Have the wedding invitations started arriving for this summer? Do you plan on giving a cash gift?

Here is a unique idea to make your cash gift extra special by setting it inside an elegant and personalized wedding card keepsake box. After the wedding, the newlyweds can use the pretty box for holding their wedding cards, photos, and mementos.

But if you are planning a wedding, this one-of-a-kind upcycled wooden box idea can be used as a personalized wedding card box on the gift table at the wedding reception.

Wooden Wedding Card Gift Keepsake Box Idea

I'll show you how simple it is to turn a wooden box into an elegant wedding card box. Plus it's a budget-friendly idea for a unique wedding card box for your wedding.

This is the wooden box I found at our local thrift store, it still had the original price tag on it. What doesn't say wedding more than the raised LOVE detail and the photo frame lid?

Perhaps it is intended for engagement photos but that doesn't matter. With a little creativity, it is perfect for wedding cards on the big day.

The motivation for this upcycled wedding card box is for my nephew's upcoming wedding.

Instead of just a cash gift inside a wedding card, I'm placing the card inside the wedding keepsake box. I'm personalizing the inside of the box to match their wedding invitations and I'll show you how in the steps below.

How To Turn A Wooden Box Into A Wedding Card Box

I'll show you how easy it is to upcycle a lidded wooden box from the thrift store in the steps below.

This post contains affiliate links so you can see what products I used or recommend for this project. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Step 1 - Prep Wooden Box For Paint

The first thing I did was remove the felt liner on the inside of the box. The glue was so dry that the liner popped right out. You may have to tug a little and will have residual glue that can easily be removed by sanding.

Pro-Tip

Remove the pieces carefully so you can use them as a pattern for cutting the new liner. Label each piece with a pencil to ensure the new liner goes back in the same way for a snug fit.

Once the liner is removed and any residual glue sanded off, give the box a good scrub with 1 part vinegar, two parts warm water, with a drop of Dawn dish soap.

Once it's completely dry, lightly sand the wood exterior with 150-grit sandpaper to give the paint some bite. The old black finish is a perfect base color for distressing the box later.

Step 2 - Painting The Wedding Box White

I had some Fusion Mineral Paint in the color Picket Fence leftover from the Funky MCM Bar Cabinet makeover and brushed three coats to cover the black.

Step 3 - How To Wet Distress Paint

Before the last coat of white paint dries, use a damp lint-free cloth to wet distress. To do this lightly rub the cloth along the raised details and along the edges of the box to expose the black paint underneath (pictured below).

Once the paint is completely dry, protect it with clear wax buffed to a matte finish.

Step 4 - Lining The Wedding Box

I must have spent an hour in the scrapbook paper aisle at Michael's looking for the perfect paper to line the box. There are so many wonderful options to choose from. I finally settled on a wedding typography paper.

As mentioned earlier, I used the original felt liner as pattern pieces for the scrapbook paper. I outlined them lightly with a pencil on the back of the scrapbook paper. Then I cut each piece with a paper cutter and attached a small sticky note to label where each piece fits inside the box.

Starting with the short pieces, brush Mod Podge to the back of the paper with a foam brush and place them inside. Next, add the long front and back pieces. Save the bottom piece for last to cover the raw cuts.

This step is completely optional but you can protect the scrapbook paper by applying two light coats of Mod Podge over top the paper.

Step 5 - Add A Decorative Knob

I had this pretty knob with a backplate in my stash that I picked up at Hobby Lobby a few years ago. You can read all about that adventure in my Canadian Girl's Maiden Voyage To Hobby Lobby post.

I measured the front of the box both horizontally and vertically to find the center and drilled a hole using a drill bit the same diameter as the stem on the knob. Easy peasy way to embellish an upcycled wooden box!

Step 6 - How To Personalize A Wedding Card Box

You can personalize the wedding card box by adding the bride & groom's names and the wedding date on the top of the painted box using this image transfer technique. You can see how I did it for my son's beach destination wedding card box and my daughter's rustic wedding card box.

But with this wedding card box being a photo frame, I had to get creative on how to personalize it. Instead, I choose to personalize the inside of the lid by decoupaging their wedding invitation with Mod Podge.

How pretty is the thrift store wooden box now! Wouldn't you agree that gifting the newlyweds a cash wedding gift inside a pretty handpainted, made with love, keepsake box makes the gift even more special?

Thanks for stopping by the Interior Frugalista today! I hope you were inspired by this elegant upcycled wedding card box idea.

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