Not every project needs a full restoration. I have plenty of those coming up. Some just need a little gentle love.
This sewing box project is one of the gentle love kinds.
When I found her, she was dusty and disheveled, but I could still see the potential hidden there. I knew with a little love and a few additions she would become a cute piece of decor for someone who loves to sew or quilt.
Supplies Used
Vintage sewing box (or just a tin if you can’t find a sewing themed box)
Vintage scissors
Wooden or plastic thread spools
Vintage rick rack
Vintage hook and eye card (other sewing items if you have them)
Faux florals and greenery
Lace and other emblishments
Hot glue gun
Step 1: Clean and Assess the Piece
This sewing box already had a lot going for it. The lace trim was still attached and there were even a few dusty florals tucked inside.
Instead of stripping everything out and starting over, I decided to work with what was already there. Pieces like this have earned their wrinkles.
I lightly cleaned the box and fluffed the original lace and flowers to see what could be saved.
Step 2: Add Vintage Sewing Details
The first things I added were the vintage hook and eye card and a few wooden thread spools.
The hook and eye card needed a little help to take it’s place in the arrangement. Since I didn’t have away to stick the card into the floral foam in the box I opted to glue a piece of a chopstick to the back.
To dress up the spools, I wrapped them with vintage rick rack trim. It was a tiny detail, but it helped tie everything together and gave the arrangement more texture and color.
Step 3: Add the Vintage Scissors
One of my favorite additions was the pair of vintage scissors tucked into the arrangement.
I always pick up vintage scissors when I’m out junking because they can usually be sharpened and they’re often much heavier duty than modern pairs. If you saw my vintage charity haul on YouTube then you saw these. If you love vintage finds and creative reuse projects, make sure to follow my YouTube channel, Junkin’ with Stacy, where I share more thrift flips and secondhand treasures.
This pair of scissors was slightly damaged (they didn’t hinge correctly). Instead of tossing them aside, I loved being able to make them part of this project.
There’s something satisfying about giving even the imperfect pieces another purpose.
Step 4: Fill Out the Arrangement
The measuring tape was already woven into the piece, which was the perfect starting point. I left it right where it was and built around it.
To fill out the arrangement, I added extra greenery and florals from Dollar Tree. Mixing inexpensive new materials with vintage finds is one of my favorite ways to decorate on a budget.
The soft greenery helped balance the heavier sewing pieces, while the tiny white and pink florals gives the arrangement a finished look.
Step 5: Style and Adjust
Once everything was in place, I spent a few minutes adjusting the flowers, fluffing the greenery and making sure the arrangement looked balanced from all angles.
That final bit of tweaking always makes the difference.
And there you have it. A dusty old sewing box got a new lease on life and a second chance at being appreciated again. I love all the vintage detail. Time to tag it and send it off to the shop to find it’s forever home!
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