Have you ever seen one of those fantastic wooden crates in the craft store and wondered what you could potentially do with one? The good news is they're functional and versatile, a useful addition to many crafts and to almost any room. And if you're a crafter who likes to work with wood, this can be a simple base for a piece of furniture that will become essential to your living space.
We give you the blanket holder. It's simple but effective, and it can dress up your comfortable den area, bedroom or living room in a flash. What's more, this craft doesn't take much know-how. The hardest step comes early, and after that, it's just about your own personal aesthetic and style. You can make a blanket holder that compliments your room and allows you to show off your decorative flair.
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Materials
- 12.5" x 9.625" x 17.875" wooden crate (or similarly proportioned)
- Pencil
- Clamp
- Large sheet of 1/2"-t0-3/4"-thick plywood
- Circular saw
- Detail sander
- Old sheet
- Wood glue
- 4 wooden furniture legs
- 8 decorative wooden appliques
- Chalk paint in any color (We chose Parisian gray.)
- Paintbrush
- Disposable gloves
- Sanding sponge
- Old towel
- 12.5" x 9.625" x 17.875" wooden crate (or similarly proportioned)
- Pencil
- Clamp
- Large sheet of 1/2"-t0-3/4"-thick plywood
- Circular saw
- Detail sander
- Old sheet
- Wood glue
- 4 wooden furniture legs
- 8 decorative wooden appliques
- Chalk paint in any color (We chose Parisian gray.)
- Paintbrush
- Disposable gloves
- Sanding sponge
- Old towel
DIY Everywhere
Instructions
1. First, place the sheet of plywood onto a woodworking bench or another strong, steady surface. Place the wooden crate on top, and use your pencil to mark the dimensions of the crate's bottom onto the plywood. Clamp the wood onto the bench, and use the circular saw to cut a piece of wood the same size as the bottom of the crate. Finally, use the electric detail sander to smooth the wood finish on all the inner sides of the crate.
1. First, place the sheet of plywood onto a woodworking bench or another strong, steady surface. Place the wooden crate on top, and use your pencil to mark the dimensions of the crate's bottom onto the plywood. Clamp the wood onto the bench, and use the circular saw to cut a piece of wood the same size as the bottom of the crate. Finally, use the electric detail sander to smooth the wood finish on all the inner sides of the crate.
Tip: This is the most advanced step. If you are not comfortable with woodworking, you can still create this craft by buying a piece of wood that is the same dimensions as the bottom of the crate.
3. Cover a space with an old sheet or a large piece of unwanted fabric. Lay the crate open-side-down onto the sheet. Squeeze liberal lines of wood glue onto the slats of the crate's bottom, and affix the cut wood onto the bottom of the crate. Press down for at least 20 minutes, switching every few minutes to press down at different points.
4. After the glue between the crate and the wood piece has initially set, use the same wood glue to affix the four legs to the bottom of your crate. Then, glue the appliques to the sides of your crate. You can be as creative as you like with this part of the process, using appliques like those we chose and placing them similarly or doing things completely differently!
Tip: After gluing everything down, wait 24 hours before painting. This will give your glue ample time to set.
5. Wearing thin gloves, use a paintbrush and chalk paint to coat the entire blanket holder, including the bottom of the crate, the legs and the appliques. Allow the paint to dry for 24 hours.
6. Next, use a sanding sponge to sand all the wooden sides — as well as the appliques and legs — of the blanket holder. When you're finished, wipe the whole thing down with an old towel. This will ensure that you do not find little wood shavings on your blankets and pillows.
And there you have it! A lovely item that looks store-bought but will allow you to show off your creativity and style in the best way possible.
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