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How to Decorate a Jewelry Box

A repurposed jewelry box can be a great addition to your home décor or make a personalized gift for a friend. Customizing your very own jewelry box is fun and easy. Grab your paint, paper, and stencils and get started on your own ...
Method 1 of 4:

Painting Your Jewelry Box

  1. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 1How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 1
    Remove or spot clean the inside liner. If possible, remove the inside liner. If not, spot clean the liner with concentrated laundry detergent. Dab a bit of the laundry detergent on the stain and let sit for several minutes. Then use a wet cloth to scrub the spot away. Spray the liner with a water and vinegar solution if the box smells musty. Leave the jewelry box open and let it air dry before painting.
    1. If the liner is too soiled, use fabric, tissue paper, or paint to cover the stained liner.[1]
  2. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 2How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 2
    Clean the outside of the jewelry box with dish soap and a wet cloth. If the jewelry box has glass panels, remove the panes and clean with a glass cleanser. Use a residue remover for sticky substances, such as tape or price tags. Make sure the outside is completely dry before starting to paint.
  3. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 3How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 3
    Remove any hardware and gently sand the outside wooden surface. Use a medium grit sandpaper to remove bumps and scratches.[2] Use a finer grit sandpaper to finish smoothing the wood. Wipe the jewelry box off with a damp cloth to remove any remaining dust.
  4. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 4How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 4
    Apply primer to the jewelry box. Cover any part of the jewelry box you do not want to paint with paper and painter's tape. Apply a layer of primer and allow it to completely dry before painting.
  5. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 5How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 5
    Paint the entire surface of the box. You can use many different types of paint. For a bold look, use a bright colored acrylic or metallic paint. For a more distressed look, use a chalk based paint. Use stencils to add designs or create your own unique freehand patterns.
    1. Always remember to paint in thin, even coats to prevent running.[3]
    2. Chalk based paints need to be sealed with wax or the paint will rub off.[4]
  6. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 6How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 6
    Apply a layer of lacquer for a glossy finish.[5] Make sure the paint and lacquer are completely dry before reattaching the hardware.
Method 2 of 4:

Using Decoupage on Wooden Jewelry Boxes

  1. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 7How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 7
    Clean and sand the jewelry box. Clean the inside and outside surfaces with dish soap and water. Keep the box open and let it air dry. Once the box is dry, use a fine grit sandpaper to smooth the outside surface. After sanding, wipe the jewelry box with a damp cloth to remove any extra dust.
  2. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 8How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 8
    Pick out the images you want to use for your design. Cut out the pictures for your design. Many different types of paper can be used, including wrapping paper, scrapbooking paper, and magazines.[6]
    1. The thinner the paper is, the better. Thinner pictures lay flatter and use fewer layers of varnish to embed into the wood.
  3. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 9How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 9
    Apply the initial layer of varnish and let it completely dry. Once it is dry, use a piece of steel wool to gently polish the box.
  4. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 10How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 10
    Arrange the pictures into your desired design. Once you have your preferred pattern, apply some varnish to the back of the images. Lay the pictures flat and stick them to the jewelry box. Apply another layer of varnish to the entire box.
  5. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 11How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 11
    Apply more layers of varnish. Continue to apply layers of varnish until the pictures are completely embedded into the wood surface.
    1. Let each layer of varnish dry completely before adding another layer.
    2. Lightly polish each layer of varnish with steel wool for a glossier finish.
Method 3 of 4:

Using Stencils

  1. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 12How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 12
    Clean the jewelry box with dish soap and water. Once it is completely dry, gently sand the outside of the box. After sanding, wipe down the jewelry box with a damp cloth to remove any excess dust.
  2. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 13How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 13
    Place your stencil on the part of the box you want to decorate. Use a repositionable spray adhesive on the back of the stencil. Spray on the adhesive until the stencil is sticky, but not wet.[7] If you do not have a spray adhesive, you can also use painter's tape to keep the stencil from moving.[8]
  3. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 14How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 14
    Use a tapping motion to paint your design. Take a flat bristled stencil brush and apply the paint onto your brush and wipe the excess paint off onto a paper towel. Tap the paint evenly onto the stencil. Paint the entire design at the same time.
    1. Do not swirl or swipe the brush when painting your design. Tapping the brush reduces the possibility of the paint bleeding.[9]
  4. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 15How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 15
    Remove the stencil from the wooden surface. Carefully lift the stencil to make sure to not damage the stencil. Make sure to let the paint completely dry.
  5. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 16How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 16
    Clean your stencils to prevent paint buildup. Soak your stencils in soapy water right after use. After soaking for several minutes, gently rub paint off with a dish brush. Use a towel to pat dry the stencil.[10]
  6. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 17How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 17
    Store your stencils flat. Rolling your stencils can damage them.
Method 4 of 4:

Making a Mosaic Design

  1. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 18How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 18
    Pick a material to use for your design. For a more reflective look, use glass or mirror pieces. Beads and seashells give a textured look. Ceramic and porcelain are also common tesserae (mosaic materials).
  2. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 19How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 19
    Create your design. You can do this by arranging the tesserae on the jewelry box or by drawing the design on a piece of paper. For a simple design, try a flower or multicolored circles or swirls. For a more advanced pattern, try creating a scene, such as a forest or city skyline.
  3. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 20How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 20
    Lay down the adhesive in sections. Try to avoid using too much adhesive. It can dry out before you get to a section or push up between the tesserae, leaving no room for the grout.
    1. Most silicone-based adhesives work on non-porous materials. White glue also works well on jewelry boxes.[11]
  4. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 21How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 21
    Cut the tesserae into desired shapes and sizes. You can use either a tile nipper or a wheeled glass nipper to cut tesserae. In order to cut the pieces, place the material into the mouth of the tool and squeeze down. Using these tools allows you to make specific sizes and shapes for your design.
    1. You can also buy premade tesserae from craft stores.
  5. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 22How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 22
    Place the tesserae onto the adhesive. Remember to leave space between the pieces in order to leave room for the grout. A good rule of thumb is to leave 1/8' to 1/2' between pieces[12] After you are done completing your design, let the piece sit for 24-48 hours before applying the grout.
  6. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 23How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 23
    Mix the grout in a disposable container. Follow the instructions on the package to make the grout. Add a tablespoon of water to the grout to give it an oatmeal consistency.
  7. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 24How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 24
    Apply the grout to the entire piece. Wear gloves when applying the grout to avoid drying out your hands. Generously cover the entire design. Press the grout into the spaces between tesserae. Sculpt the grout around the edges. Wipe any excess grout off with hands. Let the grout sit for 20-30 minutes until it looks hazy.
    1. Always throw away excess grout. Never rinse it down the sink.
  8. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 25How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 25
    Remove the grout from the tesserae. Take a very slightly dampened sponge or cloth and wipe the grout from the mosaic pieces.
    1. Do not use a paper towel. They will flake and stick to the grout.
  9. How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 26How to Decorate a Jewelry Box Picture 26
    Polish the tesserae to give your piece a sparkling finish. Use a dry cloth to polish the pieces.
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