What can be made from an old wooden box. Master class on decoupage on wood: Old box. When restoration of wooden boxes is required

Almost every woman has this magical chest. It contains her joy, beauty and good mood. It contains your favorite, bright, stylish and unique jewelry and more. And if over time, at the sight of the box, a woman ceases to experience excitement and tenderness mixed with delight, then it is not necessary to radically change the contents of the treasured chest. The point here, most likely, is that the appearance of the “ladies’ man” has become familiar and faded. We urgently need to change the situation!
To update a wooden box you need:
- sandpaper;
- PVA glue;
- decoupage card with kittens, puppies, butterflies, flowers;
- acrylic paint (burnt umber, gold, bronze);
- metallic paste with an “antique” effect of bronze color;
- one-component craquelure varnish;
- acrylic varnish (matte or glossy);
- soft brush.
First, you need to empty the box and walk with sandpaper along its entire perimeter.

Tear the pictures out of the decoupage card with your hands.

Pre-soak them in water for a minute. Then carefully place in a paper napkin or cotton towel and blot them from excess water. Apply glue to the box, then attach the picture. Apply glue on top with a soft brush. After all the drawings have been glued, leave the box alone for 30 minutes.

Now you need to take the gold one acrylic paint and cover the lid with light strokes.

Apply bronze to the box itself so as not to completely paint over the drawings. Touch only the edges of the decorative elements. Don't forget about the handle (if your box has one). We bronze it too.


Cover the corners and sides of the lid with metallic paste. Using the same paste we add a bronze shine to the sides of the box.

We use burnt umber to enhance the color of the brown wood along the bottom of the box. We also “umbrate” cats and puppies. Please note that the previous bronze strokes remain visible. We will only emphasize the outline of the drawing with umber, nothing more. We do the same with flowers and butterflies on the lid of the box.



We gold the rim of the lid.

We cover the decorative elements with craquelure varnish. Everything else is ordinary acrylic. Leave to dry for 60 minutes.


After such metamorphoses, the box will become not only a repository of women's things, but also a source of pride. Kittens and puppies will undoubtedly add a touch of frivolity and warmth to the interior of your room. The “antique” shine of the metal will be responsible for introducing an element of luxury. And he will cope with his task, regardless of the contents of your favorite magic chest.

One day, sitting on the sofa in front of the TV, I was going through the correspondence that had accumulated over several days. On the sofa, in short, there was just a dump of necessary and unnecessary papers. Sometimes it's just annoying. And so the idea arose to come up with some kind of chest for newspapers, magazines, advertisements, etc. that arrived daily. So that you can quickly look through and sort them out, then there will be order on the sofa.

Now the question arose: where to put all this? What kind of container can you come up with? And, as often happens, chance helped me. One day I was walking around the city and went into a furniture store. I don’t even know why. In the corner at the exit lay a pile of unnecessary things. Why am I speaking so confidently, because the seller scolded the auxiliary worker for the mess. But before this worker removed the trash, my gaze fell on a small chest. An old shabby wooden box with a handle. I grabbed it with both hands and begged the worker to give it to me. I was just happy, like a child. She even paid a small amount, which the employee was very surprised but happy about.

The chest was in pretty good condition on top, but the inside was terrible.

I decided to start with him.

First of all I deleted internal partition for cutlery, I had to ask my husband to help.
Then I used a scraper to remove the peeling paint, varnish, and paper. In general, everything that was there. Next I rubbed it with sandpaper. I wiped everything with alcohol to exclude any infection.

Now it's time to use wood putty to smooth everything out as much as possible. Sanded it again with sandpaper.
Then I started applying the external “makeup”.

The outside was also sanded with sandpaper for better adhesion to the surface. Then I painted it with white coated paint. It fits well and does not crack. While the paint was still wet, I used a damp cloth to make light scuff marks on the corners of the box. I had to paint it 2 more times because dark color difficult to paint over. The scuffs also had to be redone, but it was worth it. It turned out beautiful. I must say that lately I have become interested in white paint. But it turns out really beautiful.
Everything seems to be ready. I couldn't wait to start stenciling.

Using gray paint, I highlighted the strip where I will apply the word “PARIS”. Painting tape helps here; I used it to make even stripes and apply contrasting paint.

When everything is dry, you can remove the tape and get straight stripes.

