out to lunch.

Published on by Quandie

I picked up this vintage lunchbox at a garage sale last summer.

After getting it home, I removed the filthy string that was holding the handle in place and then gave the whole thing a good clean with soapy water.  Then I added a coat of B.O.S.S. and put it on the ‘pile of future projects’.

Sometimes I like to hang onto these smaller projects and then bring them out in January when I’m stuck in the house.

Anyway, I did debate whether or not to paint this one.  I know there is a segment of the vintage loving population that would have preferred this in its original patina.  However, that segment doesn’t seem to buy a lot of my pieces.

So I decided to paint this one up.  I started with a couple of coats of Dixie Belle’s Silk paint in Cactus on the inside.  I thought I’d save myself some work and use a Silk paint with its built-in top coat, thus eliminating one step in the process.

Next up I painted the outside in my favorite Dixie Belle Drop Cloth.  Once that was dry I pulled out some sections of the I.O.D. Floral Anthology transfer.  My original plan was to start at the bottom of the lunchbox and then continue the florals about half way up the lid.  But I started by cutting off the section for the lid and applying that first.

Once that was in place I decided I rather liked the look of the florals just on the lid.

Sometimes … oh, who am I kidding? … most of the time … my designs morph as I go along.

That’s sort of the fun of creating, isn’t it?

Once I had the florals in place I went in search of some typography to add.  I found the upper half of the smaller version of the Seeds transfer in my stash and thought it would be perfect.

This is a retired design.  It was originally sold by re.design with prima, and then by I.O.D.

Sadly, neither one of them produces this design anymore.  I was in luck because one of my readers sent this one to me (thanks again Monica!).

The handle on this lunchbox is made out of plastic, and I wasn’t overly fond of that original shade of forest green.  So I decided to go ahead and paint it in the Cactus as well.

To give my paint every opportunity to adhere to the plastic, I first washed the handle thoroughly with hot soapy water to remove any oils.  Once dry I sanded it to rough up the surface, and then I added a coat of Dixie Belle’s Slick Stick.  I followed all of that up with two coats of the Cactus.

I finished up the lunchbox with a coat of clear wax on the exterior.  Since the interior was painted in the Silk paint it didn’t require a further topcoat.

I was halfway through photographing the lunchbox when I remembered that it came with a funky … well … I’m not sure what you would call it.  It’s sort of a large safety pin thingie.

It slides through the latches and prevents the lunchbox from opening.  The latches are slightly loose and one side in particular tends to fall open rather easily.  I’m guessing that the former owner of this lunchbox added this as a clever fix.

I’m not sure if I prefer the lunchbox with or without this addition.

It certainly adds a unique touch.

What do you think?

I don’t know that I would use this as a lunchbox, although you certainly could.  I think I’d be more inclined to use it to store seed packets, or maybe colored pencils or other art supplies.

Regardless of what you want to use it for, this lunchbox is for sale locally.  Check out my ‘available for local sale’ page for more details!

Thank you to Dixie Belle Paint Co for providing the Slick Stick, Drop Cloth and Cactus paint, and clear wax used on this project.

25 thoughts on “out to lunch.”

  1. I love it! And I vote for leaving off the “great pin” — you’ll find another use that won’t interfere with the prettiness of the box.
    And by the way, I used those seed packet/flower bulb signs on the doors to my painted bathroom vanity, along with some florals. Makes it look like it’s in a garden shed! I promised that I wouldn’t go as far as to replace my shower bar with a hose 🙂 Have a great week! Kathy

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      1. I just waxed the doors using furniture paste wax. A couple of coats seem to be lasting. But I also distressed the transfers a bit, so unless they actually slid off, I probably wouldn’t notice. Distressing covers a multitude of sins, I think!

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  2. I love all of your various types of boxes that you create! So glad to see that you are enjoying, and are able to use, some of what I sent you. 😊

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  5. I love the original lunch box BUT THE “after” is fabulous! I would and have kept the original because I don’t have your eye. I’m going to root around my stash and see if I can get brave. I love the safety pin. To me it is the perfect touch.
    Smiles, alice

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  8. I have my grandfathers old lunch box, and I keep art supplies in it. I wouldn’t think of “flowering it up”, but yours does look beautiful. I would do this on another box I have that never belonged to anyone I knew. It’s a beauty, and you do great work!

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  9. This turned out beautifully. Love the florals,always . Really like the Cactus color. I think the large “safety pin” works. It was an ingenious fix for a problem. Probably kept intruders out,never know who wants your lunch!!

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  10. I adore the pin and everything about this. If you don’t use the SILK paint which I’m familiar with what do you typically use over a mineral/chalk paint inside of these metal boxes. I have a few that I’m hoping to do some day! Do you typically prime these inside and/or out, especially if they have rust?

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    1. Oops, I think I totally forgot to mention that I almost always use the clear B.O.S.S. from Dixie Belle on these metal toolboxes/lockboxes and now lunchboxes. It will block existing rust from bleeding through the paint. I did B.O.S.S. this one both inside and out. As for a topcoat, I use either clear wax or the flat clear coat, mostly depending on my mood 🙂

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