Decorative Boxes

Dye-Stained Wood Inlay Boxes

By Linda Carr

These whimsical decorative boxes were stained with Rit dye and then embellished with all sorts of interesting buttons, hearts, stars and trims. Linda Carr, a well-known pattern designer for Vogue and McCall's, created these boxes and believes that it's fun to use unexpected items for embellishing, like a giraffe button or a twist of wire. The boxes can be personalized to fit your home décor and could be used to store keepsake treasures or jewelry. These decorative boxes are also perfect for gift-giving!

Unfinished Wood Inlay Boxes

Lace-Trimmed Decorative Wood Box

Photo Lace Trim Box

Finished Size: 4" x 4" x 2 ½"

Supplies Needed:

  • Rit Liquid Dye: Lemon Yellow, Apple Green, Golden Yellow
  • Walnut Hollow Cross Inlay Wood Box (26954)
  • 1 ¼ Yds. Lace Trim, Gold Metallic
  • 2 Wooden Hearts, 1 ½" diameter
  • ¾" Decorative Gold Button
  • 2 Plastic containers with lids, 1 cup size, for dye
  • Measuring spoons
  • Spoon for stirring
  • Rubber Gloves
  • Fine sandpaper (#220) & steel wool
  • Tack cloth
  • Foam & bristle brushes, 1" wide
  • Transparent tape, 3/4" wide
  • Elmer's Wood Glue
  • Clear Polyurethane
  • Paper towels
  • Plastic table cover

Instructions

  1. Cover work surface with plastic table cover.
  2. Sand box lightly. Remove dust with tack cloth.
  3. Dye Preparation - Stain #1: Wearing rubber gloves, measure and mix 1 Teaspoon Lemon Yellow with 1 Tablespoon hot tap water in plastic container; stir. Microwave: Line microwave with paper towels. Cover dye lightly with plastic lid, do not seal lid. Heat dye on high for 20 seconds.
  4. Using bristle brush, apply dye to entire box and lid, inside and out. Let dry completely. Tip: For a more intense color, apply a second coat of dye.
  5. Tape 3 strips of ¾" wide transparent tape on each side of box.
  6. Dye Preparation - Stain #2: Wearing rubber gloves, measure and mix 1 Teaspoon Apple Green and ½ Teaspoon Golden Yellow with 1 Tablespoon hot water in plastic container; stir. Microwave dye, following Step 3.
  7. Using a bristle brush, apply dye to sides of box over the transparent tape, to bottom of box, to the inside of squares on top of lid and to outer sides of lid. Also, apply dye to two hearts. Let box and hearts dry completely.
  8. Remove transparent tape.
  9. To seal dye-stained wood, apply one or two coats of polyurethane. Rub lightly with sandpaper or steel wool between coats; remove dust with a tack cloth.
  10. Glue hearts to top of lid and inside bottom of box.
  11. Glue gold metallic button to center of heart on top of lid.
  12. Glue metallic trim around heart on top of lid at cross points on the wood. Then glue two rows of trim around top and bottom edges of lid. Tip: Use a toothpick to push trim into glue at center of heart.

Hearts & Stars Animal Wood Box

Finished Size: 4" x 4" x 2 ½"

Supplies Needed:

  • Rit Liquid Dye: Lemon Yellow, Golden Yellow, Apple Green, Purple, Scarlet
  • Walnut Hollow Wood Oblique Inlay Box (26953)
  • 1 Wooden Heart, 2" diameter
  • 5 Wooden Hearts, 1 ½" diameter
  • 4 Star Buttons
  • 1 Giraffe Button
  • 3 Plastic containers with lids, 1-cup size, for dye
  • Measuring spoons
  • Spoon for stirring
  • Rubber Gloves
  • Fine sandpaper (#220) & steel wool
  • Tack cloth
  • Foam & bristle brushes, 1" wide
  • Painter's tape, 1" wide
  • Elmer's Wood Glue
  • Clear Polyurethane
  • Paper towels
  • Plastic table cover