Now it's up to the stencil. I have already decided to paint it with dark gray paint. Black - I didn’t decide, because... The contrast is too strong and doesn't look very good.
I also secured the stencil with tape so that there was no displacement and got to work. Then she carefully put it away. It turned out beautiful, but a bit harsh.

I decided to slightly embed the stencil design with the background of the box and applied strokes on top of the stencil design with a dry brush.

Now it turned out nice and cute.

Inside, I covered the chest with fabric stretched over paper.

Restoration of the box.

Good day everyone!

Another story about being brought back to life))) ... Namely, a tea box... Not much of a backstory....
Do your neighbors guess or maybe they know who lives next door to them?))) Mine somehow incredibly found out that I was doing decoupage. So one day a neighbor came to me and brought one extremely unattractive miracle, or rather a tea-type box. The sight of her, of course, just scared me. And not by what they wanted to offer me, and not even by the volume of work that I had already mentally imagined, but by my appearance. The first thing I asked was what military operations had she been in?))) It turned out that the neighbor had been given a tea box, with different varieties tea, well, an ordinary gift set. So she’s not a fan of collecting and decided to throw it away, but then for some reason she thought about me and decided to give it to me, but in order to make my work easier she decided to get rid of finishing, and finishing, like it turned out she was velvet.... well, I’m silent... why..... did she decide to do this??? I don’t know... well, at least I should have done it carefully.... Well, okay, why complain at all, it’s good that at least I didn’t throw it away, the box is wooden and very strong. Well, in general, they gave and gave, I thanked my neighbor, of course, but there was one thought in my head... this is how much work you gave me, my dear neighbor)))

I probably did it for three weeks, there really was a lot of work. Of course, I filmed the process, of course there is nothing special, but in case it comes in handy for someone. I can’t even call it decoupage, it’s more like restoration.
I apologize for some of the photos, the quality is not so great, because I took them in the evenings, or even at night, and you know what the lighting is like. And of course MK turned out to be very large and there will be a lot of photos.

This is how it came to me... know comments)))


The first thing I did was fill all the potholes and unevenness with putty for wooden surfaces. In the end, almost the entire surface of the box had to be leveled.
After the putty had dried, I covered the entire box with acrylic primer.




I glued some masking tape inside the rectangle. I did the same procedure on all sides of the box.



Next I took light gray acrylic paint and painted all sides of the box.

After drying, I very carefully removed the tape.

Then I took acrylic putty and used a stencil to make monograms on the inside of the lid

Using another stencil, I also used putty to make monograms on the front side of the lid, on the front side of the bottom of the box and a small pattern on the sides of the box

The next step of wear is to age the box. Using sandpaper I thoroughly went over all the corners and ends of the box. At the same time, I sanded all the monograms with sandpaper.

The next step, aging the monograms themselves
I took bitumen paint and applied a generous layer to the monograms using a brush. Immediately I washed off the excess with a cotton swab. Thus, driving the bitumen paint into all the cracks and squiggles, and leaving the monogram itself untouched. This is my first time working with bitumen paint, I don’t know the intricacies, sorry, I’m still learning, but I applied it a lot))) You can’t just wipe off this daub, there’s a special linseed oil for erasing excess from crackle, etc., but unfortunately I don’t have it, and why do I need it? olive oil, well, nothing worse)))

this is what I got

I do the same with all the monograms, the ends of the box are also lightly coated with bitumen paint


After all the procedures, I cover the entire box with a couple more layers of acrylic varnish, and finally, with a soft cloth, I cover it with a layer of wax

And the final touch is the handle for the box.
I covered the handle with acrylic primer, then applied a layer of bitumen paint, wiped off the excess with oil, then covered the handle with a layer of acrylic varnish and wax


The handle was simply glued to metal moment glue

Well, that seems to be all!
There was a tea box, which became a jewelry box. My hand won’t rise to put the tea bags in it now.

