and added a few embellishments over the original paint on the outside. So I guess you never know!
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While I just loved the original look of this toolbox, I have to say this is my favorite of all of the toolbox makeovers you have shared. This one is just gorgeous! I am curious how you store all of your tiny bits of leftovers?
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Well, I wish I could say that I have a clever method for storing those, but I actually just have them all piled up in a file folder. Occasionally one or two will get ruined when one slides between another transfer and its backing paper and they stick together. But there haven’t been too many casualties. I really should get one of those plastic 12″ x 12″ flat-ish storage boxes (that are meant for scrapbook paper) to keep them in, I think that would work rather well.
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I always have to chuckle at myself when I buy “another something” to store my “stuff” but those plastic boxes might work nicely and they are frequently in sale in Michaels.
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Now I’m thinking I need to get one! My transfer scrap pile just keeps growing 😉
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