easy crate revamp

ByAshley Published Updated

When the awesome people at Apartment Guide contacted us with a challenge they had for us, we were more than happy to oblige. {It’s kind of what we love to do, after all. ;}} The challenge: To makeover, revamp, repurpose or create something for our home, for under 100 smackeroos. So when I literally stumbled across this crate, I wasn’t quite sure what I was doing with it. For a mere fifty dollars I was totally in love.

It was totally great as it was, but I thought I’d {gasp!} throw in a little fun and give it a personal touch for our home. The first part to one of our favorite songs {and favorite shows!} fit the bill. Bob Dylan’s Forever Young, anyone? Lately, I’ve been a little sentimental. Sometimes I wish they really could stay forever young. Sometimes, I’m glad they won’t because I think it gets even better. ;} It’s a vicious thing, parenthood.

Here’s how we did it:

After wiping it down again, and again, and again…{I’d LOVE to know what this thing was used for back in the day} I broke out some foam letters I had. {You can find these at any craft store-I’ve had mine for years} The initial plan was to dip the letters in paint, and go from there for more of a rustic look. Because I didn’t want to ruin the crate, it took a little planning ahead of time. So I cut a piece of butcher paper to size, and mapped out the first three lines of the song. As it turns out, the letters were the wrong size, and were much too large for what I wanted to do. I didn’t want to overwhelm the crate with paint, but rather give it a touch of something fun.

So, onto the projector we moved. We simply printed the song lyrics out on some transparency, {font = chunky. yes, I am obsessed.} adjusted it to the right size, and started tracing. From there, careful to cover the dark lines, we filled it in with paint and a small brush. I went behind it with an exacto knife and touched up any little mess ups that occurred, as well as scraped away the paint in a few of the places, to make it look older, and distressed.

So there you have it! Our new little addition to our space. It was definitely time for a bit of a spruce up.

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138 Comments

  1. this is sweet, awesome and just right! perfect!

  2. i couldn’t love your crate more. i must find a way to use those lyrics now. they’re perfect.

  3. little tip in case you don’t already know, if you use a water color pencil to do your outlining, you can wipe it away with water if you don’t cover the lines. I choose a shade similar to my paint color to make it easier to cover and just sponge off anything that still shows. Works great!

    1. hey! great tip. I’ll store that one away for later. I have problems with old, stained or oily wood. This one was a bit of a tricky surface.

  4. Pat Upton says:

    Love the shipping crate re-do! I have one in my garage I got years ago at an auction for a couple of dollars. It was actually a WWII soldier’s trunk. I have hung onto it all these years with the intent on doing something like what you show here! Thanks for the incentive! BTW, I liked Apartment Guide on FB!

  6. I liked ‘Apartment Guide’ on Facebook.

  7. I am actually in the market for my very frist apartment, so this would super helpful! I just “liked” AG on FB. Also, very cute crate. I would have never thought to use it as a side table.

  9. Liz Piccione-Volger says:

    I like Apartment Guide on Facebook!

  10. Liz Piccione-Volger says:

    Great Giveaway! I just started following Apartment Guide on Twitter

  11. Liz Piccione-Volger says:

    I couldn’t help but share the Apartment Guide link on Facebook!

  12. I liked the apartment guide on Facebook! 🙂 have a blessed day yall!

  13. Liz Piccione-Volger says:

    Guess What? I pinned this link on Pinterest!

  14. Meg Cortijo says:

    I liked Apartment Guide on Facebook.

  15. I liked Apartment Guide on Facebook! Thanks for the giveaway! Love the crate~

  16. That crate is AWESOME. Love it! And….I liked Apartment Guide on FB.

  17. Love Love Love that crate and that saying. I liked Apartment Guide and could sure use that gift certificate. I am about to close on a 1917 Bungalow, a dream of mine for a number of years.

  18. nancy reid says:

    I like apartment guide on facebook as nancy reid

  19. Cat Hunter says:

    Love the crate and I love that you left the wood natural to make the lettering POP.

    I also love the slipcovered couch – please let me know where I can find such slipcover as I have been looking everywhere. Thanks!

  20. nancy reid says:

    I follow Apartment on twitter as @eyewonit

  21. Stephanie says:

    I like Apartment Guide on FB (Stephanie B.H.)

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    I follow them on Google + (stephanie huddleston)

  25. I follow Apt Guide on facebook.

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  27. I added Apt Guide to my google circles.

