What to do with a beautiful old candy box?
March 9, 2016 3:37 AM   Subscribe

I have a couple of empty boxes of Lindt Petites Merveilles which I had been using to store necklaces, but which are now too beat-up for the purpose. How to upcycle?

I should throw the boxes out, but I'm strangely attached to them and I feel that they're the most beautiful candy boxes I have ever seen (and nothing in life is more beautiful than a candy box).

Just look at that typography. Look at that perfect shade of pink - the taste of the chocolates within were a perfect match for that shade of pink, meaning that the entire candy experience reached a synaesthetic perfection I didn't think was attainable in this life. I cannot make myself throw out these empty boxes.

I could frame the lids, but I'm not sure where I'd hang them. Does anybody have any other suggestions for upcycling them?

Also, it looks like Petites Merveilles aren't available to buy any more, but if anybody knows of a source...
posted by tel3path to Grab Bag (7 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: I'd try to find a cheap jewelry box (in here, they're sold as plain as possible for crafts - unpainted and unvarnished) where the window is big enough to feature the whole lid.

Then, paint the box, maybe old gold (base gold with some darker gold applied with a sponge for texture or the other way around, or even base pink with gold sponged on top - nothing like experimenting), and tape or glue the lid behind the glass. Maybe upholster the insides with pink velvet paper for the final touch.
posted by lmfsilva at 4:01 AM on March 9, 2016 [2 favorites]


Best answer: You could take the boxes and just cover them in several coats of Mod Podge or some kind of lacquer. It would be sort of like decoupaging a box only it already looks the way you want it to. Or if the boxes really aren't sturdy enough, you could decoupage them onto a sturdier box.
posted by Polychrome at 4:30 AM on March 9, 2016 [1 favorite]


You could share the joy by making them into postcards or note cards?
posted by smorgasbord at 4:36 AM on March 9, 2016 [1 favorite]


Best answer: Seconding lmfsilva in the sense of "re-use the art on another box". Don't even bother looking for one with a window, just cut the top panel of the lid off and paste it onto the lid of another plain box, after you've painted the box pink or something. Michaels' craft stores have a ton of "plain wooden boxes" that can be used for crafts like this.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:49 AM on March 9, 2016 [2 favorites]


They are truly lovely. I like the idea of mod podge to strengthen the cardboard a bit. Then, what if you used them to store something softer and less-used than your necklaces? Maybe they become a box for old postcards or photos. I also like the idea of hanging them on the wall, but I think I would prefer to hang it in its box form. Could you mod podge or spray with a clear, matte varnish like Krylon, glue a picture hanger on the back and then mount them on the wall? You could tape the box shut or just let it flap open a bit, I think that might look fun. Maybe tape a photo inside and print something fun inside the box. So it's hanging on the wall and then when you want to open it, you see your message.
You may find more ideas by googling cardboard cigar box crafts. I've made treasure boxes and even handbags from cigar boxes. I mean, they were sort of just ornamental, not really used handbags, but they were cute.
posted by areaperson at 7:40 AM on March 9, 2016


Response by poster: I ordered a clear plastic storage box, ModPodged the cardboar lid on top, and trimmed with some gold and silver washi tape:

Here it is.

It's not as nice as painting a wooden box, but I prefer this style of plastic box for storage generally, so it fits right in.
posted by tel3path at 9:42 AM on March 13, 2016 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: And a month later, I've done both boxes and they're holding up really well. Actually, the one without the washi tape is better. Thanks, hivemind!
posted by tel3path at 1:27 PM on April 8, 2016 [1 favorite]


« Older Can you translate these Chinese lyrics?   |   Best ways to support someone quitting smoking (and... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.