SIMPLE MAILBOX MAKEOVER FOR UNDER $10.00

When you think about your mailbox the first thing that comes to mind isn’t a makeover. Mailboxes as a whole are boring black boxes with little red flags.

Maybe it’s time to give a little love to that metal box that keeps your birthday cards safe?

Well, I think that’s a brilliant idea!

That’s why I decided to give my mailbox a makeover. With minimal elbow grease, I have a super fun and cheery little mailbox.  

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It’s high time for your mailbox to have a makeover of its own!

Previously I decided to spray paint my mailbox with my favorite oil rubbed bronze spray paint. Now, while it looked decent, I never “loved” its look. Once I decided that it was time for a front porch makeover I knew I had to come up with an idea for the mailbox.

I love the look of a German mailbox. Call me sentimental, but after spending so much time there I fell in love with the yellow post boxes. When I was a teen I would sometimes take my Oma and Opa’s mail to the Postbriefkaseten (Mailbox) in the morning on my way down to the city center. This was going to be my inspiration for my mailbox makeover.

Find something fun to put on your mailbox.

First, I had to find something to adorn the front of the box. I decided to simply write the word “post” as a nod to my love for the German mailboxes. Off to Michaels, I went to find some sweet materials. I happened upon some wooden letters for the outside and paper for the inside of the box that would do the trick. In addition to adding letters, you can really add any type of embellishments that you like.

Next the Herculean task of finding the perfect shade of yellow. My least favorite part of this DIY.  Most yellow spray paint colors are pastel or almost orange. I was able to find the shade Tuscan Sun by Rust-Oleum at Home Depot. For me, it’s the perfect shade of yellow.

Here are the simple steps I took to make my little mailbox shine.

First, I removed the medallion from the front of the mailbox using a pry bar and a flat head screwdriver. I was very careful to gently pry it off without damaging or denting the mailbox itself. After I removed the medallion I found a block of wood that fits inside the mailbox and pounded the holes down with a hammer.

Clean the outside of the mailbox thoroughly. Lightly sand the outside using fine-grit sandpaper or steel wool. Wipe down one more time to remove dust.

Add your letters on with glue. Take extra care to not let the glue seep out of the letters. If the glue is showing, follow the manufactures instructions and remove the excess. Set aside and let it completely dry.

Apply spray paint in 5-7 even coats. Follow the drying time on the can. I waited for about 1 hour between coats. Make sure the mailbox is completely dry before handling it.

      

Now to add your own special flair. Cut the paper you have chosen to size. Make sure to cut out the hole for the mailbox to hang on. To temporally hold your paper in place you can use painters tape, just be sure to remove the tape slowly so it doesn’t tear the paper.

Apply a thin layer of Mod Podge along the inside of the mailbox. Add the paper making sure to press down all the edges really well.

Coat the paper with a couple more thin layers of mod podge and let dry thoroughly before putting it back outside. ***My mailbox is not exposed to the elements but if yours is, consider using the outdoor Mod Podge for water protection.***

Mailbox makeover TIPS:

1.  If you’re planning on painting the mailbox flag you can paint it any color but any shades of green, brown, white, yellow, or blue. The preferred flag color is fluorescent orange.
2. You can use any paper you want. Have some seriously cute wrapping paper? Use that. I purchased my paper from Michaels by the sheet.
3. Make sure not to glue or spray paint the hinge. Because it sucks to clean out all the crevices.
4. Apply a topcoat to the paper to seal it if it’s going to be exposed to the elements.
5. When applying the glue for the letters, don’t be as generous as you think because the glue is super hard to remove and will show after you spray paint.
6. If you have a medallion like mine, it is held on with metal pins. You will be able to remove it by prying one side and then the other to weaken the metal pins. Don’t get discouraged, that bad boy will break!
7. HAVE A BLAST creating something special for your home!

SAVE TO PINTEREST FOR LATER!

Total cost for all supplies I used:

Spray paint Rust-oleum Stops rust, Gloss Tuscan Sun = $3.76 from Home Depot

Mod Podge = $0.00 had on hand from Amazon

Multi-Surface Adhesive = $0.00 hand on hand from Amazon

Sandpaper, Paintbrush and cleaning rag = $0.00 Had on hand

Scrapbook paper = $.59 from Michaels 

Wooden Letters = $.75 each from Michaels. I bought my letters from the clearance aisle.

TOTAL = $7.35

There you have it. A fun, bright, and cheery mailbox makeover for under $10.00. WOOT WOOT!

Are you planning on any fun fall crafts? Stay tuned for my sweet and easy “Flair” Pins. They are so easy even the little’s can get in on the action.

Check out my latest post on buying a new home. Here I give great tips for first time home buyers. Don’t miss out on my totally FREE house hunting worksheet.

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