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    i like apartment guide on fb

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    i follow AG on twitter

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    i circled AG on google+

  32. Erin Young says:

    i tweeted about this giveaway. 🙂

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    Like Apartment Guide on Facebook
    Jessie c.

  34. Jessie C. says:

    Follow on twitter@tcarolinep

  35. Jessie C. says:

    follow on Google+
    JC C

  40. Michelle Wright says:

    Love the crate. I liked on FB.

  41. kate santeusanio says:

    very creation and good idea!!!

  42. I like Apartment Guide on Facebook with my username Mary Happymommy.

  43. I follow Apt Guide on Twitter–mami2jcn

  44. tweet–https://twitter.com/#!/mami2jcn/status/172049465337839616

  45. Margaret Hong says:

    I live in an apartment and it’s nice to see decorating ideas for a small unit. I “liked” Apartment Guide on Facebook.

  46. I like Apartment Guide on Facebook as Elena Istomina. Thank you for the giveaway!

  47. Follow Apartment Guide on Twitter @ElenaIstomina

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    thanks for the giveaway!

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    i follow apt guide on twitter @aes529

  53. Amanda Sakovitz says:

    i added them to my google circle as amanda sakovitz

  54. Weatherly says:

    That’s a fantastic revamp! I love the color you chose for the letters, it goes perfectly with the wood. Thanks for the giveaway! I liked them on Facebook 🙂
    Weatherly

  57. Weatherly says:

    I’m following them on Twitter! @notwaverly
    Weatherly

  60. It took A Lot, but I figured out how to create a google circle, and then add apartment guide, but I DID IT!!!

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    apt guide fb fan courtney bella

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    apt guide twitter follower @meandbells

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  66. I liked Apt. Guide on FB Thanks for the chance to win!

  69. lOVE this – thank you for sharing

  70. Manette Gutterman says:

    I liked Apartment Guide on Facebook!

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    l like apt guide on fb

  72. Suzanne S. says:

    I shared this giveaway thru twitter

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    I follow Apartment Guide on Twitteer.

    @april_pinkchip

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    I follow APartment Guide on Google +

    April Taylor

  76. Following Apt Guide on twitter (@channynn).

  78. Kelly Duncan says:

    I liked Apartment guide on facebook!!!

  79. Kelly Duncan says:

    I am so excited to see this post of yours. I have a chest like this that was my grandmothers. It is at least 90 years old. Thanks for the idea!!

  80. Liked Apartment Guide via Facebook as Stacey Bico.

  81. Following apartment guide via twitter as @staceyrenee711

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    I follow them via google + (Jen Moyer)

  90. I liked on FB. Thanks for the chance

  91. I liked Apartment Guide on facebook

  92. I am following Apartment Guide on Twitter

  93. I tweeted about the contest too, thanks for the giveaway!

  97. I like Apartment Guide on Facebook 🙂

  98. I follow Apartment Guide on Twitter 🙂

  99. Like Apartment Guide on Facebook

  100. follow Apartment Guide on twitter

  102. follow Apartment Guide on google+

  103. Love the words. Love the crate. & I love that canvas with the letter “m”. If you made the canvas, what font is the “m” & how did you acheive the distressed look?

  104. Shared about the giveaway on Twitter @dilibertophoto

  105. I liked Apartment Guide on Facebook

    I already have a plan for that Home Depot gift card 😉

  106. I also followed Apartment Guide on Twitter. 🙂

  107. liked on fb

  108. ♡♥♬ Louis ♬♥♡ says:

    I like Apartment Guide on facebook (Louis H Uffmire)

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    following @aptguide on twitter @left_the_stars

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  112. I follow you on twitter @anashct3
    Thanks for this lovely giveaway!

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  113. I added you to my google+ circle
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  116. like AG on fb Julie A Scott Laws
    thanks for the giveaway

  118. I now Like Apartment Guide on Facebook.

  119. Following Apartment Guide on Twitter

  120. Re-tweeted your post about his giveaway!

  122. Angela Seaton says:

    I liked Apartment Therapy on Facebook! =)

  123. Got a Google+ account so I could circle them:P

  124. Liked on facebook

  125. Following on Twitter

  130. I emailed this site to two friends…and love that you made these lyrics come alive!

  131. I like Apartment Guide on Facebook – Cindy A.

  132. I follow Apartment Guide on Twitter – @normawatson

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