It is always amazing to me which project does me in, consumes my time, and makes me want to start looking up numbers for a nice stay in a padded room without paint, glue, or glitter to haunt me.
This crate did it for me.
It all started out innocently enough. I found it at a thirft store. I had entered a thrift store one time in my life up until about two months ago, and then I started reading about these places that people go and don't have to pay full price for things you plan on dismantling and forming into something you call a 'craft' project. I went, I fell in love (per usual).
They have baskets I usually spend 10 dollars on for less than a buck, and they had this really cool crate (I recently bought something similiar at Michael's for 6 dollars WITH a 40% off coupon).
It was less than two dollars at the thrift store.
But then...I couldn't decide what I was going to do with it. I don't know why this tormented me. Fill it with dried flowers? Paint it black and do something kitchen-ish with it? Bathroom shelf? ...maybe. After weeks, and no real inspiration, I pulled out white paint and just went to work....
...it took about 5 coats of paint...if not more to get it covered....and not even well. It's wood, what's the deal? I used a tube of paint, I have a feeling I should have gone with spray paint.
I decided to 'antique' it. I'd read home-grown techniques online, but decided not to risk it this time around, and bought some crackle paint. I used the whole stinking bottle and no real crackle!!! AND then...
...I gave up and hung it in all it's imperfection. I bought some antique mason jars for 3 bucks each, and 12 baby ducks (from a local store sort of like Oriental Trading called US Toys), made some bath salt with a combination of homemade epsom salt, baking powder and scent, hung it on the wall in my blue/silver and white/duck themed bathroom, and got over it.
Ducks in a jar...disturbing? cute? Such a fine line, I stand on the side of cute. I may evening replace the jar on top with a duck, I'm a loooong way from finished with this bathroom....so it stays for now.
Linking To:
Funky Junk
10 comments
Way great idea and Funky Junks theme this weekend, how on top of things are you. I like ducks in a jar. At first I thought it was something pickled. Then saw it was bathroom themed. Picked duck, I'm pickled pink.
Don't worry all your ducks in a row, albeit in a jar in a row is still cute. I've seen them in apothecary jars before and they looked adorable.
How clever! I love your idea!
You crate girls are killin' me. I have to go hang a crate on a wall. I think that's the only thing I haven't done yet! Your display is so cute. The ducks totally made me smile. :)
Donna
Gotta love it; ducks in a jar - that's so unexpected! Pam @ Sallygoodin
One of my favorite things until it broke in a move was a trash can we had for for the kids that had floating ducks in blue water at the bottom. Since your bathroom is blue and silver, it's too bad there isn't a way to add blue water and have them somehow suspended (not floating on the top) in the jars. I think it's cute as it is too! I just thought the blue in the jars would really bounce off the white tray. And since I don't get to craft I get to live that life through you.
I LOVE this idea!
I have a crate somewhere...I think!
I KNOW I have a vintage jar that I was looking for something to put in it! Ducks are perfect! Not creepy at all!
I think you should put a bigger duck on the top of your shelf! Soooo cute!!!
It's just precious - ♥ what you created with the crate! ♥Laurie from Scene of the Grime
I love it! I think the ducks in the jar are brilliant!
I had a crate like that a while back. I am sad to say I got rid of it because I had the same dilemma. Follow me back to My Heart's Desire.
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