The knock off storage caddy.
Total cost $0.
I used scrap wood and leftover paint.
And I couldn’t resist making some mini caddies for Easter.
So cute for collecting eggs.
My caddy is loosely based on Ana White’s plans here.
And this caddy from Pottery Barn kids:
image from Pottery Barn Kids
But I’ll save the $89 plus shipping thank you (yes that’s the real price) and use scrap wood pieces I had in the garage.
I used 1/2″ plywood pieces to keep the weight light and decided the size based on the longest scraps.
Here’s how I made the caddy:
(Same process for the mini caddy.)
(Same process for the mini caddy.)
1. My pieces all cut:
2. Assembled.
(This caddy measures 17.5″l x 12″h x 9″w.)
Now for the handle.
3. In order to keep the rod in place I drilled 1/4″ holes just inside the curved short ends:
4. Slide in a 1/4″ dowel, leaving about 1/4″ on either side to stop the rod from sliding out.
(This picture is before I cut the dowel to size.)
5. Glue the dowel into place so it’s secure.
6. Paint the interior one coat semi-gloss white.
7. Paint exterior one coat BM wedgewood grey:
8. One coat Behr sage:
9. Sand with 120 grit to distress.
10. Stain with Minwax special walnut.
11. Seal with clear satin poly.
Love.
Fill with your favorites.
And some detailed pictures of the minis.
(The mini caddies measure 10.5″l x 8″w x 7″h.)
And the blue mini:
I will definitely be making more of these.
I’m linking up to:
Angie says
April 1, 2011 at 8:09 PM♥ it! And it actually seems to easy that I may give it a try! Have a great weekend!
Angie
Linen & Verbena
BeingBrook says
April 1, 2011 at 8:30 PMLove the caddy! So many ways to use it. Turned out so great!
Sweet Little Smoothie says
April 1, 2011 at 11:58 PMLOVE these! I always see cute caddys but I never thought to make one! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Tiff says
April 2, 2011 at 12:00 AM'C' is for CUTE too!!! What a fantastic project! I can't wait to set up my workshop when I move house next week, you have inspired me! X
Amy of WhisperWood Cottage and Junkologie says
April 2, 2011 at 12:16 AMYou knocked it out of the park again! So darn cute!!
Sarah, Three Boys says
April 2, 2011 at 2:50 AMAre you kidding me! AMAZING! Have you submitted this to knock of decor yet? Beckie would LOVE it!!!
Bec@littlelucylu says
April 2, 2011 at 3:05 AMOh my goodness … I love this so much. I WANT ONE! But I'm not brave enough to make one …
Maybe you should sell them! :)~
New follower!
~Bec
Sawdust and Paperscraps says
April 2, 2011 at 3:14 AMAwesome! Love the tiny dowel inside the larger one to keep it in place. Smart and oh so cute!
Carri @ Redefining C says
April 2, 2011 at 3:23 AMSuperb! Super cute!
UrbanCottageDecor.blogspot.com says
April 2, 2011 at 5:16 AMThese are adorable! Can I feature you in a post?
SANDI says
April 2, 2011 at 1:53 PMAwesome caddies! thanks for sharing!
Trisha @ The Sweet Survival says
April 2, 2011 at 11:23 PMOh my gosh this is so adorable. I just spent a few hours searching the internet for a Easter basket I liked for Sawyer. This is perfect and I love the colors.
cajungal01 says
April 3, 2011 at 3:58 AMI love these! I'm not sure where I need any just yet but I may have to figure it out. I've never made anything like that from scratch BUT I own a jigsaw (is that what you used?) so I guess I can try!
ADORABLE!
:0)
~robin
The Inspired Nest says
April 4, 2011 at 2:03 AMSuper cute! I painted one that my son made in wood shop! I love it! He made me another one this weekend and I can't wait to doll it up! I am loving the mini caddies!
Lacy
AmieAnn says
April 4, 2011 at 1:51 PMOh my Gosh! These are sooo stinkin adorable~ Hope you will share them with my Pink Hippo Party @ http://pinkapotamus.blogspot.com/2011/04/pink-hippo-party-23.html
Krystine Stephenson says
April 4, 2011 at 6:22 PMThose are so great! I love them! It really did turn out so great!
http://lucyluvinyl.blogspot.com/
Susan says
April 5, 2011 at 12:48 AMI love the tool box full of teddy bears!
Fishtail Cottage says
April 5, 2011 at 3:46 AMfabulous and functional! love this xoxo, tracie
SJ @ Homemaker On A Dime says
April 7, 2011 at 4:42 AMI love the way you incorporate the alphabets with your project. So appropriate to your blog's name. Love the caddy's look 🙂
Meg says
April 8, 2011 at 4:04 AMThat's so cool! I love it! What a fun "basket" for Easter!
Laura Ingalls Gunn says
April 8, 2011 at 1:32 PMWhat a great knock off!
Sommer says
April 8, 2011 at 11:51 PMWoohoo! These are great Jaime! I was just scouring through a bunch of scrap this afternoon and I think I'll have to make some for our egg hunt this year! Thanks for the great idea.
Debbie in Nashville says
April 9, 2011 at 6:28 PMLovely! Love that you made them with all leftover wood and paint, they turned out great!
The Muehli's says
April 11, 2011 at 10:55 AMLove it! They look so great and so cool that you managed it with scrap. I'll be sharing this on my blog 🙂
My easy Easter decor
Tiffany
Creative Escapes says
April 11, 2011 at 12:59 PMI made a similar one from Anna's plans – with a paper towel holder for a cleaning caddy – but I used 3/4 inch and it's so heavy – I think I am going to make some more like you did – they turned out so great! I love the finishing work too! They would make such cute easter baskets – I bought some cheap ones at Target – but – I may have to re-look at this and get making some for easter – thanks for the great idea!
Cristin @ Simplified Bee says
April 11, 2011 at 2:23 PMYou make it look so easy! I will order two 😉
xo,
cristin
LrSchwtz says
April 13, 2011 at 3:45 AMThis is a fantastic tutorial! I'd love for you to share it at my Share the Wealth Wednesday Link Party. http://www.laughloveandcraft.com
Laurie@The Baking Bookworm says
April 14, 2011 at 3:32 PMThere are so many uses for these caddies! Plus, they seem like a job that I can do myself. 🙂
Mimi says
April 16, 2011 at 9:57 PMThose totes are wonderful! Really cute. Thanks for sharing your talent!
Holly says
April 29, 2011 at 1:37 AMAwesome! Super cute for an Easter basket!