Since I wanted to make something special for Bee, I decided to try my hand at crafting a version of this Pottery Barn Wooden Carry-All, retail price $39.99. Ambitious? Yes. Hard? Amazingly, no!
Here’s my humble little version, for which I only spent $1.50. Yes, you read that correctly. It cost $37.50 less than the original! The only thing I had to buy were the chipboard letters because I had everything else on hand. The best part, other than being almost free? It’s totally customizable. Use different color foam board, different letters, a different material for the handles or seams and you can make it exactly as you’d like. Ready to see it?
Now he has a place for toys,
… and books…
and trucks.
It was all made possible by the products Elmer’s sent to help me along, plus a little dreaming on my part. And WAIT, hold the phone, two of you will receive a similar kit with many of the items shown below! Details at the end of the tutorial. Because I’m sneaky like that. 😉
In addition to the Elmer’s products linked in the tutorial, the only additional materials you’ll need are:
- electrical tape (.59 at Walmart for black, but it comes in other colors too)
- rope/ribbon/jute trim (about $1 from the fabric or hardware store)
- letters for personalizing ($1.50 on sale at Michaels, but the Dollar Store has ABC stickers or you can use stencils, vinyl, the sky is the limit!)
- freezer paper or other large paper for the template; construction paper would work, too.
1. First create the template. Freezer paper worked really well for me to create the template, but you can use whatever large paper you have on hand.
You’ll need to make one template for the long side, and one template for the short-but-tall side {heh, I’m super technical today}. Using the freezer paper, I measured a 13X5 inch rectangle and cut it out to create the first template.
Next came the more-complicated-but-don’t-panic part. The idea is to make the tall side. You’ll need to measure the piece to be 8″ wide and 10″ tall (that’s the dimensions of the faint outer rectangle seen below). Since the long side of the carry-all needed to match the side of this piece, I knew I needed to start the curved part of the handle at 5″ tall. You can see where I marked that horizontally below. Then I measured the midline of the width and drew a vertical line marking it. That helped with the next part.
Ignore the handle part I’ve already drawn in, but here’s the measurements so you can understand what I’m trying to convey about the dimensions:
Now that you have an idea of the measurements, you’ll need to draw the section that holds the handle. Keep in mind you only need to draw one good side, because I have a trick below! Go ahead and draw that curve until you find one side you like. I drew both sides for symmetry purposes, but decided I liked the right side best. I simply cut out the entire square and the one curve I liked…
… then folded it in half and cut along the curve to be sure both sides were exactly the same.
Now you have two templates for the four pieces you’ll cut in Step 2.
You’ll make the bottom piece in step 5. Don’t worry, I didn’t forget about it!
3. Cut out the pieces of foam board. First of all, the Elmer’s Black 20X30 Foam Board was a great material to work with because the color was solid all the way through, making edges look great.
Applying the Elmer’s Craft Bond Repositionable Glue Stick to the back of the template made it easy to keep it in place when I cut the foam.
Using the X-ACTO Designer Series Craft Knife, I carefully cut around each piece. The blade was the perfect size to cut through the board. A piece of cardboard protected my floor and made cutting super easy.
4. Glue and tape the sides. I began by applying a line of Elmer’s Glue-All down the side of the first piece:
Then using a precut piece of black electrical tape, I attached it to the same side, same piece.
When HGTV filmed our sunroom renovation, one tip I picked up from the carpenter installing our moulding is that the wood glue is what actually holds it together, and the nails stabilize it until the glue dries. The same principal works here, with tape instead of nails. In this case, the electrical tape also tidies up the seams to make it all look purdy.
Keep moving around the box until all pieces are glued and taped.
5. Create the bottom. Once all four sides were attached, I placed it on top of the remaining black foam board. That allowed me to use a pencil to trace the outline and then cut it out with my trusty X-ACTO knife. Then, you attach the bottom the same way you attach the sides… with glue and electrical tape. Magical combo, I’m telling you.
6. Attach a handle. There are many materials you can use to create a handle. Here’s a few from my stash, but you can also use rope.
The Pottery Barn version uses a wooden handle. For my version, I decided to use a more forgiving material (jute trim) since my son can be a little heavy handed with his toys. You simply create an X with your X-ACTO knife,
poke out a space on each side (I used scissors),
pull the rope/ribbon/jute through,
and knot it.
7. Next comes the personalization. You can do anything here! Use a white Elmer’s Painters marker, chipboard letters, stickers, stamps… you name it. The chipboard letters I used came with adhesive but it wasn’t strong enough. Some Elmer’s Craft Bond Extra Strength Glue Stick helped out with that!
You could also use stickers.
8. Enjoy. Use it to carry and store books, art supplies, trucks, you name it. Bee loves his new caddy!
I know what you’re thinking.
“Carrie, really, did foam board and rope really hold up to an 18-month-old?”
YES! Here’s Noodle toting it around, and at one point Bee shook it by the handle back and forth — for at least one minute– until all the balls fell out… and it still looks brand new!
Now, the really fun part. Two lucky readers will win one set of the following Elmer’s products! {I’ve added links to products not in the tutorial so you can see what you’ll get}:
• Black 20×30 Foam Board
• White 20×30 Foam Board
• CraftBond All-Purpose Glue Stick
• CraftBond Repositionable Glue Stick
• CraftBond Extra-Strength Glue Stick
• X-ACTO Designer Series Gripster Knife
• Painters Assorted Colors Set
Initial Entry: Tell me what you’d do with the supplies, be as general or specific as you’d like.
