Christmas Card Organizer And Card List

Do you still send out Christmas cards?

Mark me down as old-school, because I can't imagine a holiday season going by without sending my besties, family and people I hardly know Christmas cards.

But I get tired of seeing the cardboard boxes setting out on the kitchen counter all season long (as soon as I put the cards away . . . BAM I get a holiday card from someone I hadn't sent to yet and I have to dig out the cards again).

Just easier to keep them within reach!

So when I saw this ugly as can be cedar box at the thrift store I immediately knew what I was going to do with it.

Make a Christmas Card Organizer so I had a place to store my cards!

And can I say these cedar boxes are just dying for a rustic makeover. I love the woodsiness of them, so I didn't want to cover up all that gorgeous cedar and those fantastic dovetail joints on the corners.

Or are they finger joints? I guess I'm not up on my carpentry lingo.

But the whole label thing on top had to go.

I don't even know what scene that is depicting, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't a priceless piece of art glued to the top of that thing.

Before I get any further here, today is Thrift Store Decor Team Wednesday, so please don't forget to support my fellow Thrift Store Teamers by visiting their posts down below. Just scroll way on down and you'll find them (I highlighted the section in RED for you)!

(This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. You can read my full disclosure policy here.)

Upcycled Cedar Box aka Christmas Card Organizer

Supplies:

I'm going to show you what I used in case you want to replicate it as is, but feel free to use whatever paint colors and stencils you prefer if you want to go a different route.

Cedar box (or similar) can be found at thrift stores
Frog Tape for Delicate Surfaces
Martha Stewart Adhesive Silkscreen - Winter Greens
DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paint - Light Buttermilk
DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paint - Hauser Medium Green
DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paint - Milk Chocolate
Foam paint brushes, stencil brushes or stencil pouncers
Scissors
Razor Blade Scraper

Instructions:

I started by scraping off the masterpiece with a razor blade knife.

Be careful, because . . . razor blades are involved. And they're pretty darn sharp.

Once that was removed, I had to decide whether to paint the entire top or just the middle area.

I went with just the middle area.

I used Frog Tape For Delicate Surfaces to tape off the area I did not want to paint and it gave me a nice clean edge.

Since I was going for a rustic look, I decided to use this Martha Stewart Adhesive Silkscreen (similar to a stencil) called Winter Greens.

I did make a rookie mistake here - I bought that stencil at Michael's and it was on clearance. Now I can't find it online anywhere so I can link to it for you.

I'm sure other people make rustic Christmas-like stencils out there though.

When I was finished with my own masterpiece, I sprayed it with a clear sealer (which I totally forgot to take photos of).

And that's really all I did with the box.

Even though it wasn't a painstaking 49 point tutorial with power tools involved, I do think it turned out pretty darn cute!

And makes a handy and not so ugly place to store my Christmas cards.

Free Printable Christmas Card List

And since we're talking Christmas Cards here, I made a Christmas card list you can print out and use to keep track of who you've sent to and who you've received cards from.

You can find the Free Printable Christmas Card List HERE.

(for personal use only)

More Thrift Store Upcycles From The Thrift Store Decor Team

Today is also Thrift Store Decor Team Wednesday! I cannot contain my excitement!!!

Or exclamation points apparently!

So pop on over to the other thrift store makeovers my friends have been busily working on this month!

DIY Hand Warmers My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Christmas Vintage Wonderland Cloche Domestically Speaking

DIY Snowmen Ornaments Petticoat Junktion

DIY Amber Glass Bottles with a Twist Sadie Seasongoods

Christmas Stocking Shelf My Repurposed Life

Christmas Sleigh Centerpiece Our Southern Home

Christmas Card Organizer House of Hawthornes

Comments

Amy

November 15, 2022 at 3:02 pm

Be careful what you say about certain “ugly cedar box”. And the “priceless ugly picture that was probably glued on top”…. Just so you know you destroyed a vintage collectible and worth money beautiful box. I collect those and they are worth money and sought after pieces of vintage. Before you say negative things about what you think are trash and or ugly please do your research so you don’t destroy a piece of vintage artwork.
Christy @ Our Southern Home

November 21, 2019 at 8:40 pm

You know I'm a sucker for a great box. They are fabulous for holiday cards. I have a box that I store all of the photo cards that we receive. I never thought of making one Christmas themed. Printing that list organizer aslo! Thanks!
Sarah Ramberg

November 14, 2019 at 7:48 am

Well, now I want to find that stencil on clearance at Michaels because I absolutely LOVE how it turned out. And you could totally leave it out through winter, too!
Carol

November 13, 2019 at 8:15 pm

These boxes came out every holiday and we’re filled with chocolates. I got one for Christmas when I was about 8 years old. I still have mine and it is filled with small “treasures” from my childhood. At 67 that makes it 59 years old, yikes.
- Pam Kessler
  
  November 14, 2019 at 2:01 pm
  
  I never in a million years would have thought of them originally being a chocolate box! Good to now! Love that your's has all your treasures in it!
Tamalita

November 13, 2019 at 2:15 pm

Oh what a beautiful job on this box! And I have the perfect box at home!! Thank you.
Maryann

November 13, 2019 at 1:10 pm

So pretty! I love how you painted behind the stenciled area... it almost looks like vintage fabric when I first glanced at it!
Sue Pagels

November 13, 2019 at 11:42 am

Love it, but I also REALLY love the Christmas card you showed! And....since you hardly know me, do I qualify for receiving one of those beautiful cards!?!? 🙂 Another great make-over!
- Pam Kessler
  
  November 14, 2019 at 2:03 pm
  
  I bought those cards at Michael's. They had tons of different styles, but I thought those looked woodsy and sort of serene.
  - Sue Pagels
    
    November 14, 2019 at 4:01 pm
    
    They are beautiful Pam!
Kristin salazar

November 13, 2019 at 11:04 am

I love this idea, so many uses, thanks for sharing!
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces

November 13, 2019 at 9:33 am

OH I LOVE THIS! Such a great idea and turned out beautifully. I see these boxes all the time...hopefully now that I want one...I can find it!
gail

November 13, 2019 at 9:31 am

I couldn't help but giggle at Bliss' comment.... she's a hoot!
I see these boxes everywhere. I was guilty of buying more than a few back in the day as souvenirs.

This is the perfect use of a vintage cedar box Pam.

sharing on pinterest and facebook

gail
Bliss

November 13, 2019 at 8:28 am

I did a similar box redo that a friend gave to me, designated to beer tops lol!