Soda Crate Storage

Originally I made this crate for a guest post over with Angie at Knick of Time, and I decided that since a year has gone by it was time I showed it right here on my own blog.



Last year in Minnesota our never ending Winter delayed the start of garage sale and thrifting season and I'm hoping that doesn't happen again this year.  In '13 when the snow finally cleared, I picked up this little crate for a buck - because I can't seem to leave a crate of any kind behind.

The sides are metal straps, and I left them the color that they were, a brownish red, and cream color.  I removed the sides, and popped off the little star.

I wanted the crate to stand up a bit taller so I added some wood shims to each end.

At the time I was a fairly new owner of a Silhouette Cameo.  In the past I would hand print most of my lettering which was time consuming.  The Cameo lets me crank out a project in a couple hours, depending on how much time has passed since I last used it often I have to re-read the directions.

I used several brands of chalk paint to create the weathered look.  Some La Craie, CeCe Caldwell, and Annie Sloan in white, then I sanded and waxed the crate with clear.

We have a little open pantry area in our kitchen that we tend to stack juice boxes, and other beverages, you know - important stuff like soda and beer - so I thought this little crate was the perfect size to give the illusion those cans are stacked there on purpose.

If I had a bunch of cute vintage bottles I might use this as a display, but then the cans would have to go back to lining up along the wall, which wasn't cute.

One end of the crate reads "soda", the other "beverages, in case I need to specify.  Not bad for a buck purchase.  Maybe I should put a little tin cup on the side and see if I can collect .5¢ per each beverage?