Turning a Clothes Hamper into a Haunted Pirate Crate

**MassMax** · 08-16-2010,02:26 PM

Recently I looked at a white beadboard clothes hamper that I purchased a few years ago and said to myself "Except for the plasticky white finish, that kinda looks like a crate."
So I decided to try dry brushing for the first time to create the look of old weathered wood. Here are the before and after photos (note the "before" is not quite the same hamper, but you get the idea). Reading about "proper" faux wood painting techniques after the fact, I determined I did just about everything wrong, but the results are still decent.

For now, I have a spare bucky arm dangling out of the crate. I've also drilled a hole for the power cord of a small lamp with a red bulb, so an eerie red glow can shine out from the partially raised lid. The entire top comes off for easy access, and if I ever decide to change themes and not do a pirate haunt (not bloody likely - AARR!), I can easily rotate the logo side to the back.

I know what many of you are thinking: with its hinged lid, the crate is begging to be turned into a pop-up/peeper. But since I've never tackled any pneumatics or motorized pop-ups before and I several other static props in the works, I’ll save that for next year.

Hope this gives you some ideas...

**LadyAlthea** · 08-16-2010,02:49 PM

that looks great!!!!! I did the same with an old wooden garbage bin. well not a pirate crate i made it into a pillar type tombstone.

**MassMax** · 08-16-2010,04:52 PM

Thanks for the kind words, LadyAlthea! It's nothing special, but this project has definitely gotten the ball rolling for me on my haunt for this year. Next up...creating a sign post out of a coat rack. Stay tuned!