You may remember that I picked up a trio of metal boxes at an estate sale a couple of weeks back.

The smallest galvanized box on the left was rather unique.  It opens to the side.

I knew this one would make for a fun makeover project.

I started with my usual prep of washing with Dawn dish soap and hot water, followed by a coat of Dixie Belle’s Bonding Boss inside and out.

Next up I gave the inside a coat of Dixie Belle paint in Cottage Door.

More on that color choice in a minute.

Next I painted the exterior of the box in Dixie Belle’s Drop Cloth.  Then I pulled out I.O.D.’s By Any Other Name transfer and chose some roses that I thought would be perfect on this box.

I added roses to both of the long sides of the box, without really deciding which side I would consider to be the front.  I also chose roses that had a creamy pale tone to them.  It wasn’t until later that I realized that most of them read more pale yellow rather than cream now that they are in place.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that …

However, I now think I should have gone with a different color on the interior.  Unfortunately, I had already applied Dixie Belle’s clear wax over the Cottage Door.  So to repaint would be a process.  Sure, you can eventually paint over Dixie Belle’s clear wax because it is water based (this is not true of all waxes, FYI), but not until the wax is cured (7 to 10 days).  At that point you also need to clean the surface with their White Lightening cleaner (or a similar TSP based cleaner) and then scuff sand before painting.

So hopefully the Cottage Door isn’t as wrong as I think because I’m leaving it.

Plus, the lid on this box is likely to mainly remain closed.

I mean, I’d want to see the top of that box, wouldn’t you?

That transfer on the top is also from the I.O.D. By Any Other Name set.

I also added some bits to either end of the box.

The wording above is from the I.O.D. Saint Ouen transfer as is this transfer on the other end …

and the typography on the front of the box.

I also finished off the exterior of the box with a coat of Dixie Belle’s clear wax.

This one is headed into Reclaiming Beautiful in Stillwater today, so if any of you locals are interested be sure to head down there to check it out.

Also, be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you think of today’s ‘toolbox’!