How to transform a silverware holder box into a memo organizer with a chalkboard and fabric pockets.
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
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
I sanded the outside of the box, readying it for primer.
Paint the wooden 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
I painted the silverware holder box with Rustoleum Heirloom White. Then I painted the top of the box with Krylon chalkboard paint.
I 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
A small piece of cork board that I bought last fall at a yard sale and leftover fabric were used to make it longer.
I used the Elmers Craft Bond to permanently adhere the fabric to the cork board.
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!
Small pieces of wood were attached so that I could screw in some hooks for keys, etc.
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.
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.
Whenever you use chalkboard paint, you have to “prime” the surface to accept chalk.
I used a thumbtack and a magnet for a closure.
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.
I glued on a painted Scrabble tile holder to hold the chalk.
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
Brooke Witham says
November 21, 2017 at 1:03 pmHi
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
Gail Wilson says
November 22, 2017 at 8:30 amI 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
yippeevintage says
March 22, 2011 at 8:46 pmGreat 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 🙂
west coast nester says
March 4, 2010 at 11:18 pmI loved it.
Cheryl says
February 26, 2010 at 10:05 pmGirl… thats over-the-top caute!!!
The Bearded Lady (Laura) says
February 26, 2010 at 1:02 amVery, very clever!! I love the chalkboard paint!!
Great work!! Thank you for sharing!!
michelle@somedaycrafts says
February 24, 2010 at 8:06 amTotally cool idea! That rocks!
Candace@craftysisters-nc says
February 23, 2010 at 3:44 pmA very creative and cute way to use a box!
Alissa says
February 23, 2010 at 12:43 amwhat a great idea! i love all the pockets for all sorts of stuff…will be well used, i’m sure! thanks for sharing.
Marianne@Songbird says
February 22, 2010 at 12:26 pmI 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!
Traci at ThreeDogsAtHome says
February 22, 2010 at 6:29 amWhat a great idea. I just put my silverware into a drawer in my china hutch and now I can use the box for something.
Michelle @ Sweet Something says
February 22, 2010 at 4:45 amThat is awesome! Great project and love all the details! Great job!
Monica says
February 21, 2010 at 4:27 amGREAT 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!
Teri says
February 21, 2010 at 2:53 amOh 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! 🙂
Bunny Jeans Decor... and More! says
February 21, 2010 at 2:08 amI 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
Andy Porter says
February 20, 2010 at 8:00 pmIt 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!
Cindy says
February 20, 2010 at 7:14 pmWhat 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
Debbie says
February 20, 2010 at 11:31 amFrom 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…
Formerly-Corn in My Coffee Pot says
February 20, 2010 at 5:21 amWhat 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!
Anny says
February 19, 2010 at 10:14 pmThis is the cleverest repurposing I’ve seen in a while! Making the outside a chalkboard was pure genius 🙂
junkermidge says
February 19, 2010 at 8:45 pmOh 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
Jessica says
February 19, 2010 at 3:53 pmWhat a great idea! Love the chalkboard version.
Kansas Amy says
February 19, 2010 at 3:29 pmYou think WAY outside the box! How creative, I love it!
Pam says
February 19, 2010 at 2:09 pmWhere do these ideas come from? Awesome!
Leah@storybookranch says
February 19, 2010 at 1:37 pmGail, you are so innovative! I love it 🙂
angie says
February 19, 2010 at 5:29 pmNow 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.