The Lettered Cottage

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Spring Craft

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Kate’s hosting a Spring craft link party over at her blog today, so I thought I’d link up the soda crate project I had fun putting together the other day for our Spring mantel display…

I started with an old Coca-Cola soda crate…

…and this cast iron “Antiques” plaque I picked up at Hobby Lobby for $4.99 during a 50% off sale…

Basically, I just painted the wood parts of the soda crate with some leftover “Moonlight White” (Ben. Moore) paint, and then screwed on the plaque with some old screws I had.

After that, I brushed some more Moonlight White paint onto the plaque and before it had a chance to dry, I wiped it off of the letters, arrow, and screw heads with my finger and a damp paper towel.

Voila!

I love most soda crates just the way they are, but this one didn’t look right in our room color-wise, so I thought I’d try something a little different with it just for kicks. Happy decorating, and hope to see you over at Kate’s!

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Comments

    • Layla

      I was wondering if anyone would say that. 😉 And to answer your question- yes. I am crazy. Like I said, it’s all about the kicks, sister! 😀

  2. Elisabeth

    I was wondering how you did the Antique sign. I’m glad you gave specific instructions. Wipe off the paint while it is wet. So simple, but I would have been stumped. 😀

    Layla, I may have mentioned it before, but I’m so impressed with how you visit people’s blogs. You are just so sweet!

    • Layla

      Well thank you, Elisabeth! Blogs are fun and it’s always a treat to meet new, like-minded folks! 🙂

  6. Gina

    How funny, I “pinned” your painted white crate yesterday and even went to our outdoor storage building to get one out to paint. I had three but they were full of junk so I need to find something to put the junk in first. But I am planning to do this. I may just paint or stencil something on the side. Planning to do that to another different size crate today!! 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration! 🙂

    • Layla

      Thanks, Gina! I’ve got plans to stencil another soda crate, too! Happy decorating! 😀

  7. Fairfield House

    Layla,
    I mentioned I liked this crate in my comment on your mantel. At that time I didn’t know you had waved your magic wand over it! 😀
    Knowing it’s a TLC one of a kind makes me like it even more! Thanks for your tutorial.
    Your Crazy Friend (with a table in the middle of her bathroom),
    Deborah

  8. shaunna

    Love it. It’s okay to change a few things up every now and then, right? I was thinking the other day…she had to have made that–it’s awesome! So glad you had the kicks to do it!
    🙂
    shaunna

    • Layla

      Heck yeah it’s okay to change things up! That’s my middle name ya know. Layla IChangeThingsUpAlot Palmer. 😉

  9. Laurie V

    I love the idea, but I so could not have painted over the Coca-Cola logo, and wonderful yellow patina, but that’s just me.
    Oh, and I do fancy that lovely green & white picnic basket. It just warms my heart.

    • Layla

      Thanks, Laurie! I love that green and white combo, too- hence, the painting of the yellow & red soda crate! 😀

  10. AB

    As soon as I saw that original coke crate I thought, “Oh my goodness, the girl is gonna get emails about that one!” Hahaha! I probably would’ve painted over a Sprite one, but not Coke:) However I love how it turned out and how it looks in the fireplace–with that oh so fab green tin. The way you painted the sign and screwing it to the crate: GENIUS!

    • Layla

      SO funny! I was actually looking for a 7up crate that I wouldn’t have to paint, but only found the yellow and red Coke one. Like they say, “nothing a little white paint can’t fix”! 😀

  11. hello haha narf

    oh how i love cast iron, but i never would have thought of playing with paint the way you did. i’m so going to experiment like this. especially since i recently picked up a quart miss tint (misstint? mistint?) that is a lovely pale shade of green…for only $3. now i have my first project, thanks to you!

    • Layla

      Spank you ma’am! Sure do appreciate your kind comment today, and happy decorating! 😀

    • Layla

      Normally I would’ve too, Mallory- but that yellow and red combo just wasn’t workin’ for us this time around. Luckily there are hundreds more of those suckers out there in case we do go with red and yellow next time around! 🙂

  14. Sarah

    I love how the “antiques” sign looks white-washed! Im a sucker for white-wash right now! So springy! Your mantel looks great Layla!!!

    • Layla

      Hey Ashley! You can check out yesterday’s post (that includes info about our wood wall art) by clicking on the Spring mantel display link. Happy Spring! 🙂

  18. Trish S

    Well done…there’s nothing that being a little creative can’t solve!
    I have an antique tool box that my husband thinks is his and I would love to paint it, we”ll see who wins.

  19. [email protected]

    I love it! But…(timid smile) 🙂 I’d have sold the AWESOME coke crate and bought a lesser quality one Nd had money leftover for more fun projects. The brighter color coke crates sell for more $$$ and a little extra $ might have come in handy somewhere else for TLC DIY goodness.

    But yep, that’s a great project. 🙂

    • Layla

      Thanks, Wendy! I actually bought the Coke crate for $10 at an antique store a couple of weeks ago because it wasn’t the color combo I was looking for. 😀 I wanted something I wouldn’t feel bad about painting over, and that bad boy had “Antiques” written all over it! 😀

  20. Lisa~

    What is it about a big ol’ pile of suitcases and picnic baskets that makes me swoon? Really, If only my husband could figure out that I am so easy to please. 🙂 Lisa~

    • Layla

      Ha! 😀 Who knew, right? Just jazzin’ up some “junk” to make it more “us”, that’s all! 😀

  23. Barbara F

    Layla – thank you so much for painting that coke crate!!! I have a soda crate that was painted bright blue when I got it. I worked so hard to get that blue paint off but the crate is now pretty beat up and almost impossible to read. Paint will give my crate new life – thanks for giving me the idea (and the nudge)!!!

  27. gio

    OMG, i can’t believe you painted that white, i’m all for whitewashing, my motto after all is: “if it’s not moving,paint it white” but that coke crate is worth at least $25 🙂

    • Layla

      Well, according to the price tag I found on it the day I bought it, it was only worth $10- LOL! 😀

  29. Carol

    As a red & yellow person, it killed me to see you paint over the crate, but I know my grandmother would turn over in her grave if she saw some of her furniture that I have painted . Now I have to visit my sister so I can find the old Coca Cola crate I know I left in my parents’ garage. Thanks for the idea.

  30. kelly

    susan’s comment is funny. my husband is a die hard coke fan, he would have had a hard time with that one but design wise it looks so cute! i love the way the letters are darker!!

  31. Leslie @ Salvaged Spaces

    Hey, it’s your home! I paint lots of things I shouldn’t. I love old items with history, and I know that lots of people cherish their old advertisement pieces, but I think your white antique soda crate looks perfect! It definitely is at home in the lettered cottage. 🙂

    I also really, really love the butterflies on the wall! Great job!

  32. Elizabeth

    Layla,

    I have been following along on your adventures for a long, long time and I have to tell you that I love your blog, but more than that I love the fact that with all of your success you are such a kind, friendly blogger.

    I love that you share your tips, stay true to your roots as they say and do your own things, you do not conform to what other people say or want.

    Thank you for sharing yourself and your talent, for your spirit and your always positive attitude. It always makes me smile to visit here.

    Elizabeth