Categories: Crafts & Hobbies

Vintage License Plate Filing Cabinet

This retro Vintage License Plate Filing Cabinet is perfect for furnishing an eclectic or retro home. This Vintage License Plate Filing Cabinet is also a great way to display your vintage license plate collection while keeping all of your office work and bills organized.

You can make it for your own home over the weekend. Use a pre made wood Filing Cabinet you will be pleasantly surprised how easy it really is!

To make this Vintage License Plate Filing Cabinet you will need to spread it out over a couple days, so working over the weekend will probably work best. While you won’t be working on the craft project all day long, you do need to allow for time to prepare materials.

To Make a Vintage License Plate Filing Cabinet You Will Need:

Pre made wood Filing Cabinet

Vintage License Plates

Tacks or Screws

Tin snips

Hammer

Rubber Mallot

Primer

Paint

Paintbrushes

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Now, the first step is to primer the Filing Cabinet. Let this dry, and then paint on a coat of paint in any color you wish. You may be able to see some of the wood around the edges of your license plates, so do this step to make it look more professional.

The outside of the Vintage License Plate Filing Cabinet will be covered in License Plates.

Now, use your tin snips to cut your License Plates to size. The license plates may be applied whole, but some will need to be trimmed for the sidepieces. So, if you want whole license plates on top, then go for it! Just have fun planning a pattern you like.

Now, to start applying your Vintage License Plate pieces I recommend working in sections. This means tack one side at a time. You may also want to pre plan a design by laying out your pattern first.

Once you have your pattern established move onto the next step.

Simply lay your License Plate on the Filing Cabinet. Use you hammer and the tacks to adhere the pieces. Screws would also work. Just make sure whatever you use does not go through the wood and out the inside.

You can over lap pieces to create layered look. I recommend making one layer of your License Plates if you are showing off a vintage collection.

Continue this process until your entire Filing Cabinet is covered in vintage License Plates. You could also cover the inside if you want.

You are finished, but you could do a few more steps.

If you are using this vintage filing cabinet in a kitchen or art studio you could spray it with some clear acrylic spray paint to protect it from water exposure.

To get new license plates you could apply some rusting paint technique to the plates. Just apply on the edges and around where the screw holes are for an authentic look. When using a rustic painting technique remember less is more!

Finally, to age your new license plates some more and really get a true vintage look, then use some wood gel stain. Rub it on with a t-shirt and wipe off any excess until you get the vintage home office look you want

Click here for more ideas from Rebecca