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08 April, 2012

Easy Vintage French Planter Box

054I have a fun and easy project to share with you today…my vintage French planter box…made from something that may surprise you…

002 …a box from the clementines that I bought at Christmas! I have been saving this box and waiting for the perfect project…and I think I have found it!

065I also wanted a chance to try out the sample pots of Annie Sloan chalk paint that I bought a while back. I started with two coats of Arles and finished with a skimpy coat of Old White, purposely missing a few spots.


miel de lavande1


Next, I created a label using a portion of a vintage French graphic of a pastry shop ad from…who else?…Karen at The Graphics Fairy! I added my own lettering…Miel de Lavande…lavender honey. I printed it in 8 x 10 size using Photoscape and trimmed the excess.

069Then I aged the label using tea dye Distress Ink applied with a small sea sponge. I attached it with Mod Podge, adding an extra coat of it to the surface of the label.

011 Now all it needed was some lavender to go with the label, so I added several pots and covered them with lots of Spanish moss. I think I am going to try applying several coats of clear polyurethane and leaving it outside in a sheltered area of the patio.  I’ll keep you posted on how it weathers!

020And speaking of weather…it has been beautiful here! I have finally quit waiting for the other shoe to drop and decided that spring is really here! A sign…those little maple helicopters are everywhere! Our co-host Baby Kitty is having a relaxing afternoon on the patio after a stressful morning trip to the vet’s for his shots…ouch!

006 And here’s a final look. Not bad for an old clementine box that I nearly put in recycling, huh? And best of all...it was free! I already had everything I needed! I think I am really going to enjoy it!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my frenchy planter box! Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

Karen at The Graphics Fairy for Brag Monday 
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Beth at The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Anita at Cedar Hill Ranch for Cowgirl Up on Tuesdays

Kristin at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Judy at DIY by Design for Swing into Spring

Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday

Heather and Vanessa at At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special

See you next time! A la prochaine!

77 comments:

  1. Great make over wish I would have saved my clementine box! Laura

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  2. How creative! This is fantastic.
    Brenda

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  3. Debbie, you are so darn smart. Love it. I need to take lessons from you on using the images and transferring them.

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  4. I will never look at a clementine box the same way again!

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  5. Fabulous, Debbie! I love it! What a great repurpose and save for that clementine box. Thank you for sharing the graphic you used, too. The lavendar looks great in it and I hope they do well for you.

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  6. Debbie,
    Great job! I KNEW there had to be something that could be done with those boxes! Hope you had a wonderful Easter.

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  7. Well, darn it! Now I wish I had saved my box like that! You did a great job. It looks OLD and lovely. Love your kitty, too! xo Diana

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  8. You know it's projects like these that make me think I need to save every little box and container that comes in the house!! This is such a neat idea and I love the bee graphic! Brought my girls (bees that is) home from their winter home this weekend!

    bee blessed
    mary

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  9. How clever. I love the look, your letters are perfect. Very pretty.
    Thanks tons for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty

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  10. I love your project! It looks wonderful.

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  11. It looks beautiful! Great graphic choice and the distressing job is fabulous.

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  12. I LOVE LOVE LOVE these projects!! As a terribly non-crafty person you INSPIRE me! Especially since I am just now coming down from an Easter disaster that featured my family re-naming what I thought was brilliance "Easter bunny diarrhea" - oh for the humanity!

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  13. Fabulous! Now...where did I put those old cheese boxes??? Nancy

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  14. You did an amazing job on this project! LOVE it. DOn't you just love the Graphics Fairy!

    xo,
    Ricki Jill

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  15. Great job, Debbie. Love the French writing and the paint job. I have thrown away about 10 of those boxes! Ugh! And the ones I bought yesterday were indeed in cardboard! Good thinking on your part. Linda

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  16. I would have never thought of this. Great makeover. Love the graphic.

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  17. I love it! You are so creative, Debbie....Christine

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  18. Oh that was so clever Debbie. Love the look!~ Happy Monday to you.

