This easy step-by-step tutorial will give a beautiful weathered look to a new crate. Learn how to “age” a new crate so it looks rustic using items commonly found in your kitchen pantry. This is a simple project (nearly) anyone can do!
Farmhouse Décor: Age and Stencil a Crate
I wanted to explore the farmhouse décor trend and asked my niece if she had any outdoor farmhouse style decorating ideas. I have that flower wheelbarrow in the backyard, the wooden table to grow my bagged vegetables, and we installed a shed (a much-needed shed!). Now, I wanted something that might match.
She brought in four ideas, including the terrific little DIY farmhouse house number sign I shared a last month, this sweet little jar flower holder and this Farmhouse Décor: Easy Painted Mirror. As a fifth farmhouse decor piece, we did this sweet little Farmhouse Décor: Laundry Room Organizer.
We actually made everything at the same time as these five projects use lot of the same materials for all the projects. Not only did it keep costs down, it sped things along.
Farmhouse Décor: Age and Stencil a Crate Notes:
● Tea stain: you can use any black tea to form this tea stain. Lipton was used as it has a reddish hue. If you do not want a reddish-hue, avoid Lipton tea.
● The vinegar solution you make MUST sit for at least 24 hours uncovered. If you cover the solution, it might oxidize and turn orange.
● This crate is going to go outside. It can be used to hold toys (that what my niece intended when she thought of doing this), towels, etc. I put the faux flowers in it and cannot begin to describe how fabulous that look is in person! You could swap the flowers out with the season – spring, summer, winter, or fall. Those are dollar store flowers. If you have a lot of leftover faux flowers from craft projects *cough* you could use those!
● Farmhouse/rustic, etc. décor is muted and weathered looking. The tea and vinegar will “age” your new crate. The stencils were to add some depth, timeless-feel, etc. The colors used on this project are very quiet and soft. You could definitely use brighter colors – as always personalize the craft to your taste and décor scheme!
● Depending on where this will be outside, you may want to consider varnishing it (several coats are fine, allow to dry completely between applications). Using a varnish with a satin finish such as this FolkArt one will not have a high shine and will keep your project “rustic looking” by not adding a high shine, while adding extra protection against the elements.
● Nearly all the materials necessary to make this easy Farmhouse Décor: Jar Flower Holder can be purchased at at JoAnn, Michaels, or Hobby Lobby.
Farmhouse Décor: Age and Stencil a Crate Materials:
● Wooden Crate
● Vinegar
● Jar(s)
● Steel Wool
● Black Tea
● Cup (or jar)
● Water (for tea)
● Stencils Farmhouse or Dandelions (used on the craft shown) or perhaps birds would be appropriate.
● Paint – FolkArt 34838 Texture Chalk Painting and Drawing, 8 oz. Dovetail and FOLKART 34832 Texture Chalk Paint Finish, 8 oz. , Green Shadow were used on this project.
● Foam Brushes
● Dabbers
Farmhouse Décor: Age and Stencil a Crate Directions:
● 24 hours before making this craft, prepare a vinegar solution. In a small jar, fill ¾ of the way to the top with vinegar and insert a steel wool pad. Allow to sit for 24 hours uncovered.
● Make the tea stain at the same time: 6 tea bags per 1 cup of water, and allow to steep overnight. This is strong tea!
● 24 hours after making your tea stain and vinegar solution, cover a work surface against spills or stains.
● Place your wooden crate down on the covered surface, and tea stain the entire plaque, including the sides, insides, all the sides of the slats. You can do the bottom if you like. Do not worry about any distressing – you want some distressing as it adds charm to the finished piece.
● Vinegar stain over the tea stain immediately. The reason you are doing the vinegar solution over the still wet tea solution is the tannins in the tea will react with the steel wool in the vinegar to give the wood a weathered look.
● Allow the crate to dry completely.
● Tape down a stencil so it does not move (you do not have to do this step, but I highly advise it).
● Place a napkin or paper towel inside the crate to catch any paint drips. You are using a dabber so the paint it unlikely to drip, but better safe than sorry.
● Using a dabber, dab the paint over the stencil to create the look you want. Since these are slats, you will not be painting over the entire stencil, just where there is wood.
