A Farmhouse Crate Christmas Centerpiece
I’m in the midst of 12 Days of Christmas, featuring loads of holiday goodness. On this the 9th day, I’m sharing a simple farmhouse crate Christmas centerpiece that doesn’t involve an excessive amount of time or materials, but promises to look great on your dining room table.
If you’ve missed any of the previous days, you can catch up with all of the projects and tours here. And if you enjoy vintage crate-related projects, you’ll find more here and here.
A while back I discovered this wonderfully aged and dovetailed crate (or toolbox) at a garage sale for just a couple of bucks.
I use crates regularly in my antique booth since they make great displays, but I also enjoy crafting and decorating with them.
In fact, my brand new eBook–25 Vintage Items Often Overlooked & Undervalued at Garage Sales–has a whole section on why you should buy crates, along with a bunch of photos and vintage-y ideas.
Note: This post contains affiliate links for [the same or similar] products used to complete this project. This is both for your convenience as well as to support my website, since I receive a small compensation whenever you click on a link and make any sort of purchase, for which I thank you 🙂 See my full disclosure here.
Stencil Your Farmhouse Crate
This is one of my favorite Christmas stencils and happily it fit the crate perfectly. I use blue painters tape or green frog tape to hold the stencil in place.
You’ll need a stencil brush for this project. I really like using chalk paint to stencil with because stenciling requires a “dry brush” technique and chalk paint is much “drier” than acrylic craft paints.
[Notice I photographed the wrong color paint, LOL. I used white for this project.]
Here’s a recent video that contains some stenciling tips:
I placed it quite a bit off-center (lower on the crate) since it’s such a tall crate. I think it makes the piece more visually appealing.
Fill Your Crate with Pine Boughs
Next you’ll want to fill your crate with some greens–real or faux. I collect bits and pieces of faux pine all year for Christmas crafts and for filling things like this crate, as well as vintage skates and small baskets.
I ended up using and old wreath that I could sort of fold in half and tuck inside the crate. Use whatever you have on hand to make it simple and easy!
Add Berries & Candles to your Christmas Centerpiece
I used bittersweet that you can find along country roads as an accent and tucked in two battery-operated candles (they’re sitting on some plastic containers to give them height).
Bittersweet is one of my favorites.
Try It With Different Colored Candles
I decided to try out another version, just for fun!
I covered dollar store battery-operated candles with vintage music paper and wrapped the greens with a berry garland. I love having the option of two different styles.
For the moment I’m going with the red candles; they look so vibrant against the black of the crate. Do you have a preference?
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Other 12 Days of Christmas posts:
I’d love it if you’d pin me 🙂
Wonderful old crate, love the color and texture of it. Love the stencil, what company is that from? But I had to smile on the bittersweet, I don’t think it grows in Texas, but I do have a sign over my breakfast room window with that on it! Another good idea to make something for Christmas decorating that incorporates simple vintage finds, but looks fabulous put together.
Beautiful job! Love the stenciling! If you were to sell these how would you price them?
BTW I purchased some of your wood salve and it’s great!
Nope! No bittersweet here in Texas, Laura. I wish there was…it’s SO pretty when you can use fresh and not store bought plastics. I also love crates but never seem to do much with them. They are usually storage. Might have to get one out and play with it, Diana! I much prefer the red candles at this time of year.
I just love this, Diana! So simple yet so festive. I’m a crate and box lover, for sure. So anything you gussie up with decorative items like this old crate I will love.
I like the red candles best, but I was also envisioning one big white one with a red plaid ribbon tied around it. Wouldn’t that look cool? But I love your two arrangements just like they are.
And what a good idea to collect the pieces of “pine” during the whole year. I have to be careful how much of that type of thing that isn’t going to be used immediately I bring into my house which I share with my daughter. She is a chronic purger and doesn’t understand the concept of a “stash!”
Thanks for this handy little decor idea!
Beautiful centerpiece, Diana! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
love this idea. Our bittersweet in Northern Michigan is orange. I use it in my Autumn décor. So I would opt for the artificial red berries.