Hey MRL Readers!
It is good to be back posting here today, in case you are new, my name is Mindi and I blog over at MyLove2Create. I love contributing for Gail and feel honored to share my projects with you!
It is amazing how fast the summer has gone by, and I realized the other day that I had not made a single crate. What?! I promptly fixed the situation, and I am happy to share my DIY A-Frame Crate with you today...
Isn't it so fun!? Just so you know, I have an obsession with crates, they make me happy. 🙂
Reclaimed Wood
I have been wanting to make a crate like this for quite a while. With crazy summer life, vacations, and projects like my Farmhouse Storage Bed and Floating Night Stands, I just never had time, until now.
I had some great reclaimed wood that needed some lovin', an old croquet mallet handle, and some smaller skinny boards that were once part of an old wooden mat (???). I ended up using two of the skinny (close to 1x2 size) boards, the two longer ¼ x 5 ¾ inch boards, and the croquet mallet handle.
Design A Frame Crate
When I build crates I love to just wing it and see where my build takes me. I started with trimming the ends of the croquet handle and then cutting two side boards to the same length. They ended up being 21 inches.
Next, I cut the end pieces. I did this by measuring my side piece on the board needing to be cut, to make sure the ends would be the same height as the side piece. Once I cut the first piece I used it to measure and cut the second end piece.
To complete my crate box I needed to cut the bottom piece. Since I wanted my bottom to be inset, I started by measuring and marking my board with a side piece. Then I used my two end pieces by placing them next to my first mark and marking the other side for where I needed to cut.
Hopefully that makes since. This process eliminates measuring, and if you do build this way you can make it any size you want. You can also measure, I just like to use what I have instead.
Assembly
I used glue and finish nails to add the end pieces to the bottom piece.
Then I did the same for the two sides. See how easy it is, that is why I love making crates, easy but so satisfying! Now to make it cute...
I took my 1x2 ish boards and cut two ends at a 15 degree angle on one side, the bottom of the feet. Next, I propped my crate up on a 2x6 block of wood to give it some height, then I clamped my leg boards to my crate, and each other, and marked where the two boards met at a diagonal, and drew a cut line.
In the top left photo you can see two boards on top of each other with a diagonal cut. When I made my diagonal cut I used both sides of the board by simply flipping the second onto the first and measuring where to cut the 15 degree foot bottom for the second. So basically I got both A-Frame diagonal cut boards out of one cut. I used one on each side of my crate.
For the other side of the A-Frame I just cut the bottom at 15 degrees and the top a little taller than the diagonal board so I could round it off later. Then I used glue and nails to attach the A-Frame legs together. I nailed in from both sides and used a clamp to keep them together while I nailed the first couple of nails, I removed the clamp to nail in the rest.
Tweak Assembly
When I nailed the second set of A-frame legs together I matched them up to the first set to make sure they were the same size/height, and then nailed them together (top left). Then I rounded the tops of both sets of legs at the same time with a jigsaw and sanded them smooth.
A perfectly nice set of rustic legs! Please ignore my messy work table top, I guess I need to clean up the dried glue...It always seems to get past me until I look at my in progress photos...
I glued and nailed on my A-frame legs, still using my 2x6 board under my crate to raise it up. I also glued and nailed on my croquet mallet handle to the top of each set of legs, but I forgot to take a photo, oops!
Embellish A Frame Crate with Stencil
At this point I could have been done, but I love to add a little something extra. I used my Cricut to cut a short phrase out of contact paper, and stenciled it on with some black paint. On the other side of the crate I couldn't resist adding a chalkboard label...another weakness of mine. I. Love. Chalkboards.
All finished and ready to get to work! It can hold a ton of fruits and veggies, perfect for the kitchen counter.
The A-Frame legs are so fun and cute! You can see that I like the rustic look. If you don't you could easily fill in all the nail holes and paint your crate.
A Soda caddy would also be a fun way to use this crate for parties, or just for home decor.
Or fill empty soda bottles with cherry blossoms for a pretty touch. (my cherry blossoms are made out of sticks and tissue paper).
I am planning on using it for decor on my kitchen island, and also using it for condiments at BBQ's, since we still have some summer left. 🙂
I am feeling much better, I love satisfying my crate fix! Do you like crates? What would you use this one for?
see more of Mindi's posts on MRL here
Robin @ Redo It Yourself Inspirations
Absolutely adorable!
Bliss
Oh little crate tote how I love thee, let me count the ways......
1. I've been passing up croquet games because I didn't know what to do with them, now I do.
2. The A frame is awesome, gives a new dimension to the usual tote.
3. The chalk board side can be changed up for any occasion.
4. Writing on the other fulfills that urge I have to letter things permanently.
5. I've got a tote in the garage to spruce up, I think it needs to be raised up somehow, thanks for that idea too.
Holly
Adorable!
Julie @ follow your heart woodworking
How original... don't think I've ever seen an "A Frame" crate before! Looks great.
Susan Homeroad
Amazing Crate! I love the A Frame.... thanks for the great tutorial!
Catherine
Luv-luv-luv this Mindi!
I want to make one too--
Catherine
Chris
You ladies make everything look so easy. Love he caddy. I also like the cherry blossoms. I'd probably be able to make those, haha. Instructions?
Cassie@thepaintedtoolbox.com
This is great! I just received a bunch of reclaimed wood. I may have to create one of these. 🙂 I just love your projects. I feel the same about both yours and Gail's projects.....affordable and you make me feel like I could tackle them. Thanks!
Deborah
I'm in love! Chalkboards and crates are awesome and together it's perfect! Sharing and pinning.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Mindi
Your diy crate is such a fabulous project. It's the little things you do that make things special. Using a jigsaw to round off the top of the a's really makes this project shine. Along with the phrase and the chalkboard. Plus you know I love using up odd bits and pieces!
Great job!!
gail