These stairs were the inspiration for firing up a line of stencils.
Click HERE to view our current designs in our online store.
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I’ve always loved the look of stamped numbers and logos on wooden crates.
So when the PAINT theme came up for So You Think, I had an idea I’d never seen done before. Would it work?!?
Grabbing some crate and label inspiration I had close by, I started drawing up my plan.
Sign equipment used
The drawing programs I use are CorelDraw and Signlab, alongside a vinyl cutting machine (Roland PNC 1000A) built for commercial use. I use this equipment in my vehicle lettering business, which aren’t priced for novice type users. However, stencils anyone can make is all this takes.
And then I got right to work. 🙂 Yep, right ON the stairs.
And here’s the result.
Come on in and I’ll show you around my old crate staircase! 🙂
The stairs were designed to appear to have been made out of old signboards and wooden stamped crates.
Some steps share one logo, looking as if a large sign was cut in half in order to create the steps.
Different ideas for treads were utilized for a fun eclectic look!
The end result is something so fun and outrageous, you can’t help but smile. 🙂 And a funny story? My two cats think there’s something on the stairs so they wind themselves around each logo as they use them. 🙂
The very fuzzy before.
2015 summer home tour HERE 5 years later!
How to make the wall signs is HERE
And the very funky eclectic FUN!! after.
A wooden crate staircase is one wild way to enter this house and suits my own personal style to perfection. The more banged up and paint splattered the stairs previously were, the more authentic they appeared! My favorite splatters are from the dog after she ran through a knocked over paint spill. 🙂
~ Method used: ~
Sand and vacuum the stairway as-is
Latex paint with stencils – the white is leftover ceiling, the rest acrylic craft
Distress the painted stencils.
Stain – oil based I had on hand, went overtop the stencils
Varnish – satin in a spray can for wood
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There was simply nothing to lose in trying out this crazy idea. The stairway can always be covered with carpet right on top of the wildness at any time.
Give your own old carpeted stairway some thought on what design may suit your own home!
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How the stairs were built is HERE
These stairs were the inspiration for firing up a line of stencils.
Click HERE to view our current designs in our online store.
Contest wins and features:
Thanks for your votes all! The crate stairs ranked a first place!
Weekly winner of Before and After Contest – Sept 2010
$50 Home Depot gift certificate
One Project Closer
Get OUT Of HERE – THIS is AMAZING!!!! So creative and unique – I can not look at these pictures enough. You have such talent and vision – I am so blown away by this…WOW Donna!! Great Great Job ~ well done! Ummm – I want some of those stairs!
remember me when your famous, please.
I am hyperventilating I love that so much! YOU ARE AMAZING! I thought I loved the old sign headboard. This is my new favorite project on your blog.
How fun would something like this be on my deck!!!
This is one of the coolest projects that I have EVER seen! You are completely amazing Donna! I can’t stop looking at your staircase. I can not get over it, really, you did such a great job, I wonder what magazine will pick this up, you totally deserve it!
I just about died this is so awesome. You did a FABULOUS job painting because the “age” looks perfect! Such character! *squeal!*
Ahhhh cats – they are so entertaining. 🙂
I LOVE this! And I have some painted stairs in my house. Why don’t I have the guts to do this? I voted for you again. 🙂
Donna, you are one very imaginative and talented woman! I absolutely love this!
Kat 🙂
Love it….such a beautiful idea!!
I’ve loved all your projects so far but WOW this one is incredible. Please come paint my stairs to look like crates! Honestly, when I saw the first photo on SYTYCD I thought you had used real crates and wondered how you were going to link that to the paint theme. When I read that you made them I was floored. I just love your style!!
It looks so AWSOME! And it’s so you!
speechless…too, too good…completely fabulous (ok, not quite speechless!)
Ok, this is just so over the top! But I love it. Makes me wish I had some stairs. Oh, I do, going out to the back deck. Watch out stairs!
These steps are brilliant!!!
I don’t have any steps inside, but I have a staircase along the side of my house – please show us step by step { hehe } how you did this to make it look like it’s old ads =
Thank You and So nice to see you –
Marsha
My deck is calling, it needs some fun. Thanks for the inspiration… I especially loved the touch of the rulers… I love rulers.
Absolutely wonderful idea and execution – love it! I love the old-timey feel, it must have taken you forever to do that. Great job!
Donna:
INGENIUS!
AMAZING!
FANSTINKINGTASTIC!
Girlfriend, you rocked these stairs. I think this is my all time favorite project of yours.
(insert applause here)
Crazy Awesome! You have a mind like no one else…how do you think of things like this? LOVE IT!
So very cool and original!
Donna- I can’t say anything that hasn’t been said thus far, lol! I mean this with all my heart…you are GOING PLACES, girlfriend!
YOU are FREAKING AMAZING!!
xox,
Susan