From Photographs to a Garlic Storage Box!

From the DIY Homemade Household side of the blog! From Photographs to Garlic Storage...and our love of repurposing!

At one time this little box was the centerpiece in someone's living room or den.

Originally manufactured to hold a collection of photographs, it was a tidy, safe and convenient. A place where photos and memories were stored away., but also available by just opening the lid. Inside the box were hanging files made of protective plastic sleeves. Once your photos were in the sleeves, folks could hold the photo as they looked at it, and possible shared a memory. Personally I remember from my own childhood being told (repeatedly!) to stop touching the picture...but there is something that connects us to who is in the photo when we hold it and make a comment. 

We found it at our local thrift store while out and about shopping in town. Personally I like repurposing usable items for another use, and this box was sturdy, clean on the inside and it caught my attention. Plus we needed a Garlic Storage Box for our kitchen pantry.

It was a bit dinged up, a bit dirty and yet...

It was exactly what I had hoped to find, when we started out that morning. One important thing to keep in mind when you are repurposing one item for another use is that you want to be able to use the supplies you already have on hand at  home...this will definitely keep costs down!

Since we already had paint from previous upgrades and repairs, we were good. The idea for my Garlic Storage Box was arrived at almost instantly, due to the condition of the piece. We even used free "clip-art" from the internet with a simple had written personalization using the black sharpie we keep in the kitchen to label and date food before it goes into the freezer!

Let's get started, shall we?

These are the changes that we (and by "we" I mean the royal we where I have the ideas and my husband has the tools!) completed, to get the project finished and ready to use:

• removed and tossed out, the plastic sleeves
• glued the sleeve holders into the bottom of the box, for an uneven surface for additional air circulation
• drill holes on each side of the box, to help with air circulation
• removed the glass from the top of the lid, and set aside
• paint the outside, two coats
• printed a clip-art piece, representing a head of garlic
• add personal updates to the graphic
• added the completed graphic
• cleaned and replaced the glass into the top of the lid

Nothing too difficult, a simple and fun project to complete together. 

The sleeve frames were glued to the inside bottom of the box, creating a built-in rack for the heads of garlic to sit on. There is some spacing between each piece allowing for air circulation so the garlic stays fresh and dry. 

To provide additional air circulation, three holes were drilled on each side of the box.  

Two coats of paint were applied to the outside (only) of the box, allowing time between coats for complete drying of the paint.   

We found and printed a (free clip-art) graphic of a head of garlic, adding a personal touch around the two sides. This graphic was cut to size and set into place. The piece of glass was cleaned and returned to the frame.  

NOTE: we did not paint the inside of the box, it was clean, dry wood and perfect for food storage. 

The only thing left to do was to fill it with garlic!

And now we have our own Garlic Storage Box for storing fresh garlic in our kitchen! 

This post has been updated 09.19.2024

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