As soon as I saw this tutorial over on Ashley’s blog I knew I would have to try it myself! I ran to Michael’s to buy my supplies:
crate ($5/each)
“grass” ($4/bag: I used one bag per crate)
steel wool ($4)
I already had this stuff on hand:
white vinegar
paint brushes
tea
rub-on letters
burlap
I followed the steps from Ashley to “age” my crates; basically you let the wool soak in the vinegar for about 20 minutes which creates a brownish solution. Then you just rub the steel wool on the crate. Once it dries you take a paint brush and “paint” the crate with tea. This adds another coat of stain.
I added a couple of tweaks of my own:
Instead of a stencil, I used some rub-on letters I had on hand (from the Michael’s dollar bin).
Note: do not put the letters on before doing the aging process. The liquid made the letters slip right off!
Luckily I had extras!
I didn’t want their Easter goodies falling out of the slats
so I decided to staple burlap to the inside to create a lining.
I had a little helper who could hardly wait to arrange the “grass.”
I love the rustic look of the crates and they are so much cuter than the store-bought baskets I have used in the past. Another perk is that they make pretty cool decor in the meantime!
Oliver’s crate had just been given a touch-up.
And tonight, after the stain had completely dried.
My stain came out a little more orange than Ashley’s but I still like it.
I think the longer you leave the steel wool in the vinegar, the more it turns to a rust-like color.
If you are going for a more grey color just don’t leave the wool soaking as long.
I think the longer you leave the steel wool in the vinegar, the more it turns to a rust-like color.
If you are going for a more grey color just don’t leave the wool soaking as long.