Wood Box Wedding Favor

Paint a small unfinished wooden box and turn it into a fabulous Wood Box Wedding Favor that’s perfect for holding potpourri, candy, mints, flower seeds or spices!

This is an economical idea, as each unfinished wooden box that I used is only $1.37 (via ConsumerCrafts.com), yet the finished product becomes a keepsake box!

It all begins with the box – and here’s a picture of the one I used:

I placed a 2.5-inch paper maché egg next to it, so you have an idea on the size. The wood box dimensions are 3.125 x 2.375 x 2.5 inches. The top of the box has a wonderful mesh-covered opening – a wonderful rustic touch!

This DIY is all about making this box look like a weathered, painted vintage box, and the supplies I used are as follows: Chalky Finish Paint (in color of your choice), paintbrush, sandpaper or sanding block, white rag or paper towels. Optional items are Americana Decor Waxes (in both brown and clear), cotton swabs, and whatever filler you wish to put inside.

Step One: Gently sand any rough edges of the box. Wipe off dust with a white rag or paper towel.

Step Two: Paint the outside of the unfinished wood box with two coats of chalky finish paint. Let dry in between each coat. I painted over the hardware and the mesh covering too. I left the inside unfinished.

 I love how much better the mesh covering shows up once it’s painted!

Step Three: Sand the box along the edges until you like the way it looks. The amount of sanding and distressing you do in this step is completely up to you and the look you’re going for. Chalky finish paint is awesome for this purpose, because it sands off nicely. Wipe off dust with a white rag or paper towels.

Tip: When you begin this step, start on the bottom of your box, so you can get the feel for how much or little pressure you’ll need. The bottom edges of the box will not be as noticeable as the rest of the box, so it’s a smart place to start!

Here’s what the edges looked like once I finished sanding:

And here’s what the hardware looked like – I sanded the front clasp and the back hinges just a bit:

Please note: Steps Four and Five are optional – but really provide a nice finish to what will be a keepsake memento from your special day.

Step Four: Using a cotton swab, apply a tiny amount of brown wax to the sanded edges of the box, then immediately wipe off the wax with a white rag or paper towel. This will darken the exposed wood edges just a bit, providing a more antiqued look to the box.

Step Five: Using a cotton swab, apply clear wax over the painted areas of the box – except for the hardware and mesh covering – then immediately wipe off and rub into the wood using a white rag or paper towels. 

I don’t always use wax on my chalky painted projects, however I do like the protection it provides, plus how the colors seem to get richer-looking too. (At least to me they do!)

Here’s what the box looks like after the wax is applied and left to dry:

Step Six: Fill up your wood box wedding favor with something special! I added potpourri, as the scent will waft out of the mesh opening. 

Tip: No matter what you choose as your filler – be it candy, mints, spices, flower seeds, shells, or potpourri – make sure you hunt around on the internet for large bags to purchase. It’ll be much more economical, especially if you have many boxes to fill. 

Imagine these boxes in your wedding colors at each place setting! So pretty!

If you want to see another special wedding favor idea, hop over to my blog to see my Peat Pot Wedding Favors tutorial.

Happy crafting!

~Laura