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03 June, 2012

DIY Grey Willow French Laundry Basket

I have been eyeing those wonderful grey willow baskets and thinking about trying to copy that fabulous finish.  And...I have also been wanting an oh-so-frenchy laundry basket...so I decided I would combine the two.

Is it just me or is there something very French about laundry hung out to dry outside? Even French artists found it inspiring, as in this unusually colorful painting from Edouard Manet…Le Linge. I think for me it comes from living in France where none of my friends ever used the dryer…even if they owned one! The preferred method was line drying…such a fresh, clean smell! I took up the habit myself.

basket before So when I found this laundry basket on sale at Michaels for only $5.00, I knew it was time to try my hand at that grey willow finish.

basket afterI tried several methods and finally decided on this one. First, I spray painted it with Rust-oleum Camouflage paint…a nice beigey-greyish color. Once that dried, I added a wash (half paint, half water) of Behr Sparrow in the sample size that I had bought for a previous project.

closeup And here’s the result! I like it…not too white and a nice little layered vintage look!

pageI also wanted to create a chalkboard tag for my laundry basket...no surprise there, huh? I seem to be on a chalkboard tag roll lately! lol I found these oval wooden cutouts…four to a package for $3.00…also at Michaels. Good! I’ll have extra tags for another project. I even went ahead and created an extra while I was at it. Just drill two holes and paint with several coats of chalkboard paint.

bk Baby Kitty helped me add twine for tying the tags to the basket. I used some of my grandson’s hair wax (leftover from his previous spiky hairdo) on the ends of the twine to make it easier to get it through the little holes. That’s my authentic French santon...a $2.92 bargain from Goodwill still posing with my French wine country centerpiece!

092 I just tied the tag to the basket and added le linge…"laundry" in French…

 …and here it is! I love it! It makes me want to do laundry…well, almost! Or maybe do laundry if it’s vintage French linens! I don’t own any of the real stuff…but that’s my Wisteria knock-off linen hand towel thrown over the basket…

teatowels …and my French-inspired vintage tea towels made from those 79 cent dishtowels from IKEA!

tag Maybe one day I’ll own the real thing, but in the meanwhile, maybe my frenchy laundry basket will help me to pretend!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my frenchy laundry basket! 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

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
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!

50 comments:

  1. Wow great job! I love the color just with the spray paint. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  2. Omgosh, I love this, I pinned it!! I use to have a wonderful gray washed basket and I can not find it anywhere I have a feeling my sweet hubby got rid of it for me! xo Kathysue

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  3. Awesome basket transformation...and I love both of the towels you made!

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  4. Debbie,
    WoW! What a transformation! I did a white washed dry brush technique on some wicker trays 10 years ago and they still look fabulous! I could use two of these in the bushel basket size, too!!! May have to go to Michael's this week. no luck when I was out thrifting this weekend! Drats!Oh, yes! I do love doing laundry...and ironing!Ha!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  5. Beautiful. I love wicker baskets and yours looks fanbulous.

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  6. You know I had a laundry basket just like that.At our other home I had a clothes line. Not here. I wonder if I gave it to goodwill? Great idea Debbie.

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  7. Oh it looks fabulous. I love it. Beautiful gray color and the tag is special. Hugs, Marty

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  8. You always have some fabulous project in the works. This basket is darling. Great idea, Debbie.

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  9. Hi Debbie,
    I love your french laundry basket. That's a great technique that you used to get the aged look. Who knew that camo paint would do the trick.

    hugs
    Sissie

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  10. Who needs the real thing?! Your version is perfect! Right down to laundry in French - love it! And boy do I stock up on those Ikea towels!

    Jeanine

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  11. Paint is indeed a good friend! Nice job, Debbie!
    And, speaking of good friends, love to darling Baby Kitty!

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  12. Debbie- You did a GREAT job- I just love it- It makes ME want to do laundry too, well...almost! xo Diana

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  13. You are so talented! You always have something I'm dying to do or get.
    Brenda

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  14. Very pretty, Debbie! I love that grey color on baskets, too.

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  15. Manet is one of my favorite artists! You did a great job on the basket. I've got a picnic basket that would look great in this finish. Thanks for the tutorial!

