Learn how to make a seed box to hold all your seeds and other gardening treasures. Give it an antique look with vintage prints and a dark stain. This garden seed box is great for seed storage and makes a pretty decor piece in your home.
If I ever see a vintage seed box in my travels I will definitely buy one. In the meantime, I thought it might be nice to create one.
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How to Make a Seed Box that Looks Vintage
Start with an unfinished box that you can buy online or from a craft store. Wipe away any dust or dirt.
First, finish the box with antique stain wax
all over. You could also paint it with white paint followed by an antiquing wax for a different look.
Then distress the hardware with some sandpaper rubbing the edges and if you want add a little black craft paint here and there.
Next, decoupage the top with some vintage garden catalog prints. You can find this one on my vintage seed packet printable post.
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You could simply paste on the print with mod podge, but I tried using a transfer medium
to give it a rustic look.
This same method was used in another post on creating a fabric photo transfer notebook.
Next decoupage the front with napkins, just like these colorful magnetic clothespins.
Then move into the inside. Dress up the lid with vintage floral seed pack prints from The Graphics Fairy, and some from Knick of Time.
Then on the bottom place a couple of pieces of cardboard for dividers. Now you can organize your seed pack and any other gardening items you want such as antique flower frogs or floral shears.
These small glassine bags
are perfect for holding seeds from your garden from this and the previous year. Label them with the plant name and year of harvest.
You can learn more about seed libraries, swaps, and seed saving here.
I know I sound like a broken record but, I think this vintage seed box would make a great gift for a garden lover. Add a pair of garden gloves and some seeds from your own garden. Who wouldn't love that?
More Antique Gardening Ideas
Antique Wooden Seed Box
Equipment
- Scissors
Materials
- Unfinished wooden box
- Antique stain wax
- Craft Paint
- Mod Podge
- Antique garden catalog and seed packet prints
- cardboard pieces
Instructions
- Finish the box by brushing the antique stain all over.
- Distress the hardware with some sandpaper rubbing the edges and if you want add a little black craft paint.
- Decoupage the top of the box and the inside top with some vintage garden catalog and antique seed packet prints.
- Then cover the front with floral napkins using mod podge.
- Place a couple of pieces of cardboard for dividers.
- Add in your seed packets and other gardening items as you wish.
DarlaRae Duffy
This seed packet is lovely and I would like to make one for next years seed.
Patti Estep
Thanks DarlaRae. I hope you do.
Andrea Hensley
I Love this💚💜💙!
I'm very much into vintage, especially things like this💕!
Ill be doing this indeed, however, I think instead of the wax, ill use some plant based dye I made with deep blue butterfly pea flowers! its a Great stain for fabrics and wood!
And, since I'm an Apothecary, I always try to harvest seeds in the Fall for my wildflower garden in Spring!😸💚🍁🌹🐸Thank You so much for the Wonderful project!
Drea 🐈Hensley🌹
Patti Estep
Andrea, butterfly pea flower stain is a great idea. I bet it turns out beautiful.
Jonni Millington
Patti, I love this post! I had picked up a similar little box at Dollar General just this week, with no idea what I was going to do with it. Your website looks great.
Patti Estep
Thanks Jonni. I was one of my favorite projects to make this year. I'm sure you will love creating yours too.
Carole West
I absolutely love this and what a fantastic idea. I have my seeds in my grandpa's old lunch pail. Would love to cover it like this but don't dare because I just can't. Pinning this is beautiful, it's so fun to visit and see what you come up with.
Patti Estep
Thanks Carole. I don't blame you for not wanting to mess with your treasured heirloom lunch pail. You just have to keep an eye out for another box in your travels. 🙂