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Transform Old License Plates Into a Stunning Caddy – You Won’t Believe How Easy It Is

July 22, 2025 by Shellie Wilson

If you’re someone who loves upcycling, this DIY project is for you! In many states, we’re required to return old license plates to the Department of Transport when they expire. for those of you who do not need to, why not turn those old, forgotten plates into something fabulous? This creative idea allows you to repurpose old license plates into a unique and stylish caddy that’s perfect for organizing or adding a quirky touch to your home.

Not only is this project a fun way to recycle, but it also gives those outdated plates a second life. Whether you’re looking to create a handy storage caddy for your garden tools, a stylish drink holder for parties, or a rustic piece to organize bathroom essentials, this upcycled license plate caddy can serve many purposes. The weathered charm of the license plates combined with the sleek wooden accents makes it the perfect mix of rustic and modern. It is also a great way to create a keepsake, maybe they are Grandpas old plates?

This is a simple, yet satisfying project that anyone can tackle. You don’t need to be a seasoned crafter to make it, and it’s an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. All you need are a few basic materials—old license plates, wood, and a few basic tools like screws and a drill. Once completed, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind piece that adds both style and function to your space.

Whether it’s for your home, garage, or garden, this upcycled license plate caddy will give new life to those old plates and show just how much can be done with a little creativity and some DIY spirit.

So grab those expired plates, get your tools ready, and start crafting. This fun project is a perfect example of how recycling can be both eco-friendly and incredibly rewarding!  You can view the full tutorial here.

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Cross Stitching on Wooden Blanks

One of the fun things about cross stitch is all the different surfaces you can stitch on. Of course regular cross stitch fabric is the most common, you can stitch on anything with holes (and even sometimes on things without holes, if you use water soluble cross stitch fabric. 

An option that has become more popular with the widespread availability of laser cutting machines is wooden blanks, which are often cut in shape to be bookmarks, holiday ornaments or other simple shapes. They can be keychains, picture frames or necklaces. 

(While not wooden I even have a stitchable journal that I cross-stitched on.)

Stitching on wood or heavy card stock isn’t the same as stitching with regular cross stitch fabric, so Craft with Cartwright wrote a post about how best to work with these wooden blanks. 

The main thing to know is that you don’t need a sharp needle because the holes are drilled. She also has tips on how to manage your thread (she recommends one strand of embroidery floss folded in half) and finish your project if you need help with that. 

Check out the post at Craft with Cartwright for tons of tips and ideas for working with wooden blanks. 

Ready to try it out for yourself? You can get rectangular pieces your could mount to a journal yourself from Toms New Old Things. 

Fiore Designs has square blanks that come in different sizes and colors for your crafting needs. I am putting some stamp shaped blanks from Lunari Woods on my wish list (they also have gift tags in different sizes and colors).

You can get stitchable keychains from Millions of Stitches, circles from Geniuses of Wood, baubles from Pip and Chip and Christmas ornament shapes from Happy Stitching Time to name just a few. 

Have you ever stitched on a wooden blank? I’d love to hear any tips you have!

[Photo: Craft with Cartwright]

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