{DIY} Agate Lacquered Box

Thanks for the sweet comments about the first leg of our trip yesterday! It's so fun sharing with you guys, and I loved hearing from so many of you who are planning your own trips to Puerto Rico. I'm happy to answer any questions, and the remainder of the Trip Reports will be coming up soon, so stay tuned.

Today I'm showing a little knock-off I whipped up over the weekend. I fell for this box on One Kings Lane, but not the $95 asking price! After adding gold leaf to my agate coasters, I knew I wanted to show them off a bit more...so this Agate Lacquered Box was born.

{What You Need}

Wood Box from craft store

Agate Coasters (or any gem-like flat object)

Wood Filler

Paint

Deco Art Triple Thick Brilliant Gloss Glaze

You've seen these boxes 1,000 times at Michaels and Hobby Lobby...I chose a larger one, about 12-inches long. #TWSS

I think it looks more expensive without the cheap-o-latch...so unscrew it and fill the holes with wood filler, then sand it down. I removed the hinges, too, for easier painting.

Since I had a helper, I used DecoArt Chalky Paint because it goes on so easily with no priming, and easy clean-up. I think it's better suited for non-crafty projects (like this dresser) though. If I were to do this project again, I'd spray paint the box to avoid brush marks.

Have you seen this new gadget, The Paint Brush Cover? It's genius I tell ya...just pop your brush in between coats, and it snaps closed, keeping your brush wet until ready to paint again. No more plastic-wrapped brushes in the fridge!

I couldn't resist using a gold-leaf pen on the inside rim of the box for an unexpected touch of glam when opened.

This next step is what takes this project from crafty, to the real deal...once the paint is dry, spray thin, even coats of Deco Art Triple Thick Brilliant Gloss Glaze for a super-shiny, lacquer finish. This stuff is amazing...we're not talking about just a little glossy sheen...but a thick, hard, shell, with a mirror-like shine.

Tip: Let dry for a full 24-hours before touching. Even though it will feel dry to the touch after a few minutes, resist the urge or it will be covered in fingerprints.

The final step is to affix the agate to the top with a dollop of hot glue, and reattach the lid.

My Dollar Store Terrarium is sill kicking!

Consider me smitten with my pretty, lacquered box! Especially since it cost about $80 less than this version. I haven't decided where it will live, but I think it'd make a good hideout for TV remotes. Have you tried the Triple Gloss Spray?