Vintage Bread Box Makeover with Wrapping Paper

Give a vintage bread box an easy makeover

This vintage bread box makeover is an easy way to get a huge transformation at very little cost.

Next to nothing actually.

I see old metal bread boxes at thrift stores every so often, and if they’re a reasonably priced I pick them up because they’re great makeover candidates.

There are so many things you can use like scrapbook paper, tissue paper, napkins, music sheets, maps, dictionary pages, book pages, fabric etc.

The possibilities are positively infinite. It just depends on the look you’re going for and what you have or what you can find.

Were loaves of bread smaller back in the day?

These bread boxes don’t really hold much bread, so I tend to use them for other kinds of storage when I want things hidden from view.

Like my stenciled wooden bread box that I use for spices in my kitchen.

Here’s my metal bread box that I used for this project. These bread boxes came in many colors and different shapes too.

I’ve had this one for quite a few years now. I found it at a thrift store for $2, and brought it home to hold some things in my craft room.

Its mustard yellow color definitely dates it to the 60s/70s era, but it’s in great shape and has been waiting in line for its makeover ever since I brought it home.

The first thing I had to do was get rid of that yellow, and a can of Blossom White spray paint took care of that… inside and out.

Now that I had a blank canvas, I had to decide what I would decoupage onto my bread box.

I opted for a fast makeover, using something that I already had… some pretty floral, watercolor-like, wrapping paper, which goes perfectly with the other patterns and colors in my craft room. Like these made over plastic storage drawers and storage drawer inserts.

Whenever I see pretty wrapping paper at a thrift store I always bring it home to add to my stash. I usually find it for 25 cents – 50 cents.

After the paint dried, I gathered my supplies.

Supplies needed for Decoupaged Bread Box Makeover

• Vintage Metal Bread Box
• wrapping paper
• mod podge
• foam brush
• scissors
• pencil
• measuring tape/ruler
• xacto knife

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Measuring the bread box

STEP ONE: Measure the outside and inside of the bread box.

I tend to use a sewing measuring tape more often than a ruler because of its flexibility.

STEP TWO: Cut your wrapping paper pieces to size, leaving some excess to be trimmed later. Do a dry fit before decoupaging in place.

Applying Mod Podge

STEP THREE: Apply Mod Podge to the bread box, starting with the top. Make sure you have equal coverage over the entire top.

Applying the wrapping paper

STEP FOUR: Put your wrapping paper piece in place and smooth it down. Make sure to use the straight edge of your wrapping paper along the front edge. Then repeat the process on both sides.

STEP FIVE: Decoupage your wrapping paper to the inside bottom and the shelf . This is done because the paint will probably get scraped over time from taking things in and out.

Trimming the excess paper

STEP SIX: Once the paper is dry, trim the excess away with a very sharp and clean xacto knife. Don’t trim when the paper is wet because it will most likely tear.

Applying paper to front of bread box

STEP SIX: Do the same to the front, and once its dry trim off the excess.

I cut around the P letter as best I could. At least I think it’s a P, but I’m not really sure.

Even though I smoothed the paper out as best I could, you can see here that it’s still pretty wrinkled. Most of the wrinkles disappeared when the paper dried.

I left the bread box to dry over night, and gave some thought to how I was going to finish it off. For me, it needed a little extra something.

Adding decorative trim

STEP SEVEN: Add some decorative trim to the edges of the bread box. I’m using some pink rick rack. I used the Mod Podge like a glue to put it in place, applying the MP on top of the trim as well as I went.

STEP EIGHT (if needed): I left the back plain white because it won’t be seen. I would probably cover the back as well if I was going to see it every day. Probably with a different, but complimentary, paper for some fun.

The bottom is plain as well.

Totally transformed vintage bread box

And here’s my completely transformed vintage metal bread box. The wrinkles are pretty much gone. Somehow they just magically disappeared as the paper dried. The finishing touch was spray painting the knob a hot pink to make it pop.

Where the wrapping paper was applied, I applied two coats of MP inside and out. Letting it dry for a couple of hours in between.

Before and after photos

Vintage bread box before makeover

This vintage metal bread box was fully functional, but not very pretty.

Vintage bread box after makeover

And now it’s still fully functional, and pretty in its pink florals too.

Decoupage is one of the easiest ways to give something a completely new look, and it’s super inexpensive too.

And there are so many ways you can repurpose these old bread boxes. Here are just a few ideas.

10 Ways to Repurpose a Vintage Bread Box

• spice storage in kitchen
• snack center
• bathroom counter storage
• workshop tool storage
• silk scarf storage
• bill payment storage
• hair accessory storage
• makeup storage
• craft paint storage
• first aid kit storage

It would be greatly appreciated if you would pin this project to your favorite Pinterest board, and also share it with your friends.

Thanks so much for reading and until next time,

keep on keepin’ on!

XOX