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If you know me, you know I LOVE my transferware… more specifically brown transferware! When I’m out and about thrifting, or strolling through a local garage sale, it’s always on the brain. And you can bet your bottom dollar that if I see some, it’s mine! The problem you run into is, it’s sort of a get-what-you-get type situation. For example, if I’m wanting a brown transferware crock, it may be next to impossible to find! The good news here– I will attempt to DIY anything… and this is NO exception! Here you have it, how to make your very own transferware crock using an old soup can! Easy, beautiful, and unique!

what you need
how to make your own transferware crock
1. Get a soup or vegetable can and clean it well.
2. Print Brown transferware labels
(you can purchase these from Salvaged Living Mercantile HERE) on regular copy paper. By the way… there are more than just BROWN labels in this set! You will find three designs in each of the following colors: Brown, Blue, Red and Green, so no matter what color transferware you collect, I’ve got you covered!!!
3. Paint the inside and outside of your can with acrylic craft paint. I used an un-mixed combo of solid white and an off-white parchment color (I did not blend the colors but overlapped them for a muddled, inconsistent look). It will take two coats for good coverage, but you really only need to worry about good coverage on the top and bottom where the label may not cover.
4. Once your paint is dry, line a bead of hot glue down the back side of the tin can and attach one end of the transferware label. Then, line the other end of the transferware label with hot glue and wrap around the can until it meets the other side.

5. Using a chip brush, apply a dark wax to accent and age the edges of the label and inside of the can (this helps to blend the label and the can brilliantly). Buff the wax with a soft cloth or paper towel gently. You may need to add more than one layer to get your desired look. If you don’t have wax, try a dark acrylic craft paint dry brushed on!
This is the perfect upcycle for those old soup and vegetable cans that would otherwise be tossed in the trash! You can now use this brown transferware crock to house all kinds of organizational items like kitchen utensils, toothbrushes, eyeglasses, and even pencils– for years to come!
If you want to see more unique ways to get organized,
click HERE!
Don’t forget to pin this project for later!

Very clever. I really plan on trying this idea. I have a booth at an antiques store and wanted to display some flatware for sale. Thanks for the idea.
Melanie from Mississippi