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    Home » Repurposed Items » Silverware holder repurposed memo organizer

    Silverware holder repurposed memo organizer

    Published by Gail | Published February 19, 2010 | Updated July 12, 2022
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    How to transform a silverware holder box into a memo organizer with a chalkboard and fabric pockets.
    repurposed silverware holder
    Last year I bought a box of silverware at Goodwill for $20.00. I know, I know… well over my limit. But it was FULL of beautiful silverware!

    Remove interior components of silverware holder box

    repurposed silverware box
    I removed the “innerds” of the box, including the velvet lining. The remnants of glue and lining were scraped and sanded.

    Clean and sand the wooden silverware holder

    wooden silverware holder box
    I sanded the outside of the box, readying it for primer.

    Paint the wooden box

    primered silverware box
    Primer paint was used on the both the inside and the outside.

    Add chalkboard paint to the lid which becomes the door of the memo box

    chalkboard paint
    I painted the silverware holder box with Rustoleum Heirloom White. Then  I painted the top of the box with Krylon chalkboard paint.
    fabric memo boardI made some of these fabric memo boards last year out of fabric and cardboard. I also made a smaller blue one that I made to be magnetic and hang on the refrigerator. It fit the inside (top) of this box perfectly from side to side. However it was not quite long enough.

    Fabric covered corkboard

    covering cork board with fabric
    A small piece of cork board that I bought last fall at a yard sale and leftover fabric were used to make it longer.
    spray adhesive
    I used the Elmers Craft Bond to permanently adhere the fabric to the cork board.
    silverware box repurposed
    I also used the Elmers Craft Bond to attach the memo board to the inside (top) of the box. Here’s where it gets interesting! I hung the box on the wall, the top of the box now becomes the door to a memo organizer!
    repurposed silverware box
    Small pieces of wood were attached so that I could screw in some hooks for keys, etc.
    organizer center from silverware box
    I also put in a a small shelf in the middle. I installed a little “lip” on the shelf and the bottom of the cabinet. This lip will help keep items from falling out of the cabinet.
    memo center cabinet
    The four buttons on the corners are purely decorative. That is the original cardboard memo board. You may notice that he dark blue piece at the bottom is the cork board I covered with the Elmers craft bond.
    conditioned chalkboard
    Whenever you use chalkboard paint, you have to “prime” the surface to accept chalk.
    memo cabinet repurposed silverware box
    I used a thumbtack and a magnet for a closure.
    fabric pockets organizer
    You can see that there are many pockets to hold trinkets or important papers/business cards, etc. And the bottom is cork, so I included two pushpins made out of buttons to match the buttons on the original memo board.
    chalkboard cabinet from silverware box
    I glued on a painted Scrabble tile holder to hold the chalk.
    repurposed silverware box
    Thinking “outside the box” , silverware box that is!
    I also used a silverware box to make a memory box for trinkets.
    gail

    See other great chalkboard ideas here

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    1. Karen

      December 16, 2021 at 4:36 pm

      Could you include instructions on how to make that fabric memo board.

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        December 20, 2021 at 9:33 pm

        Karen,
        I apologize for not having the instructions on how to make that fabric memo board. I searched my site and can't find the original post with the directions. I found something online that is similar... https://uncommondesignsonline.com/burlap-cork-board/
        good luck!
        gail

    2. Brooke Witham

      November 21, 2017 at 1:03 pm

      Hi
      I love your ideas.
      I am thinking of making a silverware box into a bath cabinet and hang it on the wall.
      I am wondering if I can make the shelves a bit deeper or if the box would not close then ?
      Brooke

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        November 22, 2017 at 8:30 am

        I think you're right Brooke. You would only have the limited room that the "lid" (door) provides in order for the door to close properly.

        gail

    3. yippeevintage

      March 22, 2011 at 8:46 pm

      Great project ideas! I came across a couple of vintage flatware boxes while cleaning out my storage unit and was curious what other folks were doing with theirs. I was happy to find your website! I'm a HUGE fan of repurposing pretty much anything so I'm sure I'll spend some time here searching for ideas ~ thank you 🙂

      Reply
    4. west coast nester

      March 04, 2010 at 11:18 pm

      I loved it.

      Reply
    5. Cheryl

      February 26, 2010 at 10:05 pm

      Girl... thats over-the-top caute!!!