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  16. I painted a covered basket in very similar colors. Yes- the gray is very French- inspired! Your basket looks lovely, Debbie. :-)
    Hugs, Sue

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  17. Very neat, I will have to try this paint treatment on a basket of mine.

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  18. Look at you! Again so clever, Missy! You really did a great job! Awesome color too! Thanks for the inspiration, you always inspire!

    Hugs,
    Nancy

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  19. Simply beautiful! Love the chalkboard label too -- and YES, I love hanging clothes out although I haven't had my line put up this summer yet. Truly makes me think of simpler times.

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  20. I love all of your projects, almost makes me want to do laundry too!
    Karee

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  21. FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!! something I think I can handle! I Love it!

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  22. Debbie, your basket looks great....love the color! And the technique is certainly easy. I do love the chalkboard touch - really charming! Linda

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  23. Love the color on the basket! All your cute towels are amazing also!

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  24. I've been wanting to paint a basket, and now I know the easiest and best way to do it. Thank you for sharing your technique!

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  25. I'm laundry crazy too! Especially French laundry. This came together beautifully!

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  26. this is such a great idea! i always find tons of baskets at goodwill but hate the colors, i will have to try this.

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  27. Ooohhh! I like! I am a whiz with a can of spray paint! this is cute-I may have to try this!! Thanks so much for sharing.

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  28. Great little laundry basket. Perfect shape for a french style basket.
    Mary Alice

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  29. ALL of Europe hangs their clothes out! There is nothing like line dried clothes! Love what you did to the basket! And your "French" linens!

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  30. We won't talk about the fact I don't have a clothes line. this is a very cute basket, and I may have to make one of my own. I have everything needed including the little tags. You did a great job, so thanks for showing us how to make our own. I'd love for you to link this up to Your Cozy Home Party this week.

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  31. I always wondered what "camo" paint looked like! Now I know!! Thanks for sharing this tutorial, Debbie. I just adore that weathered gray patina - and you've made my next basket project a whole lot easier! :)

    xoxo laurie

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  32. ooh, la, la! I love this project....the grey is perfectly french. I'm going to pin this to my crafts board. I have a french laundry basket in future!

    Sharon @ mrs. hines class

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  33. I love how your basket turned out! The color is perfect and I'm so glad you shared what you did exactly. I really want to do some pieces in that color now. The chalkboard tags are so adorable. I love the towels too, by the way. ~ Jamie

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  34. So pretty. I have a few baskets like your "before" basket. I have to try this. Thanks for sharing at DIYbyDesign.

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  35. thanks for the tutorial. I would like to try my hand at this technique.

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  36. I love the Frenchy laundry basket. Even makes laundry look good :)

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  37. Debbie, your French laundry basket reminds me of hanging clothes out to dry when I was little. I must say I think the idea of hanging laundry out to dry is very romantic..but in reality, give me a dryer any day. :)
    Thanks for the tip on the camouflage paint and the sparrow color. Seriously, your basket is adorable..and I LOVE your monogrammed IKEA towels.

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  38. Really sweet basket! Would never know you made it look like that, looks French to me!

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  39. I have a basket like yours and would like to try this treatment! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  40. Your basket turned out perfectly! Thanks so much for the tutorial. :)

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  41. This is sooooo beautiful!!! Je l'adore!!! I wouldn't mind having one for myself!!

    I really hope you come over to The DIY Dreamer and share this at From Dream To Reality!

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  42. Your laundry basket came out beautifully!!
    Thanks for sharing.
    Michele

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  43. Beautifully done!!
    I'd love it if you'd consider sharing this at Shabbilicious Friday ~ http://shabbyartboutique.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/shabbilicious-friday-link-party-86.html

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  44. This is Melissa@daisymaebelle.com. I LOVE this basket! I am your newest follower!

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  45. Sweet basket! LOVE the color, thank you for the inspiration!

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  46. Enough about the fabulous basket.....
    How did you monogram the dish towel, that's what I WANT TO KNOW!!!!!

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  47. persusing your blog and found this old post.. it has inspired me to re-do a basket I couldn't give away. Now, I'm sure my daughters will regret turning it down! thanks for the inspiration!

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