DecoArt Faux Painted Wood Planter

Hi all! Hope your week is off to a great start. I am so excited to share this faux painted wood project with you today. It's a little planter box made with Eileen Hull's 3D Block die, DecoArt Media paints, Graphic 45 paper, and lots of chipboard!

The inspiration for my lidded case came from one I saw on Dot & Bo. (I love that site - so many gorgeous things.) Their case is larger, made of wood, and costs $170. Mine is a little smaller, made completely out of chipboard, and costs just about nothing - plus you can customize it however you want.

The basic design lends itself to any number of uses. I have been very inspired by gardening lately, so I decided to turn mine into a vintage-looking seed box. You could also make this shabby chic and feminine, dark and masculine, or anything else you could imagine. Keep it in the kitchen, or use it in the craft room to hold supplies. The possibilities are endless!

Here's how to make one for yourself:

Create three boxes from medium weight chipboard using Eileen Hull's 3D Block die and glue together as shown. Cut strips of chipboard to cover the sides and ends. Mix DecoArt Media Hansa Yellow, Cerulean Blue, and Pthalo Green Yellow with Tinting Base to achieve a bright green color. Mix in a dollop of Crackle Paint and paint all strips and the inside of the boxes. When dry, lightly sand to give an aged appearance.

To create the lid, cut a piece of heavy plastic (I used die packaging I'd saved) to fit the top. Create a frame for the lid by cutting strips of chipboard, mitering the corners, and painting to match the box. Make two sets. Glue one set around the top edge of the plastic, and attach hinges. Glue the other set on the other side, sandwiching the plastic in between and hiding the hinge brads.

To highlight the cracks and give the planter more of a worn look, mix DecoArt Media Raw Umber paint with Ultra Matte Varnish. Paint over the 'wood' and wipe off excess. This step both antiques and seals the piece.

Create faux nail holes by piercing the panels with an awl or piercing tool. Apply more of the antiquing mixture to highlight the holes.

Apply the antiquing mixture to the box lid and adhere to box. When dry, adhere Farm Fresh image from Graphic 45's Home Sweet Home paper to the front.
Note: I actually misjudged the size of my hinges and ended up having to glue them to the back. If you decide to make one yourself, you might need to get a bigger hinge so that it will open and close properly.

To create the seed packets for the cubbies, die cut kraft paper using Tim Holtz's Pocket Envelope die. Stamp repeatedly with the Homegrown stamps from G45 and Cracked Pistachio Distress ink. Assemble envelope and glue seed packet image to front.

To make the markers, die cut chipboard using Eileen Hull's Bloom and Plant Markers die. Scrape DecoArt Media Crackle Paint over the sign area and let dry. When dry, stamp images with StazOn ink. Ink the bottom with Gathered Twigs Distress ink.

How cool is that crackle? I love how it looks on the plant markers. And, isn't it incredible how much the chipboard looks like wood? I can't wait to use this technique more.

To finish my seed box, I put a peat pot in the center compartment and added some moss and a bird. Tiny garden tools and a stick to prop the lid open add the perfect touch!

All the supplies I used can be found at Sizzix, Simon Says Stamp, and Amazon via the links below. Please note that these are affiliate links and I do receive a small commission when you purchase from these stores. And I very much appreciate when you do! :)

Eileen Hull Bloom and Plant Markers Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Die 3D BLOCK CUBE BANK 658983 *Tim Holtz Sizzix POCKET ENVELOPE Dies Movers & Shapers 657843 Graphic 45 HOME SWEET HOME 12 x 12 Paper Pad 4501077 Graphic 45 HOME SWEET HOME 2 Cling Stamps IC0333 Graphic 45 HOME SWEET HOME 1 Cling Stamps IC0332 Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad CRACKED PISTACHIO TIM43218 Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad GATHERED TWIGS Ranger Fall TIM32823 Tsukineko Stazon JET BLACK INK PAD SZ-31 Beacon 3 IN 1 ADVANCED CRAFT GLUE Crystal Clear Instant Grab Fast Dry Glue 00210 Grafix Medium Weight Chipboard Sheets, 12-Inch by 12-Inch, Natural, 25-Pack Deco Art Media Crackle Paint, 4-Ounce, White Deco Art Media Varnish, 4-Ounce, Ultra Matte Deco Art Media Fluid Acrylic Paint, 1-Ounce, Hansa Yellow Light Deco Art Media Fluid Acrylic Paint, 1-Ounce, Cerulean Blue Deco Art Media Fluid Acrylic Paint, 1-Ounce, Phthalo Green-Yellow

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Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you're inspired to make one of these storage boxes yourself! Make sure you check out the Art With Heart challenge over at Eileen's blog. There is a great prize for one lucky participant and we'd love to have you join us!