Painted Trinket Boxes

This is a super-easy craft for any skill level! It's also an excellent introduction to wood painting.

Design ideas are endless... above I started with a plain wooden box, painted it brown, then gave it some Steampunk flavor with metallic copper and gold paints and a little brushed-on blue.

You find everything you need at your local craft store (both Michael's and JoAnn's carries these):

• small wood box ($1)
• 1 tube of All-Purpose Sealer (for preparing wood surfaces). Brand I used: Delta Ceramcoat
• Acryllic paints in desired colors (comes in tubes, about 89 cents and up)
• Paint brushes (for acryllic paint, use nylon bristles, not natural hair) - 1 detail brush, one 1/2-centimeter wide flat brush, squared or angled
• Sand paper
• Mod Podge (for finishing coat, if desired)
• disposable cup with water
• paper towel (for wiping brushes)
• a palette (can use a clean piece of scrap plastic or cover a small dish with plastic wrap)

Directions:

1. Sand down any splinters and rough spots.
2. Apply one coat of sealer to the outside sides and top of the box, let dry
3. Paint! Let dry between coats.
4. Finish with Mod Podge, if desired. Only apply Mod Podge to the top and sides, do not cover the inside or bottom because the surface can stick.

Try these fun variations:

• Hot-glue a rectangle of felt to the inside bottom.
• Hot-glue a tiny mirror onto the inside of the lid.
• Use chalkboard paint on the top so you can write messages on it!
• Mod Podge a collage of pictures or scrapbook paper on the box.
• Paint a box blank, then add rub-on metallic paint to make it look like metal
• Add glitter! (apply with white glue)