You may have seen my trusty DIY rustic Toolbox (some call them totes, a caddy or a crate) in many of my garden photos. I love using it for staging. The blue is such a great contrast with so many flower colors.
Easy DIY Rustic Toolbox Caddy you can build.
Here is one I built a little bit different, instead of curving up to the top on the side pieces I just did angle cuts.
I shared the link also on how I did the rustic finish on new wood and I used the same technique with this one except I used blue paint. I think I will do a bit of wet sanding to distress it more but that is another post.
With this one I wanted it to be a toolbox with curved sides and a handle.
We put it together a bit differently to show how you can build these boxes and crates several different ways.
First we cut the boards to size. For this toolbox we use a 1 x 6 pine board. You can make this any length you wish. We used a jigsaw to cut the sides with a curved top. If you want a cut pattern for the curved sides then look for the form below.
Instead of using screws this time we used glue and a nail gun. It just goes faster and if I wish to add some vintage look square nails I can come back and add them after pre-drilling. I may do that for a more rustic vibe. Run a bead of wood glue along one side of a side board.
Fit along the edge of the bottom piece and nail in place.
Flip over and do the same with the other side board. You can build this with screws or nails and hammer, we just used the nail gun for expediency sake.
Now you should have something that looks like this..
Instead of applying the end boards to the outside this time I am going to put them inside of the two sideboards. Run a bead of glue along each edge of the end piece where the boards will be attached together.
Now nail it together. You can easily wipe off the glue that squeezes out while it is wet. Once it dries that is a whole other story.
Once you have both ends put on you will have something like this.
Measure between the top of the end pieces to cut your closet pole for a handle.
This piece we will screw in to make it sturdier for lifting.
Add a bit of touch up paint, distress some more with sand paper or steel wool also can give you a distressed look.
These are so fun to make as they are very easy. But also they are great for some many things. Storage, centerpieces on the table, planter boxes in the garden…just use your imagination.
I am thinking I want to paint something on this one, maybe some sunflowers. The golden yellow would just pop against the blue, or maybe some white daisies…or I can put some graphics for a more vintage advertisement vibe…
I wish you Happy Building!
If you are a subscriber the pattern for the curved sides is in the Resource Library, your password is in your email update.
If you are not a subscriber then go ahead and sign up here for access to the Subscribers Resource Library. It is all free.
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Dawn says
It’s beautiful and such a pleasant shade of blue. I have a similar one but the handle separates two side and the sides aren’t big enough for anything I think I will remove it and do more like you did.
Pamela says
I love the blue as well, I have yet to finish with either a wax or varathane finish to protect it but that is because I may paint a motif on it. It may or may not tone it a bit with adding a protective finish. I have another started but it is in a mint green.
Peggy says
Pinned! The blue is giving me that spring feeling, inspite of gray skies.
Pamela says
I am so glad, if you are on the east coast I can totally understand the need for a bit of Spring inspiration. It has been close to 70 and sunny here the past few days. We are getting a few clouds and we are praying for even a little itty bit of rain or snow to fall.
Stephanie says
So cute! I love the look of things like this. I need to dig around in my scrap pile and put together one or two or ten!
Pamela says
What is great is you can’t have too many and you can build in so many sizes!
[email protected] says
Cute little toolbox! Love that color of blue. I just recently learned about the wet distressing technique. Don’t know why I neven thought of that, because that’s how I clean up mistakes.
It would look real cute with the vintage nails. Where can you find them?
Pamela says
I found my square nails at a mom and pop hardware store in a nearby town. I think they are called hand forged nails, I should see if I can find any online.
[email protected] says
Thanks Pamela! I will have to try online too!
Pamela says
Let me know if you find any reasonably priced. I did a cursory check and choked on pricing.
[email protected] says
I did a check on Ebay under Antique Nails and found a large variety of antique nails. Anywhere from 25 up to 475 pieces, prices starting around $5 on up to $25. Don’t know whether that is a good deal or not, but you might want to look there too.
Debrashoppeno5 says
It is a beautiful color and such a versatile project.
Pamela says
I love mine and I plan on making a few more, so many ways you can go with this.
Terri Nichols says
If you plant in your box, do you use anything to protect the wood from rotting out at the bottom from watering the plant?
Pamela says
My planter box I used cedar fencing for the bottom and coated it with organic tung oil. If I use pine I will paint it with an exterior varathane (the one I use on signs I paint for the outdoors) I usually don’t plant directly in the box but put little pots of plant in it. When the plants are lush and full you cannot see they are not planted directly in the toolbox.
Nadyne says
What size board did you use?
Nadyne says
I have the password but I don’t see a link to the resource library to get the pattern.
Pamela says
It is in the menu bar at the top of the site. It is called Subscribers Downloads but maybe I should change the name. I may do that.