      Reply
    6. The Bearded Lady (Laura)

      February 26, 2010 at 1:02 am

      Very, very clever!! I love the chalkboard paint!!

      Great work!! Thank you for sharing!!

      Reply
    7. michelle@somedaycrafts

      February 24, 2010 at 8:06 am

      Totally cool idea! That rocks!

      Reply
    8. Candace@craftysisters-nc

      February 23, 2010 at 3:44 pm

      A very creative and cute way to use a box!

      Reply
    9. Alissa

      February 23, 2010 at 12:43 am

      what a great idea! i love all the pockets for all sorts of stuff...will be well used, i'm sure! thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    10. Marianne@Songbird

      February 22, 2010 at 12:26 pm

      I was already impressed when I got to the first makeover stages but I was popping up and down my chair when I got to the end. Genious to use a scrablle thingy for holding the chalk! I have a chalkboard inside a cabinet and have been wrecking my brain to come up with a clever way to keep the chalk handy. I have those scrabble thingies! Thank you so much!

      Reply
    11. Traci at ThreeDogsAtHome

      February 22, 2010 at 6:29 am

      What a great idea. I just put my silverware into a drawer in my china hutch and now I can use the box for something.

      Reply
    12. Michelle @ Sweet Something

      February 22, 2010 at 4:45 am

      That is awesome! Great project and love all the details! Great job!

      Reply
    13. Monica

      February 21, 2010 at 4:27 am

      GREAT IDEA!! I have been seeing these silverware boxes at various second hand stores and wanted to purchase one but was always at a loss as to what to do with it. Now I have some inspiration!

      Reply
    14. Teri

      February 21, 2010 at 2:53 am

      Oh my gosh, this is the very definition of "repurposing"! What a great idea! Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by my blog. I'm off to peruse your other posts! 🙂

      Reply
    15. Bunny Jeans Decor... and More!

      February 21, 2010 at 2:08 am

      I passed up on an empty one at the GW just the other day. I should have known that I would regret not getting it!

      You always share such great ideas, thanks.

      Talk to you soon 😉
      Bunny Jean

      Reply
    16. Andy Porter

      February 20, 2010 at 8:00 pm

      It looks great! Isn't it funny that $20 sounds like so much for thrifty finds...still such a great deal, especially full of silverware. I love how you transformed it. You are the transformation queen!

      Reply
    17. Cindy

      February 20, 2010 at 7:14 pm

      What an amazingly GREAT idea! I have an old silverware box full of silverware. It needs a revamp because the innards are falling apart. Maybe I could do something with it, but it needs to still hold silverware. You have me thinking now. You are so smart!
      Cindy S

      Reply
    18. Debbie

      February 20, 2010 at 11:31 am

      From beginning to end, this is simply ingenious! I am sooo planning to find a box and copy this idea for my house. I really love it.

      Looking around the house for a box for the sacrifice...

      Reply
    19. Formerly-Corn in My Coffee Pot

      February 20, 2010 at 5:21 am

      What a great idea! I like the hidden aspect of what is behind the door, the whole while it is just looking like an ordinary chalkboard *message center*- a great way to conceal cluttering, but necessary items.

      I think this would be great especially if you could incorporate a charging station...to hide a power strip and phone chargers. Hmmm... the wheels are turning now!

      Reply
    20. Anny

      February 19, 2010 at 10:14 pm

      This is the cleverest repurposing I've seen in a while! Making the outside a chalkboard was pure genius 🙂

      Reply
    21. junkermidge

      February 19, 2010 at 8:45 pm

      Oh my gosh, what a great idea! I have some boxes like that too. I think I'll give it a try. Love it, love it, love it.
      Midge

      Reply
    22. Jessica

      February 19, 2010 at 3:53 pm

      What a great idea! Love the chalkboard version.

      Reply
    23. Kansas Amy

      February 19, 2010 at 3:29 pm

      You think WAY outside the box! How creative, I love it!

      Reply
    24. Pam

      February 19, 2010 at 2:09 pm

      Where do these ideas come from? Awesome!

      Reply
    25. Leah@storybookranch

      February 19, 2010 at 1:37 pm

      Gail, you are so innovative! I love it 🙂

      Reply
    26. angie

      February 19, 2010 at 5:29 pm

      Now I would never have thought! I love to purchase empty silverware boxes, but had stopped because I ran out of space for them. Now I can start getting them again, thanks to you.

      Reply

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    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

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