DIY Scrap Crate

My new name shall be "Impatient Kreative Knack" lol just kidding, but really. Just the other day I had the idea to hunt around for some crates to stack all cute on the hearth of my fireplace....well I didn't even look. I know I know, but its not what you think.
As I was wondering around in the garage...My (wonderful)hubby, who hates clutter just laying around "HIS" garage, had a cluster of what looked like a stack of scrap wood off in the corner...What? this has got to be a figment of my imagination... I waited until he got home, and asked what he was using it for, there had to be a reason he had it all still. He said "I was saving it for you, just in case you needed it" Woah! Did I mention, I love that man! Well I do. I have to say he's always on board with my crazy ideas. pssst he even comes up with some himself...lol
And here was one of those crazies. I measured out the pieces, they were like 4 inches wide by like 5 foot. I am super afraid of the table saw....so I walked up to him, *eyes batting* can you cut this for me...on each mark. He happily obliged :)
I now had 8 pieces to put together, and make a crate...hee hee hee.


Here is my pile

I added a bit of gorilla glue(really thin line so it didn't go oozing out later) to the ends before I used the brad gun.


Here is the basic frame of it.( pic is upside down, oops)
Iattached the other 4 pieces along the bottom the same way(gorilla glue& brad gun). I left a small gap in between each slat to give it that "authentic crate feel."


And here it is. I took my sander to the edges, and made sure to sand down all rough spots.
Needs a label or stamp of some sort, some stain, and some finishing metal touches.
As I was going through my hubbies goodies in his tool box, I found this "Make you own Clamp set" coooool! this will work for the metal bands on the edges like in this inspiration photo below

Source Unknown

I had to cut each strip, with some (lets just call them cutters) and I attached them with some roofing nails, I also found.

And Voila.

Next I went onto my fav site PICNIK and created a little label, then printed it out and applied it with mod podge. Let it dry and took the sander to the edges, so the stain would stick to it in certain spots...with the intent to made it look aged?
I waited for it to dry. And started to stain it a dark walnut color.






Here if my finished crate. I'm super happy with how it turned out, and best of all it was free! And please note I left my hubbies toolbox, in the same state I found it... ;)

Make sure to come back tomorrow! I'm working on a couple other things to throw with this crate(to make a cute little vignette) and it will be ready to place on my fireplace! B.E.A.U.T.F.U.L!