Instructions

  1. Cover work surface with plastic table cover.
  2. Sand box lightly. Remove dust with tack cloth.
  3. Dye Preparation - Stain #1: Wearing rubber gloves, measure and mix 1 Teaspoon Golden Yellow, ½ Teaspoon Lemon Yellow and ½ Teaspoon Apple Green with 1 Tablespoon hot tap water in plastic container; stir. Microwave: Line microwave with paper towels. Cover dye lightly with plastic lid; do not seal lid. Heat dye on high for 20 seconds.
  4. Using bristle brush, apply dye to exterior of box and lid, leaving diagonal ridges natural. Let dry completely. Tip: For a more intense color, apply a second coat of dye.
  5. Tape a 1" wide piece of painter's tape in center of each side of box and lid.
  6. Dye Preparation - Stain #2: Wearing rubber gloves, measure and mix 1 Teaspoon Apple Green and ½ Teaspoon Golden Yellow with 1 Tablespoon hot water in plastic container; stir. Microwave dye, following Step 3.
  7. Using a bristle brush, apply dye to sides and top of box over the transparent tape (leave diagonal ridges natural), and to bottom edge of box and to inside edge of lid. Let box and lid dry completely.
  8. Remove transparent tape.
  9. Dye Preparation - Stain #3: Wearing rubber gloves, measure and mix 1 Teaspoon Purple and ½ Teaspoon Scarlet with 2 Tablespoon hot water in plastic container; stir. Microwave dye, following Step 3.
  10. Using a bristle brush, apply dye to inside bottom and lower sides of box, to bottom of box, and to inside of lid. Also, apply dye to 6 wooden hearts. Let box and hearts dry completely.
  11. To seal dye-stained wood, apply one or two coats of polyurethane. Rub lightly with steel wool between coats; remove dust with a tack cloth.
  12. Glue 1 small heart to center of large heart and then to top of lid.
  13. Remove shank from giraffe button and glue to center of hearts on lid.
  14. Glue star buttons to center of 4 remaining hearts. Then glue hearts to center of each side of box.

Whimsical Circles & Knob Wood Box

Finished Size: 4" x 4" x 2 ½"

Supplies Needed:

  • Rit Liquid Dye: Royal Blue, Violet, Tan, Tangerine
  • Walnut Hollow Circle Inlay Wood Box (26951)
  • 20 Wood knobs, 3/8" diameter
  • 1 Half round amber button
  • Coiled wire, small piece
  • Violet color pencil
  • 3 Plastic containers with lids, 1-cup size, for dye
  • Measuring spoons
  • Spoon for stirring
  • Rubber Gloves
  • Fine sandpaper (#220) & steel wool
  • Tack cloth
  • Foam & bristle brushes, 1" wide
  • Elmer's Wood Glue
  • Clear polyurethane
  • Paper towels
  • Plastic table cover

Instructions

  1. Cover work surface with plastic table cover.
  2. Sand box lightly. Remove dust with tack cloth.
  3. Dye Preparation - Stain #1: Wearing rubber gloves, measure and mix ½ Teaspoon Royal Blue and ½ Teaspoon Violet with 2 Tablespoons hot tap water in plastic container; stir. Microwave: Line microwave with paper towels. Cover dye lightly with plastic lid; do not seal lid. Heat dye on high for 20 seconds.
  4. Using bristle brush, apply dye to inside of box lid, to inside of box, leaving rim natural, and to bottom of box. Let dry completely. Tip: For a more intense color, apply a second coat of dye.
  5. Dye Preparation - Stain #2: Wearing rubber gloves, measure and mix 1 ½ Teaspoons Royal Blue with 1 Tablespoon hot water in plastic container; stir. Microwave dye, following Step 3.
  6. Using a bristle brush, apply dye to remaining exterior of box and to sides and top of lid , leaving circles natural. Let box and lid dry completely.
  7. Dye Preparation - Stain #3: Wearing rubber gloves, measure and mix ½ Teaspoon Tan and ½ Teaspoon Tangerine with 1 Tablespoon hot water in plastic container; stir. Microwave dye, following Step 3.
  8. Using a bristle brush, apply dye to circles on top of box lid. Let lid dry completely.
  9. Color inside of circles with a Violet pencil.
  10. Glue 5 natural wood knobs to each side of lid.
  11. Glue half-round button and coiled wire to center of lid. To make coiled wire: Wrap small piece of wire around a dowel rod or fat marker.
  12. To seal dye-stained wood, apply one or two coats of polyurethane. Rub lightly with steel wool between coats; remove dust with a tack cloth.

Details