The Italian Job - Crate or Shelf?

It was an Italian job.  A French wine crate who wanted to be Italian.  What was I to do?

Well, of course, go to The Graphics Fairy and help this crate change its nationality.


I do not have a before photo, but I know you have seen it somewhere in one of my vintage shopping posts.

 
You know these crates - just simple boards nailed together with a paper label on one side and an embossed label on the other.



 
 Yes, it is another post about that turquoise-y paint wash I mixed up.  The crate can be seen under that toolbox.

So you have seen The Charlotte shelf, now the wine crate, and guess what is next?

Toolbox!

I promise I am now out of that particular color wash.

 I went to The Graphics Fairy and decided on three Rome images.

The first a vintage postcard of the Coliseum.

 The second was a map of Rome - loved the red and black graphics.

 The third image was a Roma postmark - again with the red and black.

I took the three of them over to iPiccy and played with overlays and color addition and subtraction.

I created an image to my liking.  Notice I changed the red on the map to turquoise to match the paint wash.

Next I took the image to Block and made a small poster.

I had to fit the poster within the confines of the crate's bottom -

which meant trimming a little here and a little there.

Then I Mod Podged the four sheets into the crate careful that the image edges matched.

I used two coats on top to seal the image.

All of this took a couple of days to make sure it was very dry.

Now for the distressing.  I decided to orient the crate on its side for a shelf.  So one side became the top on which I used a quatre foil stamp in timber brown StazOn ink.
 










 Here is the embossed label.  I made sure there was plenty of turquoise in the lettering.

Using the ink pad I rubbed the timber brown across the surface.

Make sure to use permanent ink for this step.

Also after it has cured for a day, seal it with a craft varnish.

 I used the ink pad for the inside distressing.

Left side distressed.  Right side plain (and sane!)

Completely distressed - just like me!

 Copper hammered handles were added to each side.  

Just in case someone might want to use it as a crate.

I think it wants to be Italian and a shelf.

I'm just saying.

Well, it has gotten its wish.  It may be embossed as being French, but it is dressed in Italian style.

(Yes, I know i gave it Early American handles! It's a piece of wood - it will never notice.)

See, I told you it was a shelf in crate's clothing!












Well I survived all the fluffing and stuffing last week at the antique mall.  I finished this shelf.  It now carries an Italian passport and seems to be happy.  I know you are happy there is only one more post using the turquoise paint wash.  You do know I could mix up some more.  (Scary music playing!)

I am off on a Low Country Crawl looking for a number of things.  I have made a list, but I know I will not stick to it.  I am hoping to find some rusty and crusty little orphans out there to bring home.

See y'all!

 

Funky Junk

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