Additional Entries (leave a comment for each):
- “Like” Making Lemonade on Facebook
- Follow @MakingLemonade1 and @Elmers on Twitter
- Tweet: “Want to win an @Elmer’s prize pack? See what @MakingLemonade1 made, and comment for a chance to #win! http://ow.ly/7KDea”
- Subscribe to Making Lemonade in a reader or via email
- Comment with your FAVORITE product from Elmer’s!
I’ll pick a winner December 11th at 11:59 PM using Random.org. Good luck!
ginger @ literally inspired says
Dare I say I like yours better???
I think I would try to make art work for Landon’s room that looks like a race track. I think that could happen with those supplies.
Ginger
nn says
It’s absolutely adorable Carrie! Once again, I am amazed at your awesome craftiness!!!
Amy @ The Mom Hood says
Love the jute detail – I think it actually looks better than the Pottery Barn version!
Kathy says
That turned out great. If I won I would make a christmas tree or wreath covered in ornaments.
Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage says
I would craft with the kids if I won!
Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage says
I liked you on facebook!
Katie says
I would love to make a Christmas craft with all the supplies… maybe a sign of sorts!
Katie says
I am already a fan of Making Lemonade on Facebook!
Katie says
I already follow Making Lemonade and Elmers on Twitter!
Katie says
Just tweeted about the giveaway!
http://twitter.com/#!/SewWoodsy/status/142347384972779520
Chrissy @ The Outlaw Mom Blog says
Gorgeous carryall box! My kids definitely need these and I definitely don’t need to be wasting my money at PB – thanks for sharing this tutorial 🙂
Anonymous says
my son wants his room changed..i think i’d make a train track growth chart for his wall with the supplies
nannypanpan at gmail.com
Anonymous says
gfc nannypanpan
nannypanpan at gmail.com
Anonymous says
i like their 3d washable paint pens glitter colors
nannypanpan at gmail.com
Heather says
Great job! It looks just like the wood one and I like your handle better. I would love to try this.
Rebecca E. Parsons/Cre8Tiva says
cute, cute
heather @ localfunforkids says
I’d make something crafty for my kids.
Carolyn says
I am so amazed at the projects all you ladies have done. I never thought to even attempt to make some of these at home but you have given me inspiration. I’m going to spend my Christmas vacation making all kinds of projects with Elmers.
Carolyn says
I Liked Making Lemonade on FB.
Carolyn says
I subscribed to your blog through Google Reader.
Carolyn says
I follow @MakingLemonade and @Elmers on twitter.
Carolyn says
I tweeted about the giveaway.
http://twitter.com/#!/temysmom/status/143106047056420866
Carolyn says
My favorite Elmer’s products are the Paint Markers and the Glue Dots.
Amber says
I don’t know what I’d do…but it would be full of GLITTER I’m sure! 😉 amber at thriftyninja dot net
Kelly Moran says
I would stalk Pinterest to find a craft to do with the kids on a blustry or snowy day!
delcodealdiva@yahoo.com
Kelly Moran says
My favorite product from Elmer’s is the Disappearing Color glue sticks
delcodealdiva@yahoo.com
mammabearsworld says
I would totally make a carry box for each boy. They love having something to carry their cars in!
Jennifer says
I would make frames for my kids’ artwork.
Jennifer says
I like your blog on Facebook.
Jeannine says
I love this! I would attempt to make this or something like a treasure box with my son
mellanhead74 at hotmail.com
Jeannine says
like you on facebook (jeannine drenchek-scavo)
mellanhead74 at hotmail.com
Jeannine says
https://twitter.com/#!/mellanhead/status/143554267725303808
mellanhead74 at hotmail.com
Jeannine says
Our favorite product right now is the school glue..my 5 yr old goes through bottles doing his crafts
mellanhead74 at hotmail.com
Barb @ A Life in Balance says
Nice! I was curious to know if this would hold up to kids. Nice to know that foamboard can do the job.
mrsrkfj says
This is awesome! I am going to do this with my scout troop.
Jessica @FoundtheMarbles says
I like the lettering on yours better than the original for sure. Want to make one for my kids next?!?!?
Diane says
I love the idea of making storage boxes! I would try to make the box you made, but instead of a name I’d add what should go in the box, such as “cars” and “Mr. Potato Head” because it makes it so much easier to have the toy storage boxes labeled for clean up time.
janejoey57 says
i think i would make the craft you’ve made or i might try to make a birdhouse. your box is very cute! calliope_123 at hotmail dot com
anne hill
janejoey57 says
I Making Lemonade on FB (anne hill)
calliope_123 at hotmail dot com
janejoey57 says
i follow @MakingLemonade1 and @Elmers on Twitter (@janejoeyxo)
calliope_123 at hotmail dot com
anne hill
janejoey57 says
http://twitter.com/#!/janejoeyxo/status/143927079652687872
calliope_123 at hotmail dot com
anne hill
janejoey57 says
i subscribe via email
calliope_123 at hotmail dot com
janejoey57 says
so far my elmers product that i enjoy the most is the regular glue that school kids use. it spreads around easily & adheres well. i have used it in crafts for wood, fabric, and paper. it is versatile & strong.
calliope_123 at hotmail dot com
anne hill