Thrift Store Box Makeover: IOD's Blossom Mould Box
From Christmas Castoff to Floral Fabulous
Ever spot a seasonal item in the thrift store and think, “I can fix that”? That’s exactly what happened when I came across this holly-themed wooden box. It was a little outdated and a kind of sad—but full of potential.
In this makeover, I removed the old, holiday themed veneer, and transformed it into a blossoming piece of spring-inspired décor using the IOD Blossom Mould, Amazing Casting Resin, and DIY Paint.
Let's get to the fun part!
The before: a sad little Christmas box with holly and berries.
Do you agree that this thrifted wooden box was just begging for a makeover? I had a vision for giving it new life...
Summary
A thrifted Christmas-themed wooden box gets a full spring makeover
Created blossom embellishments using the IOD Blossom Mould and Amazing Casting Resin
Glue the moulds in place.
Painted the blossoms using DIY Paint in Flirtatious and Blood Moon for depth and contrast
Dry brushed with white paint to highlight raised mould details
Results in a vibrant, layered, floral transformation—perfect for spring décor
Includes links to all used products, a full video tutorial, and a step-by-step breakdown
Supplies Used
Step-by-Step Makeover
1. Peeling Back the Veneer
The first step was removing all that old veneer—messy business that even came with a minor casualty (yes, I did slice my finger on a putty knife, and yes, there might have been a Band-Aid involved). Once I got everything cleaned up, it was time to bring in the star of the show: IOD’s Blossom mould .
2. Pouring the Resin
I used Amazing Casting Resin to fill the IOD Blossom mould. It sets up fast, so work quickly!
First, I added up exactly how much resin I would need to pour this entire mould - which is 66.8 milliliters. So I mixed up enough to be able to pour the entire mould in one pour. You want to try to pour your resin pretty quick because this resin sets up so fast, and once it starts to thicken on you, it's almost impossible to get a nice casting out of it.
3. Popping Out the Blossoms
Once set, I popped out the blossom castings and cleaned up and excess resin that cured over the micro-rim with an X-Acto knife.
It's a little easier to do that clean up (trimming) while the castings are still a little soft.
4. Arranging & Glueing
I arranged the blossoms in a way that felt natural and glued them down with Titebond Quick & Thick wood glue.
You can keep this simple or you can go all out and super-fancy with your placement. I kept things fairly simple.
You can use whatever kind of glue you're most comfortable with. I use a few different kinds - the one I used here is Titebond.
5. Painting Flirtatious
After sealing the box with BIN shellac-based primer to stop any stain from seeping through, I painted with Flirtatious DIY Paint that I had watered down a bit. Smushing that paint into every detail and wiping it back with a baby wipe - exposing the high points.
Baby wipes are a crafting staple!
Then came the magic: misting with water for a little reactivation of DIY Paint is an easy trick to get a soft, layered, dimensional finish.
This is the magic of DIY Paint's clay based formula, even when completely dry, a little misting of water will reactivate the paint letting you move and play with it. The perfect blending recipe!
6. Layering Blood Moon
To create depth, I then layered a second colour, DIY Paint's Blood Moon on top of the Flirtatious and into the crevices, blending with a mist of water and a second brush.
The second brush - with a natural bristle - allows you to have more control over your blending. This is something you'll have to experiment with to find your favourite.
7. Dry Brushing to Finish
A bit of dry brushing with white paint highlighted the moulded flowers beautifully.
Remember: Less is more when it comes to dry brushing!
I use a larger, natural bristled brush and VERY little paint. You can always add more paint - it's a lot harder to take some away.
Watch the Full Video Tutorial
Can I use this technique on other wood pieces?
Yes! This technique works beautifully on trays, boxes, and even drawer fronts.
Is the resin safe to use indoors?
Amazing Casting Resin sets quickly and is best used in a well-ventilated space. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Do I need to seal DIY Paint?
Yes! Once dry, seal your piece with wax or top coat to protect the finish. I used a spray satin clear coat on this piece.
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About the Artist
I'm Melissa, the creative chaos behind Sentimental Salvage & Design. I'm a serial entrepreneur who's reveling in the "I can do that myself" affliction that so many of us creative types will recognize. I aim to inspire fellow makers to turn forgotten pieces into one-of-a-kind treasures using paint, texture, and heart. You’ll usually find me elbows-deep in paint, sawdust, glue, and numerous other mediums nearly every day—come create with me!