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  19. You and your "staff" are right out there with new ideas and this one is so cute. What a great idea. ~m

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  20. I very rarely leave comments since by the time I read a post, it has all been said but I was inspired by this project. I think you did a great job and it came out perfect. The honeycomb look on the kitty was really attention to detail. It fit right in with the references to 'lavender honey' and the honey bee in the graphic.

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  21. Hi Debbie,

    Oh wow! I love it. I made some cute french planters that I posted on my blog. I added some fresh herbs.

    I am still drooling over the pillow you made. It has my name on it and it's so me. :)

    Dee

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  22. Wow...and to think of how many of those boxes I recycled....what a wonderful idea and a great box! Love it!

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  23. How creative your are Debbie! I love this project and will probably have to wait till fall for the box. I've just heard enough of the paints, I can't take it any longer! I have to get some and paint something, anything! These amazing projects all you girls are doing with AS paint and wax, I just have to jump on too. This looks easy enough I think I could do it. I'm bookmarking this post. Poor Baby Kitty! Ouch, I hate shots too………


    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

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  24. Oh yes, you know how I feel about repurposing. Love this!

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  25. I will think twice before tossing a box in the recycle bin, forever more! Great job!

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  26. You know what I think? I think we all need a room with nothing in it but "I am saving this for when I need it". LOL...I threw out something a couple of weeks ago and sure enough one week later it was the perfect thing for a project I was working on...ugh! Your clementine box looks like it came straight out of an old provincial farm house. FABulous! Happy week. xo

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  27. This is why I have stopped throwing things out! LOL My DD will have to deal with all my *treasures* once I'm gone.

    Thanks for the link to the design...I just did like you & printed it out in 8x10. I have an old wooden wine box & I HOPE I can make it look half as cute.

    I'm also working on a bunny pillow...better late than never, huh?

    Hope you had a wonderful holiday & thank you for sharing all your projects with us.

    Hugs,
    Rett

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  28. I love this. I would buy this in a heartbeat at an antique shop, and for lots of $$! Maybe you should buy some more clamentines!
    Carolyn

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  29. Finally, a great use for those clementine boxes! Your lavender planter looks great. I really want to try chalk paint too - too bad I've tossed all my old clementine boxes ;-)

    Kelly

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  30. I love it, Debbie! Karen has the best graphics, doesn't she? You did a beautiful job! Awesome idea saving the crate, beautiful transformation!

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  31. Great makeover, Debbie. I've often hesitated tossing those boxes, but then I always do in the end. This is a darling idea!
    Enjoy the spring weather. It is glorious here!

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  32. I have to say I am impressed, and love what you did with the box!!!! Very creative and talented you are.
    Dolly

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  33. I've been dying to make a box like this. I love yours, and I'm hoping it's still clementine season!

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  34. Great repurposing project! Fantastic result! Our back porch has been covered with the maple leaf helicopters, too. Made me wonder if we're neighbors. Thanks for inviting us for a peak. Cherry Kay

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  35. I think I need to go buy a box of clementines!!! Hugs to Baby Kitty..

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  36. Love you "vintage" box! Great job! The graphics and paint are perfect. Very inspiring! Stopping by from A Stroll Thru Life.

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  37. Debbie,
    Oh la la! Magnicifient box, dear friend! I treasure your creativity! Give a special rub to Baby Kitty as he heals from his vaccinations!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  38. I love this! You are always creating the most beautiful things.

    hugs
    Sissie

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  39. Great idea....I might have to give it a try!!!

    Have a happy day!!!

    Patti

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  40. Another brilliant Debbie idea! you should go into business, making things to sell (or open an Etsy). You come up with some of the most wonderful ideas, and they all turn out beautifully. laurie

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  41. Debbie,
    Another charming THRIFTY project...thank you for sharing it at my Nifty Thrifty Tuesday party...I always love seeing you here.

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  42. So creative, I love it! The box turned out beautiful, no one would ever guess clementines :) Baby Kitty is a handsome fellow enjoying the sunshine!

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  43. Amazing makeover. Who would ever guess what you used to make the planter. I love it!
    Mary Alice

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  44. How perfect! You are so clever!

