Happy Monday! Kristi and I are still recovering from a cray cray weekend and are now laying on the couch and can’t move Tough Mudder survivors! Whoo hoo! Anyway we’ve had quite a few comments and email inquiries on my faux vintage crates (displayed with my herringbone bookcase I showed with the sneak peek of my craft room makeover last week) and because I’m recovering, have had computer time to share the tute. LOL!
Here’s my secret for affordable crates….
…$11.99 unfinished wood crates from Joann’s. And with your trusty 40% coupon it comes out to less than $8/each. Score! If you want to personalize your own storage space or spruce up a corner of the family room (they are super cute filled with extra couch blankets or pillows) take a peek at how we created ours to look like vintage numbered crates:
1. Stain crates in Minwax, dark walnut color… pretty sure that’s the universal stain color in Blogland (; 2. Use your vinyl program of choice, (the layout was 7″x7″,) and design/cut “No. 1″ in vinyl lettering. Peel off backing and adhere to crate in bottom-right corner. 3. Using a foam brush, lightly paint over vinyl (since you’re using it as a stencil) in Americana acrylic paint by DecoArt, in light buttermilk color. Lightly sand when dry and admire your new faux vintage crate!
These crates are so versatile! You can add casters to make them mobile…
(Take a looksie at our DIY wooden nursery crate version | main pic photographed by Hello Baby! photography)
….or leave them stained sans numbers and use for everyday storage in any room of your home.
This simple crate can instantly spruce up any space and we love how easy it was to create a completely custom look for under $10.
ps: In case you missed my craft room sneak peek, here are all 8 of the vintage numbered crates I’m using for my craft hoard storage. I lovely love looooooove them! (:
We’ll be back soon to squeeze in some St. Patrick’s Day crafts before Easter is here. Such a bummer there’s only a few weeks in between for decorating purposes, right?! (;
Update: Check out our burlap doily bunting tutorial, full bookshelf before and after and even a herringbone roundup!
xoxo
Kelly
The crates look wonderful!! Thanks for sharing this idea!
jen
i am so making these!!!! and i am stealing your idea for your shelving…you don’t mind do you?
jen recently posted..Delta to the rescue again! {a sort-of bathroom reveal.}
Jordan Biasetti
I am absolutely going to make these. Last year I fell in love with the look of these vintage crates and even saw an article where someone had nailed all of the crates together to make a bookshelf. I’m afraid that the bookshelf would be too flimsy though, so this project is an alternative opportunity to still use the crates in a bookshelf-y way! Awesome.
rebecca lopez
Love these crates! I’ve been wanting to do these exact crates for my laundry room/pantry!
Can’t wait to do them.
rebecca lopez recently posted..St. Patrick’s Day Recipes & Treats
Angelina
TOTALLY going to make these… JOANN’S here I come ( you better have them for me
Pinning this 
xo
Angelina
Angelina recently posted..Diy Repurposed-Upcycled, Shirt-Apron
Six Sisters
We love your cute crates!!! What a fun and creative idea! Have a great week! -The Six Sisters
Liz Prince
Love and def copying these!!!!!
Midsommarflicka
They look really great! An idea I might be stealing one day
Love, Midsommarflicka
Midsommarflicka recently posted..Organizing my desk II
Debbie
They look awesome! Hard to believe they are the same crates, so much better now.
Debbie
Debbie recently posted..Forcing Spring
Crystal
Love the crates!!! They are going on my weekend To Do List
Sarah
OMGoodness! I love them, too!!! Super-duper cute craft storage!
Capturing Joy with Kristen Duke
LOVE your crates. You took ‘em from drab to FAB! (Did you see 1825 featured your bookcase?)
Capturing Joy with Kristen Duke recently posted..Decorating with Pictures at How to Nest for Less
Loretta | A Finn In The Kitchen
Woo hoo! You did it! Congrats on finishing the race. Now you’re making me want to make another trip to Joann’s with my coupons. You also reminded me to pick up some stain. The little jar I have looks too orange…
Have a good week ladies!
Loretta | A Finn In The Kitchen recently posted..Taco Stuffed Poblano Peppers
Beverly
Wow, these are really cute. I love the numbers on them. I could think of several places were I could use these.
