Garden Seed Organizer with a Vintage Vibe

August 27, 2023 by Patti Estep 8 Comments

Learn how to make a seed box to hold all your seeds and other gardening treasures. Give it an antique look with vintage prints and a dark stain. This garden seed box is great for seed storage and makes a pretty decor piece in your home.

If I ever see a vintage seed box in my travels I will definitely buy one. In the meantime, I thought it might be nice to create one.

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How to Make a Seed Box that Looks Vintage

Start with an unfinished box that you can buy online or from a craft store. Wipe away any dust or dirt.

First, finish the box with antique stain wax all over. You could also paint it with white paint followed by an antiquing wax for a different look.

Then distress the hardware with some sandpaper rubbing the edges and if you want add a little black craft paint here and there.

Next, decoupage the top with some vintage garden catalog prints. You can find this one on my vintage seed packet printable post.

You could simply paste on the print with mod podge, but I tried using a transfer medium to give it a rustic look.

This same method was used in another post on creating a fabric photo transfer notebook.

Next decoupage the front with napkins, just like these colorful magnetic clothespins.

Antique flower seed box inside lid decoupaged

Then move into the inside. Dress up the lid with vintage floral seed pack prints from The Graphics Fairy, and some from Knick of Time.

Interior items in vintage flower seed box

Then on the bottom place a couple of pieces of cardboard for dividers. Now you can organize your seed pack and any other gardening items you want such as antique flower frogs or floral shears.

These small glassine bags are perfect for holding seeds from your garden from this and the previous year. Label them with the plant name and year of harvest.

You can learn more about seed libraries, swaps, and seed saving here.

I know I sound like a broken record but, I think this vintage seed box would make a great gift for a garden lover. Add a pair of garden gloves and some seeds from your own garden. Who wouldn't love that?

More Antique Gardening Ideas

Box covered with garden prints and vintage seed packets. Inside there are garden seeds, bags and floral wire and tape.

4 from 1 vote

Antique Wooden Seed Box

Create your own antique looking wooden seed box for seed storage and other antique garden items. Pretty and practical.

Prep Time20

Active Time30

Total Time50

Course: DIY Garden Art

Yield:

Author: Patti Estep

Cost: $25

Equipment

Scissors
Sponge brushes

Materials

Unfinished wooden box
Antique stain wax
Craft Paint
Mod Podge
Antique garden catalog and seed packet prints
cardboard pieces

Instructions

Finish the box by brushing the antique stain all over.
Distress the hardware with some sandpaper rubbing the edges and if you want add a little black craft paint.
Decoupage the top of the box and the inside top with some vintage garden catalog and antique seed packet prints.
Then cover the front with floral napkins using mod podge.
Place a couple of pieces of cardboard for dividers.
Add in your seed packets and other gardening items as you wish.

Tried this project?Tag @hearthnvine on Instagram

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About Patti Estep

Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

Comments

DarlaRae Duffy

August 01, 2020 at 5:55 pm

This seed packet is lovely and I would like to make one for next years seed.

Reply
- Patti Estep
  
  August 02, 2020 at 6:36 am
  
  Thanks DarlaRae. I hope you do.
  
  Reply
  - Andrea Hensley
    
    August 29, 2023 at 12:02 am
    
    I Love this💚💜💙!
    I'm very much into vintage, especially things like this💕!
    Ill be doing this indeed, however, I think instead of the wax, ill use some plant based dye I made with deep blue butterfly pea flowers! its a Great stain for fabrics and wood!
    And, since I'm an Apothecary, I always try to harvest seeds in the Fall for my wildflower garden in Spring!😸💚🍁🌹🐸Thank You so much for the Wonderful project!
    Drea 🐈Hensley🌹
  - Patti Estep
    
    August 29, 2023 at 7:14 am
    
    Andrea, butterfly pea flower stain is a great idea. I bet it turns out beautiful.
Jonni Millington

January 11, 2019 at 10:18 am

Patti, I love this post! I had picked up a similar little box at Dollar General just this week, with no idea what I was going to do with it. Your website looks great.

Reply
- Patti Estep
  
  January 11, 2019 at 11:35 am
  
  Thanks Jonni. I was one of my favorite projects to make this year. I'm sure you will love creating yours too.
  
  Reply
Carole West

August 16, 2018 at 12:47 pm

I absolutely love this and what a fantastic idea. I have my seeds in my grandpa's old lunch pail. Would love to cover it like this but don't dare because I just can't. Pinning this is beautiful, it's so fun to visit and see what you come up with.

Reply
- Patti Estep
  
  August 16, 2018 at 2:43 pm
  
  Thanks Carole. I don't blame you for not wanting to mess with your treasured heirloom lunch pail. You just have to keep an eye out for another box in your travels. 🙂
  
  Reply