I showed it to my neighbor, it’s a shock in our opinion))) They kindly hinted to me that the box would be nice, I’d like one like that)))) I said no question, order it at at its best)))
He thinks...))) I’m incredibly happy that the issue of donating this box was discussed at the very beginning, otherwise I would have had an attack of asphyxia right now, or simply put, the toad just strangled me, give it away and even for free... For me personally I wouldn’t hesitate to say, but give it to me, knowing what kind of work and effort goes into all manual work, it wouldn’t even occur to me to reduce the price, I know how expensive the materials are, how much time it takes to do the work itself, on the subtleties, and in general how much of my own The craftswomen put energy and effort into their creations, how can you think that it can cost 5 kopecks... I never cease to be surprised by this fact every time I voice the cost of the work... Well, I don’t pay attention, I’m just thinking out loud... . I’m grumbling))) I’m getting old or something))))

Friends, 2015 has almost come to an end. We still have several orders left that were not published on the website, which we have already restored and returned to customers. Today we will talk about two antique boxes from the early 20th century. Both belong to the same person and are family heirlooms. We invite you to look at a short article about what they were like before restoration, what work was done and the results of the restoration. Happy New Year everyone!!!

BOX 1


Made from solid linden. Dimensions 23x17.5x7cm.

The box was made in Russia sometime in the early 20th century and has been a family heirloom ever since. It was intended mainly for storing jewelry, money and little things dear to the heart.

Damage: In many places the structure of the box is unstuck. There is a crack on the bottom. The entire surface is covered with numerous scratches. The front panel under the lock is completely broken.


Sequence of restoration work:

1. Removing scratches.
2. Gluing the structure.
3. Making an insert for a carved lock.
4. Making an insert to eliminate the crack.
5. Sanding.
6. Oil coating.

A few photos of the gluing process (using clamps) and making the insert for the crack.





And we present to you a restored box from the early 20th century:




BOX 2:


This beautiful burl box from the 2nd half of the 19th century arrived in our workshop.
Manufacturer: factory of brothers Nikolai and Vasily Makarov.
Time and place of manufacture: Russia, Slobodskaya, Vyatka province, 2nd half of the 19th century.
If anyone doesn’t know, the Makarov workshop has become widely known since 1829. In those years, Grigory Makarov received a silver award at the 1st All-Russian manufacturing exhibition in St. Petersburg for achievements in his profession. After his death in 1856, the business was continued by his son Vasily, and then by his grandchildren - Vasily and Nikolai.
Material: birch veneer birch burl.
On the outer part of the bottom of the box there is a mark - “N. and V.V. Makarovs in Slobodskoye", reprints of awards:

1. All-Russian manufacturing exhibition of 1865 with the inscription “For hard work and art to Nikolai and Vasily Makarov” with the image of the profile of Alexander II, the Russian emperor and autocrat.

2. All-Russian manufacturing exhibition of 1870 with the inscription “To Nicholas and Vasily Makarov” with the image of the profile of Alexander II, emperor and autocrat of the Russian

3. Imperial Society of Natural History Lovers at Moscow University 1863

4. Moscow Polytechnic Exhibition 1872

Damage: There is veneer peeling on the box; veneer fragments are missing in two places.


Sequence of restoration work.

1. Removing shellac varnish
2. Elimination of small dents.
3. Replenishment of lost veneer fragments.
4. Gluing the loose veneer.
5. Shellac coating (we will apply about 20 layers).




We present to your attention restored antique box from the mid-19th century:


Happy New Year everyone! Are you looking for where to restore a box in Moscow? Who to entrust with a valuable antique family heirloom - contact us. We know how to treat other people's history with care.

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Good day everyone!

I want to tell you the heartbreaking story of one box.

The fact that I look at garbage dumps, landfills, all kinds of garbage is no longer even a secret or news, although until that moment I had never been so bold, especially at such an hour of the morning, to take something, but I really wanted to. Well, just imagine...

It’s a sunny autumn morning, as always I’m flying, running and always stumbling, just rushing to work. Honestly, well, as in the song it is sung “And I’m walking like this all in Dolce Gabana” .... and I see a box lying there, old wooden and terribly tattered. It’s a shame, of course, to write something like this, but what can I do? This is the harsh truth of my creative life. I don’t know why, but I couldn’t pass by, I felt so sorry for her.

Then the picture is just oil... I flew up, as if stung, to this garbage dump, grabbed something from the ground, stuffed it into a bag and with an imperturbable look continued on my way, tapping my heels on the asphalt... By the way, the garbage dump is located two steps from my house ... in general, I’m even scared to imagine what my neighbors and residents of the house thought of me, I’ve lived there for more than 20 years and already know everyone and everything, and, accordingly, everyone knows me, such oddities in my behavior have never been noticed ... Many will say , oh well, no one saw, no one cares about anyone, especially in the morning... I’m trying to convince myself the same thing that everything is fine, no one saw us, and even if they did, they didn’t understand anything.