● Lift the stencil straight up in the air to remove it. This will help avoid smears and smudges.
● You can do three sides at one sitting, but wait to do the fourth side until at least one other side is dry (you need to flip the dry side down to expose the unpainted side). You can stencil one, two, three, or all four sides, it just depends on the look you want.
● If you have any extra smears or smudges, no worries… “rustic” is very forgiving. If it bothers you too much, paint a leave, flower, or bird over that smudge.
● Allow to dry completely.
● To clean the stencils: was with soap and water, and use a sponge to get off all the paint used on the craft. Allow to dry completely before reusing the stencil.
● Display as you like!
Farmhouse Décor: Age and Stencil a Crate
Farmhouse Décor: Age and Stencil a Crate. This easy step-by-step tutorial will give a beautiful weathered look to a new crate. Learn how to "age" a new crate so it looks rustic using items commonly found in your kitchen pantry. This is a simple project (nearly) anyone can do!
Materials
- Wooden Crate
- Vinegar
- Steel Wool
- Black Tea
- Water (for tea)
- Stencils Farmhouse or Dandelions (used on the craft shown) or perhaps birds would be appropriate.
- Paint – FolkArt 34838 Texture Chalk Painting and Drawing, 8 oz. Dovetail and FOLKART 34832 Texture Chalk Paint Finish, 8 oz. , Green Shadow were used on this project.
Tools
- Jar(s) or Cup
- Foam Brushes
- Dabbers
Instructions
- 24 hours before making this craft, prepare a vinegar solution. In a small jar, fill ¾ of the way to the top with vinegar and insert a steel wool pad. Allow to sit for 24 hours uncovered.
- Make the tea stain at the same time: 6 tea bags per 1 cup of water, and allow to steep overnight. This is strong tea!
- 24 hours after making your tea stain and vinegar solution, cover a work surface against spills or stains.
- Place your wooden crate down on the covered surface, and tea stain the entire plaque, including the sides, insides, all the sides of the slats. You can do the bottom if you like. Do not worry about any distressing – you want some distressing as it adds charm to the finished piece.
- Vinegar stain over the tea stain immediately. The reason you are doing the vinegar solution over the still wet tea solution is the tannins in the tea will react with the steel wool in the vinegar to give the wood a weathered look.
- Allow the crate to dry completely.
- Tape down a stencil so it does not move (you do not have to do this step, but I highly advise it).
- Place a napkin or paper towel inside the crate to catch any paint drips. You are using a dabber so the paint it unlikely to drip, but better safe than sorry.
- Using a dabber, dab the paint over the stencil to create the look you want. Since these are slats, you will not be painting over the entire stencil, just where there is wood.
- Lift the stencil straight up in the air to remove it. This will help avoid smears and smudges. You can do three sides at one sitting, but wait to do the fourth side until at least one other side is dry (you need to flip the dry side down to expose the unpainted side). You can stencil one, two, three, or all four sides, it just depends on the look you want.
- If you have any extra smears or smudges, no worries… “rustic” is very forgiving. If it bothers you too much, paint a leave, flower, or bird over that smudge.
- Allow to dry completely.
- To clean the stencils: was with soap and water, and use a sponge to get off all the paint used on the craft. Allow to dry completely before reusing the stencil.
- Display as you like!
Recommended Products
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If you would like more rustic, farmhouse crafts, check out these posts:
● Rustic Fall Burlap Wreath DIY – This DIY tutorial on how to make a Rustic Fall Burlap Wreath has easy to follow, step-by-step instructions. Less than an hour or so of your time results in a lovely autumn wreath that is highly customizable, and a lot less expensive than a store bought wreath! Perfect fall decor for your front door
● Patriotic Farmhouse Wreath DIY – This simple to make, rustic style American patriotic mesh farmhouse wreath is wonderful for outdoor or indoor display. Using only three materials and scissors, this easy to make wreath comes together in about 15 minutes. If you are looking for a patriotic holiday wreath, this little beauty is it!
● Shabby Chic Autumn Wreath – If you are a fan of shabby chic décor for your home, you are going to want to make this lovely shabby chic autumn wreath! Simple to make, the soft and understated colors are perfect shabby chic wall décor or door décor.
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