Have a great week,
Bev
Beverly recently posted..Crocheted Purse as a Vase
Rachel
LOVE this idea! I’m SO doing this in my craft room. Thanks for the idea. I love your blog!
Mandy @ Sugar Bee Crafts
Thanks for linking to Take-A-Look Tuesday over at http://www.SugarBeeCrafts.com – you were featured today!
–Mandy, Sugar Bee Crafts
Mandy @ Sugar Bee Crafts recently posted..Showing Off – Reader Feature
Dana
Love the crates! I’ve seen them in JoAnn’s and thought about painting them, but staining them is even better.
Dana recently posted..Spa-aaaaah! Bring out the candy, it’s time for our annual Girlfriend Getaway!
Dave Cearley
For great results on new wood or old gray wood, I heartily recommend briwax. It’s a wax with the tint already added, and gives amazing results. It’s one of the secrets of furniture builders recreating that antique look quickly and easily. About $12 online.
Donna Wilkes
Love the numbered crate idea, but that craft room is awesome!!!
NataLee Callahan
Sometimes the simplest projects are the best! I fully intend to copy this awesome project.
Gretchen@BoxyColonial
Love those! They look great with the two stacked and on your shelves. I think dark walnut is the universal stain color because it’s SO pretty.
Gretchen@BoxyColonial recently posted..Public Service Announcement Post/ Excuse for Cute Beagle Pics
Brooke
Love this idea! I’ve seen crates made, but buying is even easier. I love the stained look. Thanks so much for sharing. You girls have the best ideas! And congrats on surviving Tough Mudder- how fun!
Brooke recently posted..Happy Birthday, Mom!
Natalie @ Sophisticated Yellow
Love the rustic crates… and congratulations on the Tough Mudder!
Beth @ Whole New Leaf
These are beautiful. I love how they fit in your craft room bookcase. Definitely pinning for future reference. Thanks for the inspiration!
Suzanne
This is such a great idea! Love the number detail that you added to them. It gives them a sweet vintage industrial look to them. Would love to have you link up to ‘Saturday Sparks’ if you have a chance.
Thanks for the inspiration,
Suzanne
Pieced Pastimes
Kaysi @ Keeping It Simple
I absolutely love these Kelli! I’m featuring you tonight on MMM!
Lisa From HouseOfFabForLess
Popping over from Cedar Hill Ranch Link Party. These are DARling! Love them. I have 9 crates in my basement waiting for a makeover so I will be incorporating these in!
DesignedByBH
I love these! I keep telling myself I’m going to buy some unfinished crates to finish…now I have a great idea to go by! Thanks for sharing!
Jenna
Those are so great! Too bad we don’t have a Joann’s.
Laura
I love your crates! I shared them with my readers on my pretty spring projects post, thanks for sharing your ideas!
http://make-life-lovely.blogspot.com/2013/03/pretty-spring-projects-roundup.html
Holly Lefevre
Oh my! You ladies are crazy good…LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these!
Terri
Of course, I found you through a pin bc I am looking to use crates under my son’s bed for storage and love the design of yours. But that isn’t what made me comment. It was when I scrolled down the page and saw your FABULOUS craft shelves and organization that made me comment.
Very nice! and inspirational! I am pinning the photo of the shelves too.
Thanks for sharing!
lollyjane
Well thank you, Terri! Welcome! (:
Inspire Me Heather
Your crates look great and so beautiful on your bookshelf! I’ve got this linked to my crates post too today, for inspiration!
Inspire Me Heather recently posted..project: crates
Sam @ The Junk House
I love these so much that I actually made one for myself!
http://thejunkhouse.blogspot.com/2013/04/easy-numbered-crate.html
Thanks for the inspiration!
SOME
hello!
wondering – you reference a 40% off coupon so we can create these lovely crates for less… are you able to refer/advise where to get this?
thanks!
lollyjane
JoAnn’s free app has coupons available 24/7! So does Hobby Lobby’s app! We got the crates from JoAnn’s but they let you use coupons from HL and Michaels on top of theirs. SCORE!