In general, I won’t go into too much detail about my torment and mental anguish; I’d rather tell you about the box itself. I ran to work and the first thing I did was look at my foundling. Here she is, a beauty...

And the box is not of wondrous beauty, not even carved, just some kind of quiet horror... The first thought, you’ve lived to see Lanka, the neurosis clinic is already giving you absenteeism, it was necessary to tell such a thing... I just felt sorry for her, this Well, you have to mock the poor thing like that... I can’t even imagine what it looked like in its original form, judging by the protruding nails, it was apparently upholstered with something, most likely with fabric. It’s like you had to want this fabric so much that you would tear it off so mercilessly and simply throw the naked poor thing out into the street... Then the painstaking work began to restore and bring this poor thing into divine form.

Maybe someone will be interested, I still captured the transformation. The Mk turned out to be very large, there was a lot of work, so if you don’t want to bother yourself with subtleties and wisdom, look through the pictures, the principle of operation is visible.

1. The first thing I did was remove all the nails; it was impossible to drive them in, they were larger size and if I started driving them in, they would all come out from the inside of the box. For reliability, all the parts of the box were coated with glue “Joiner”, perfect for all types of wood (I have no idea what kind). I had to buy very tiny carnations, by the way, the box is not as flimsy as it might seem, it’s clear that it wasn’t made today or even yesterday.

2. Since global painting and finishing are planned, before work I coated the surfaces to be decorated with Eurolux acrylic primer for better adhesion to paints and putty.

3. The surface is of course not at all smooth. To level the surface, I used acrylic putty for wood “Decor”, perfect for wooden surfaces in need of restoration, ideally hiding defects and flaws.
I wanted to keep the wood in the box and not modify it too much, so I decided to finish only the front side of the box. Using a spatula with intermediate natural drying (do not use a hairdryer, cracks may appear), I applied several layers of putty, leveled the layer of putty with a palette knife, achieving a more or less even surface. After complete drying, I sanded it down so that the surface was perfectly smooth. Next is another layer of acrylic primer.

4. Using a sponge, I covered the surface with a layer of acrylic primer from Sonnet. The lid is round and it is clearly impossible to glue the napkin evenly; folds cannot be avoided. I took a regular office file, peeled off the extra layers of the napkin, placed the napkin face down and, using a fan brush and water, “glued” the napkin onto the file. I placed the file on the lid and separated it, the napkin lays perfectly flat without wrinkles. Coat the napkin with decoupage glue. I glued the napkin to the sides of the box in the same way.

5. Well, where would we be without my favorite monogram. For the monograms I used acrylic universal putty. I placed the stencil on the side of the box and, using a palette knife, applied a layer of putty; without waiting for it to dry, remove the stencil. I did the same manipulation on both sides.

6.I also did not ignore the inner surface of the lid. I have this stencil with an adhesive surface, it’s very convenient, you don’t need to fix the edges of the stencil, just attach the stencil, apply putty and remove it.

7. After all the monograms had dried, I took eye shadow, well, I didn’t have anything suitable in color, applied it to the monograms with a brush and lightly walked over them with sandpaper, thereby aging and shading them a little.

8. Covered the entire box with a layer of matte acrylic varnish. Then I took acrylic paint “Dark Ocher” and with a sponge, smacking, I walked along the edges of the box.

9. And finally the finishing coat. One layer of glassy varnish and a couple or even three layers of matte varnish. Well, the more, the better. At the end, we attach the fittings so that our box can be closed and opened.

Tell me EVERYTHING)))))

Well, she's a beauty! Of course, someone will say, the efforts weren’t worth it, well, I don’t know, comrades, I love difficulties, and I couldn’t pass by and leave this little thing to live out her life naked, and even in the trash heap...

You be the judge, I hope my shame in the trash heap)))) was worth it and I gave it new life this wonderful box.

Honor, glory and praise and my deep gratitude to everyone who came and read to the end)))
This is the story I got.
Good luck to everyone and endless creative inspiration!!!