DIY Whitewashed Vintage Crate Label Caddy

Hi there, Friends! It's no secret that I adore decorating my home with vintage treasures. Today I've combined my love of vintage with my fondness for crafting with clearance and a simple DIY technique to recreate this lovely caddy.  

Ever since I ordered several vintage crate labels from Melissa's Antiques, I've wanted to use them for something special. I think the old designs are just gorgeous. 

Then I found this wooden caddy on clearance at Ross. It had a few random paint splotches on it, but the price was right and I had an idea for the paint finish. 

As you know, I'm partial to shades of aqua but I wanted to give this caddy a softer, time worn look to complement the vintage crate label. I decided to create a whitewashed finish using Americana Decor chalk paint. {I'll share how I used the Americana Decou-Page, in another step of the project.} 

As DecoArt Blogger Outreach member, I received these supplies from DecoArt. See full disclosure here.

For whitewash, the paint needs to be thinned, so for every quarter sized dollop of paint, add a few drops of water. Mix it thoroughly and then paint it over the surface, as pictured. More or less water can be added as desired. You may want to experiment on a small section before proceeding. 

Next, before the paint dries, use a barely damp cloth to remove the excess wash. Work in sections; applying the whitewash and wiping, before moving on to the next section. If this sounds complicated, believe me--it's not! The entire process on this caddy took me about 10 minutes. Over the years, I've used this technique on everything from crafts to furniture.

It doesn't take long to dry. Once the surface is dry to the touch, it's ready to add the vintage label or embellishment of your choice. Postcards, scrapbook trim, fabric or even photos can be used. This was my first time to use Americana Decou-Page. I like the subtle matte finish and that it doesn't leave the lacquered look often associated with decoupage. The most important thing is to use a very thin coat and smooth the label as you apply it. It can be applied both as an adhesive and as a sealant. 

Ta-dah! 

This post contains affiliate links for suggested supplies. See full disclosure here.

These wooden caddies are so versatile--almost anything could be added. Bottles of orange soda would be adorable, but since I'm not a soda drinker, I upcycled bottles as vases for rosemary blooms and it smells amazing! 

Have you used whitewash before? 

MY HEARTFELT THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING FOR FEATURING THIS POST: