Sunday, April 14, 2013

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!










Follow Me on Pinterest 

Funky Junk

It's OverflowingPoofy Cheeks . The Honeysuckle Bus StopOne More Time EventsThe Graphics FairySweet Anne Designs - Sweet Sharing Monday My Uncommon Slice of Suburbiavif187Homespun HappeningscraftionarySweet Anne Designs - Sweet Sharing Monday

28 comments:

  1. The copper hammered handles are perfect for this piece, Donna! T. http://tickledpinkwoman.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. LOL....your posts always make me smile! Love the Italian shelf! It wears the turquoise well...:) Nice job! Have fun hunting!

    Blessings, Vicky
    Life On Willie Mae Lane

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful it is, Goddess! I, too, am enamored with the copper; adore, ADORE copper! Carry on. Waiting on the coronation!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Donna I love it,amazing transformation and I love your play on words,i'm just saying :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hey Donna; This Crate/Shelf looks absolutely Beautiful!! I Love the colors that you used and it turned out so well. I bet people are gonna fight to be able to take this one home with them!!
    Take Care :-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. How pretty! Love the name too! You always do awesome things with your graphics! You've got an eye for it for sure! I'm glad to see you admit you won't stick to your list and I'm glad you gave up on the "less"!!! Have fun on your crawl!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love what you did with the Frenchman....Love Italians !!! :)
    The handles are perfect.'
    Over from Honeysuckle...come see me when you can.

    ReplyDelete
  8. You adorable nut, whatever nationality it is, it is pretty. Have fun in Charleston. I am a wee bit jealous I tell ya. hugs, Olive

    ReplyDelete
  9. That's quite a transformation for a crate that can't decide which country it belongs to, lol. Love all you did for that crate, it's great looking and can be used for something besides, well...a crate.
    Now if I just knew how you did all the magic on the pc for it. Think I need to take classes or something. I'm way too digitally challenged. Never heard for iPiccy. Enjoy your blog very much, look forward to seeing what you'll do next. Happy Days

    ReplyDelete
  10. That looks amazing! Are you having a "turquoise crush," too? I sure am and cannot get enough of it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Donna,
    Thank you for sharing this cute transformation at my party.

    Blessings,
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  12. Very cute shelf crate. Love the graphics you used and the wash. I'd love for you to share at Transformed Tuesday. http://pjhdesignsoneofakind.blogspot.com/2013/04/transformed-tuesday-34-features.html I'm a new follower.

    Hugs,
    Peggy~PJH Designs

    ReplyDelete
  13. Donna this is gorgeous! I would love for you to share this at the Pretty Things Link Party at twelveOeight!!

    xo, Tanya
    http://twelveoeight.blogspot.com/2013/04/pretty-things-16-link-party-and.html

    ReplyDelete
  14. To quote my students - "OMG". Your crate is amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is so cute~!
    Love it...
    Your newest follower...
    Jen @ Lace Crazy

    ReplyDelete
  16. I am LOVING this paint/wash mix!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Congratulations Donna, you are the winner of my $25 Amazon gift card Give-A-way. You should be hearing from Amazon, if you don't please let me know. Thank you for entering and thank you for following my blog :)
    Steve

    ReplyDelete
  18. Stunning! I love it :-)

    Linda @ With A Blast

    ReplyDelete
  19. This is beautiful! Thanks for sharing at Give Me the Goods Monday! Hope you party with us again next week!

    http://www.marriedfiling-jointly.com/2013/04/give-me-goods-week-4.html

    ~Chelsea @ Married Filing Jointly

    ReplyDelete
  20. It looks great! Very creative! I love the color. Thank you for sharing this at Rustic Restorations Weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  21. This is simply fabulous! Thanks so much for sharing! : ) hugs and more hugs!!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Nice job. I may have to try this myself. Susan @ throughmyporchwindow.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

I enjoy reading all of your comments and will always answer with email. I will try to track you down if you show up as a "no reply" commenter to let you know. Friends are like that!