Distress a Crate with a Vintage Whitewashing Technique!

Our Shoppe Manager and crafting queen extraordinaire Vanessa Spencer joins us on the blog to share a story about her latest DIY creation.

While working at Stampington, my co-worker Johanna Love and I have become very good friends. With my family living in Australia, I feel lucky to have someone here that is like another sister. Working together, we have connected not only as fellow creatives, but also as mothers of little ones. I think we just simply “get” each other!

Last holiday season, Johanna and I got together to celebrate an early Christmas, and much to my surprise, Johanna had a special gift for me. Johanna knows how much I love all things vintage, especially vintage soda crates, so when she saw this beauty at Goodwill for only $6 (crazy right?) she knew I would be head-over-heels excited. And I was!

Immediately, I hung it up on the wall at home to store knick knacks. I loved the rustic brown color, but decided to paint it white to match my recent home décor renovations. No big deal – or at least, I didn’t think it was. But when I mentioned to Johanna that the crate was now white, she said, “The auctioneer in me is cringing right now!” Oh goodness, what have I done? I thought. I knew that she wasn’t really upset with me, but it certainly made me wonder…had the value of the crate been destroyed?

When I brought the crate into work, each cubby filled with crafty goodness, I was anxious to see Johanna’s reaction. She was relieved that I had decided to whitewash it and not actually paint it. In this case, whitewashing simply worked because the original “character” and marks and writing on the sides still show through. Very cool!

To whitewash the crate I simply mixed gesso with water and lightly painted the box. I filled all the little compartments with some of my favorite supplies: fabric tapes, cute clothespins, and ribbon on spools. If you are in the market for a vintage crate, scope out the local antique markets in your area.

I’ve seen lots of creative crate planter ideas lately – such a cute project to make for a garden. I think I know what my next project will be!

Vanessa Spencer is the Shoppe Manager and Artist in Residence for Stampington & Company. Head over to The Studio to view more of her inspirational how-to projects!

If you have a similar crate (or plan to get your hands on one), share your innovative upcycling ideas in the comments below or send photos to blog@stampington.com.

Project by Vanessa Spencer
Photo by Johanna Love


Posted: Monday, March 26th, 2012 @ 11:23 am
Categories: How-To Project Tutorials.
Tags: .
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22 Responses to “Distress a Crate with a Vintage Whitewashing Technique!”

  1. rita says:

    Love it! Thank you for sharing. Ciao Rita

  2. Monica says:

    Wonderful!! I want one too :)
    Monica.

  3. Beautiful! The friendship, the gift, the gesso treatment, and the photo!

  4. Ella says:

    I love knickknacky shelves! There is so much charm in the gathering of the ordinary. I love adding unique touches, to those gatherings! Thanks for sharing~ ;D

  5. Pam says:

    Oh yes totally agree with Johanna! So very glad that you hadn’t just painted it white Vanessa. It looks fabulous esp being able to see all the ‘stuff’ under the wash. I’ve just bought some old wooden slatted chairs and will use your gesso tip to pretty them up. Thanks. :)

  6. I just adore this project. The reuse of a piece with history made all the more treasured with the story of friendship behind it!

  7. Voodoo Vixen says:

    Oh my… I have crate envy…. I never find things like that when I am searching the thrift shops and you have done a fabby job on it!

  8. Lainey says:

    This is fabulous!! I just wish that all of my relatives would stop using these beautiful treasures as firewood!

  9. Fay Most says:

    This is so great, love the whitewash with gesso idea. So many applications swerlling around in my head, thanks for the inspiration.

  10. Doreen says:

    Vanessa’s whitewashed crate is so beautifully vintage. And…it’s filled with so many fun crafting items. Thanks for the inspiration. Love your blog!

  11. Gail says:

    I am totally in love with this look! I went out determined to find the perfect crate today and I found one just like yours! I can’t wait to finish cleaning it up and whitewashing it with gesso.
    The best part is it was only $10! Some things are just meant to be…:).
    I can’t wait to fill mine with goodies like yours.

  12. Diana says:

    I was on the hunt for one of these for the longest time. I got really lucky and found one at a thrift store for an amazing price. I got lucky again and found another one. I love them.

  13. Pam says:

    Lovely! I wish I could find one for $6.I love all the crafty goodness in it.

  14. Maureen says:

    This is so pretty and totally goes with my shabby chic/cottage look. I liked that you shared the story behind it, your friendship and your friends score at the local Goodwill. I regularly haunt Goodwill and other thrift stores and I never find anything good like this. . . SIGH. I am envious!

  15. Cyndi says:

    Vanessa’s crate is darling and love the pink / blue feminine goodies inside. I found 2 crates at The Pink Attic Cat in Littleton CO last week. My girlfriend and I got Gesso at Hobby Lobby and used Vanessa’s idea and “painted” ours. Hunting the house for cute items to put inside. Everyone I’ve shown her project picture to feels the same way…..Delightful!!

  16. Rae Higgins says:

    Very cool! Love it!

  17. Heidi says:

    I have adored this since day one- I am going this evening to look at and hopefully purchase a handful of these crates and then I am off to purchase my gesso (drats I didn’t remember to do it yesterday). So tomorrow is going to be a fun day I think at my house and I can only hope mine turns out so pretty!

  18. susan salyer says:

    what a wonderful gift and you addition to it made it adorable. love the cubby’s and how you displayed you craftiness.
    susan salyer

  19. Darlene says:

    Absolutely gorgeous crate & project! I want one now.

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  21. […] image source and instructions via stampington.com […]

Jordan How-To Project Tutorials

Our Shoppe Manager and crafting queen extraordinaire Vanessa Spencer joins us on the blog to share a story about her latest DIY creation.

While working at Stampington, my co-worker Johanna Love and I have become very good friends. With my family living in Australia, I feel lucky to have someone here that is like another sister. Working together, we have connected not only as fellow creatives, but also as mothers of little ones. I think we just simply “get” each other!

Last holiday season, Johanna and I got together to celebrate an early Christmas, and much to my surprise, Johanna had a special gift for me. Johanna knows how much I love all things vintage, especially vintage soda crates, so when she saw this beauty at Goodwill for only $6 (crazy right?) she knew I would be head-over-heels excited. And I was!

Immediately, I hung it up on the wall at home to store knick knacks. I loved the rustic brown color, but decided to paint it white to match my recent home décor renovations. No big deal – or at least, I didn’t think it was. But when I mentioned to Johanna that the crate was now white, she said, “The auctioneer in me is cringing right now!” Oh goodness, what have I done? I thought. I knew that she wasn’t really upset with me, but it certainly made me wonder…had the value of the crate been destroyed?

When I brought the crate into work, each cubby filled with crafty goodness, I was anxious to see Johanna’s reaction. She was relieved that I had decided to whitewash it and not actually paint it. In this case, whitewashing simply worked because the original “character” and marks and writing on the sides still show through. Very cool!

To whitewash the crate I simply mixed gesso with water and lightly painted the box. I filled all the little compartments with some of my favorite supplies: fabric tapes, cute clothespins, and ribbon on spools. If you are in the market for a vintage crate, scope out the local antique markets in your area.

I’ve seen lots of creative crate planter ideas lately – such a cute project to make for a garden. I think I know what my next project will be!

Vanessa Spencer is the Shoppe Manager and Artist in Residence for Stampington & Company. Head over to The Studio to view more of her inspirational how-to projects!

If you have a similar crate (or plan to get your hands on one), share your innovative upcycling ideas in the comments below or send photos to blog@stampington.com.

Project by Vanessa Spencer
Photo by Johanna Love