How to Paint a Trinket Box

Give a trinket box a personal touch by painting it yourself.

Trinket boxes come in many different materials, shapes and sizes, but you can use the same basic technique and supplies to make them look the way you want. Small boxes to hold jewelry and other small keepsakes are sold ready to decorate, and the rest of the things you need are also found where craft supplies are sold. Use your imagination to create a design on your old or plain trinket boxes and make them match your decor.

Things You'll Need

• Masking tape
• Utility knife
• Acrylic paints
• Square-tipped paintbrush
• Thin-tipped paintbrush
• Cup of water
• Clear acrylic varnish
• Sponge brush

Instructions

1. Cover up any part of the box that you don't want to paint with masking tape, such as hinges, locks or latches. Carefully cut the tape to precision around these objects with the tip of a utility knife.

2. Open the lid and paint the inside of the box first with a broad square brush with soft bristles. Brush on a thin layer and wait about one hour for it to dry before adding another layer. It's always best to paint thin layers at a time until the paint is completely opaque, to make sure there are no bubbles or drips.

3. Paint the outside with a base color that will contrast with the designs you want to make, if any. Use a light color for the base and a dark color for the designs, or vice versa. Use a squared brush with soft bristles and allow the first coat to dry before adding the next.

4. Paint the designs on the top and sides of the lid and work your way down. Use a thin brush for the smaller details and wait for at least 30 minutes for one color to dry before adding another if your design consists of different colors. Rinse your brushes off between colors.

5. Brush a coat of clear acrylic varnish over the whole painted surface to protect the paint and make it last longer. Use a sponge brush to avoid any brush marks on the surface. Wait at least three hours before handling the trinket box to be sure the varnish has completely dried.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a stencil to help you create detailed designs on the surface of the trinket box.

References

• Artns.us: Americana Jewelry Box