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  45. Great idea and I like the graphic. Your lavender looks really pretty in it. I'm glad Baby Kitty is recovering from his visit to the doctor to get his shots.. Poor Baby.

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  46. Clever, clever, clever!
    I save my boxes and do nothing, so bravo to you for being so creative!

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  47. Great job up-cycling your clementine box! Thank you for sharing at Cowgirl Up this week. Love having you at our party!
    :) Samantha @ Crafty Texas Girls

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  48. Pretty amazing planter box! Its truly a lovely piece.

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  49. I love this Debbie! What a genius idea! It looks fabulous!!!

    Lou Cinda

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  50. How perfectly clever you are, Debbie!! It's a great recycling project. Yea!!

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  51. BRAVO.I like it.And thanks to share.I keep also this little clementines'box but not yet begin a project!It will come......
    Sorry for my poor english coming from a little Belgian village.
    Have a good week.
    Chantal

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  52. Very lovely and I think I have thrown out several of those boxes, and now, I see the possibilities. Lovely, and love the French graphics!! Your helper always looks so... helpful!!

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  53. Brilliant use of the orange box Debbie! I LOVE lavender.
    Poor puss having those shots, but I'm sure you've given plenty of cuddles :o)
    Thanks for the info on the Paregoric, thank goodness we don't haveto make our own medicines now!
    Hope you've had a lovely Easter.
    Rose H
    x

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  54. Fabulous box. How clever and thanks for sharing the image from Graphics Fairy. Don't know how I missed this one, but I did.

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  55. You are super creative. I love this project. Thanks for sharing at DIYbyDesign.

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  56. What a great idea. It looks amazing!

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  57. I just love all of your ideas. They are great!!

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  58. Well, I'm definitely going to be stealing this idea! So clever!
    Karee

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  59. Pretty, pretty, pretty! Sorry for the repetition, but I've been reading Charlotte's Web to my daughter, and I think I've picked up the speech patterns of that goose. Anyway, I love, love, love this idea!

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  60. Debbie, you're amazing week after week. I'm loving this project as much as the pillow, and I didn't think you could top that one. You need a shop or booth....so perfect. Thanks for sharing the clementine box! Helen

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  61. Love it! thanks for sharing .... I have an old wood tool box that I want to try this out on. You have inspired me!

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  62. Oh, my goodness! I have always wondered what I could do with those boxes. I would shrug my shoulders and throw them out. I thought there must be something wrong with me, like I was going to be a hoarder someday! I just needed to see what far more creative people could come up with I guess! I really love what you created! ~ Jamie

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  63. lol! You're not going to believe this, but I've been saving my clementines boxes for "something" and just didn't know what!!! NOW I know! lolol! Thanks for sharing the great idea!

    xoxo laurie

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  64. Nice repurpose. It turned out so cute! Now I've got to go buy some clementines just to get the box!

    Have a lovely weekend!
    Deborah

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  65. Just found your blog and love it! Would love for you to share this on Simple & Sweet Fridays. This is a great project, so creative. I'm a New Follower.

    Jody

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  66. Love it! But I am almost sure that Baby Kitty would have rather had cat nip planted. Love your staff!

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  67. Hi there. I love your little lavender planter ,great way to revalue something that would normaly be trashed.
    Way to go!!
    Bernice

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  68. ok, so I am the most uncreative person, if I do try and create, I need a visual...so I did make one of these using a put it together yourself small tool box, probably from Lowes but I bought mine from GoodWill for a dollar....the only thing I copied from you besides your inspiration, was the Lavandar graphic! I think it turned out OK (for me)...but thanks for the inspriation. I love your stuff!!!

    Angela from NJ

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  69. Beautiful and I love that it was just an old clementine box... almost free!
    Susan
    Homeroad

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  70. So glad I saw this post again today. I was snooping around your blog and this came up. And just after finding one of my saved clementine boxes tis morning and thinking I needed to find something cute to do with it and viola!
    So I pinned it this time so I will not forget.
    Rita

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  71. Great idea! I have lots of lavender plants and love the display!!!

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Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment! I appreciate my wonderful readers!... Debbie