Shaker Hat Box Design Ideas

 Cheryl, owner of Gramma Sophie's in Boonville, MO, handed me shaker hat boxes and asked me to paint them. She loves and sells primitives so it wasn't hard for me to decide what to paint.

The top picture is a set of three that forms one round circle. I decided to separately paint them to create a stacked design.

They were first painted with acrylic barn red then I floated burnt umber to the edges to make them look old. The words were hand painted with antique white.

The tree box is a single box. The lid is painted in midnight - acrylic paint of course - while the "base" of the box is painted in antique white with some version of brown slapped on. The tree base is black, leaves are ivy green and the red fruit was dotted on with the hand of a brush dipped in barn red. All edges were floated with burnt umber.

The bottom picture: There are two sets of two boxes shown.

Left: Antique white and barn red were used. I used a new half in brush to create the flourishes. The bottom box lid was painted with antique white then bard red was slapped on here and there. The rim of the lid was sanded to create a worn effect while only the very edge of its match was sanded.

The image on the right: Top box was painted with barn red and the stars were stenciled on with antique gold. Note how I allowed the red to show through.

The bottom box was painted with wrought iron black; the bunny rabbit in antique white. Both boxes were scuffed with sand paper.

As a side note: I prefer scuffing with sand paper over floating the edges. Not only is it easier but I think sanding makes the boxes look more authentically worn.

All boxes are for sale at Gramma Sophie's in Boonville, MO.

Want a set or just one? Simply leave a comment with your request and I'll paint them for you. Have something in mind you can't find? Custom orders are welcome at NO EXTRA CHARGE.

Two nesting that you can stack (like the bottom picture) are $20 plus Priority Mail charge.

A single box is $15 plus Priority Mail charge.

Returns accepted within 30 days. You pay the return postage. Custom orders require a 15% restocking fee.

New gift items at Visages:

Victorian Rose Colored Peonies Picture Round Clock

Victorian Rose Colored Peonies Picture Round Clock by Visages
Browse Victorian Wall Clocks
Fushia and Red Polka Dots with Giraffe Spots Travel Accessories Bag 

Fushia Red Giraffe Spots Polka Dots Travel Accessories Bag by Visages
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Red Checked Gingham Clean Dirty Dishwasher Magnet

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Create unique custom magnets at zazzle.com.
Personalized Primitive Snowman Square Labels
Great for jars or boxes with your homemade food gifts

Primitive Snowman Jar Label Square Stickers by Visages
Make a sticker online.

Fork Hook on Old Wood

This was a fun project and one I created for the antique/gift store, Gramma Sophie's, in Boonville, MO.

A fork bent into the shape of a hook then screwed to an old weathered, beat up board with an Americana scene painted in acrylic paints can serve as a decorative hat or coat hook. (Use a small screw that will fit between the tines of the fork.)

When changing out your decor for Flag Day, Veterans Day, Memorial Day or 4th of July, this primitive piece will grab the attention of friends or family who come to visit.

Background: The sky was quickly slapped on with a hint of creamy white. The trees on the horizon were painted with a sage green  using only the chisel edge of an old, worn out half inch brush. The right side of the trees were darkened with old ivy.

Grass: There is really only a hint of grass created by laying the brush horizontally and skipping around from back to foreground with sage green. Then with old ivy, add a few dark areas.

Barn: Base coat the barn in dark red then shade with diluted black or midnight. Paint the roof line in black. Add the door and loft window in black. Highlight the left edge of the door and window with creamy white. Dry brush in highlights with creamy white.

Path: A combination of light and dark browns (like latte and burnt umber) were slapped on.

Weeping Willow Tree: Paint the trunk of the tree with a light brown using the chisel edge of a half inch brush then shade the right side with burnt umber.

Using a 1/4 inch brush and old ivy, push in the leaves by tilting the brush, pushing and lifting to create a tear drop shape.

Sheep: Base coat the sheep in creamy white then float the shading around the edges with burnt umber. Add the black face, ears and legs by creating simple shapes with a 1/4 inch brush. With the 1/4 inch brush, paint a small blue square then add two dark red stripes. Stencil in a star on the blue square.

Border: Alternate dark red and creamy white using a half inch brush then float shading with burnt umber on both the inner and outer edges of the border.

Don's forget to add either sawtooth or wire hangers.