Upcycled Garage Sale Dated Breadbox With Paint & Stencils

July 25, 2019

Last summer, I purchased this cutesy country basket style breadbox at the Littlefork citywide rummage sales, along with other great finds.

Why cutesy country style? Look at all the hearts in the fabric and the lid's heart knob. It's heart overload!

(When you click on the bold Amazon, Old Sign Stencils or Dixie Belle Paint Company affiliate links you will be taken to the products I use for this project. If you order it does not change the price or service at all. As an Amazon Affiliate, Old Sign Stencils Affiliate or Dixie Belle Paint Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)

The entire inside of the basket is lined with the ruffled mauve and country blue fabric.

First, I removed the fabric and the lid, and gave the breadbox a wipe down.

Next, I mixed up a jar of Homestead House Milk in Fort York Red and water. My ratio was about 2 parts water to one part paint.

I was looking to do more of a wash on the unfinished basket.

I actually did two coats of my paint.

Since the basket was basically unfinished, the milk paint sort of became a red stain. The paint soaked into the basket.

I wiped off some the milk paint with a damp rag to remove some of the paint and give it a bit of a distressed look.

I sealed the milk paint with two coats of Rust-Oleum Varathane Water-Based Polyurethane in Satin Finish.

For the lid, I removed the heart knob, and brushed on two coats of Dixie Belle Chalk Finish Paint in Drop Cloth.

I pulled out my *Old Sign Stencil Farm Blend Grain stencil, and pounced it on the lid. I used Fusion Mineral Paints in Coal Black, Fort York Red, and Algonquin. I sprayed Dixie Belle Easy Peasy Spray Wax for extra protection.