I just couldn't part with this old crate

My mom brought me an old fruit crate that she found during a trip to Connecticut. I loved the age and rustic appeal that it had, but I couldn't imagine it working in a practical way as a crate. The sides and bottom were made from thin boards and some of those boards were split, but I just couldn't part with the crate.  So, I began carefully taking it apart. 

I had intentions of using the two ends to make signs out of. They were made from thicker boards and had a trim piece of wood at the top and bottom. They had old nails holding them together and a lot of rustic charm.

The first sign I wanted to make was going to say FARM FRESH. I found a simple font and printed the letters out on paper in the size that I wanted to use as a template.

The next step was to color the back of the letters with chalk.

Then placing the paper with the chalk side down and the letters facing up, I traced each letter with a pencil to make a chalk outline on the wood.

I painted the letters with white paint and outlined them with a permanent black sharpie marker.

I sanded the paint a little to distress it and sprayed a clear matte finish over it to protect it. Then I added two eyelets to the top so that I could attach rusty wire to use as a hanger and then...

...more inspiration hit!

Remember the thin boards from the bottom of the crate that were splitting?

 I decided to cut 3 smaller signs from them to hang from this sign.

Using the same chalk, trace and paint technique, I made signs saying EGGS, DAIRY and PRODUCE.

While I was cutting the smaller signs I also drilled small holes on the top and bottom of each end of each sign. I wanted to run rusty wire through them to hang them on the FARM FRESH sign. I also attached two eyelets to the bottom of the FARM FRESH sign and started weaving the wire through each sign.

Once the wire was ran through each sign and attached to the main part - this sign was finished!

I only wish I had space to hang it in my own home. I love how it turned out and that I was able to use the crate!

Here's what I did with the other end of the crate.

There are a few small pieces of the sides of the crate left. Maybe inspiration will hit me at some point and I'll have the perfect project to use them on.

'til next time,

Adina

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