Basket of love!!!!

Hello and a late happy new year to all!

I was given a fabby crate of wine for Christmas by some wonderful friends.  The wine is (and was!) delicious... but the box made my heart beat faster...

I envisioned all sort of wonderful things that I could do with it and today I made that come true!!!!

As we emerge from the January dry spell into Valentine's day, this particular  project seems especially fitting.  Back to loving life, with a glass of wine in hand!  Plus it was very inexpensive (who the heck has any spare $$$ after Christmas?) ... and very easy!  It's one of those projects that once finished, will  give you years of joy and be the envy of all of your friends who squandered $100+ on picnic baskets!!! Look at my new (practically free) beauty!

The finished product!!!!

Details...
First I cut an old atlas so that the maps fit the bottom of the crate and put that aside. Then I stained it a brown colour...reminiscent of old steamer trunks and cigars - yum!  Took about 5 minutes, and maybe 10 or 15 to dry enough to continue. Next I added some hardware, 4 corners on the bottom, 2 decorative hasps (the suitcase closure thingys) and a few upholstery tacks.

The big brass kind that you usually see on Art Deco furniture.  That investment cost me less than $20 at the local hardware store.  The hasps came with the tiniest nails, too delicate for me, so I substituted the tacks.  I thought it gave it a more substantial look.

For the strap I used an old old purse strap, I had a 30+ year old second hand, gifted to me,  coach leather  bag  (thanks Pat!) that probably originally sold with a matching saddle... :) it was well worn and perfect for this. With the holes already punched in it I used them as guides and staple gunned the handle to the box.  I stapled on top of the holes and used more upholstery tacks to hide the staples. I did this for  sturdiness, cause my picnic box is likely to carry enough food for four and an equivalent amount of wine :)

Now the interior...

I took the  atlas pages and brushed them with a tea solution to 'age' then, next I mod podged / glued them to the bottom of the crate.  I will eventually put a thin coat of urethane on it to seal it against food spills.  But
today is not that day. I couldn't wait to finish it!

Finally I assembled the beauty.  1 round white table cloth, 2 bottles of wine, 3 small plates, corkscrew, candles, matches, wine plugs ( like there will be some left over???!!!??!!) cutlery, cutting board, wine glasses, small vase for flowers,  yummy cheeses and napkins.

Good to go!  I'm thinking you could make one for you and your squeeze in about 2 hours once you have the bits and pieces.   Beautiful, elegant and totally fitting for that special occasion or for solitary trips to the beach with a good book mmmmmm :)

All this for less than $20 -- almost too good to be true!




Tool Diva
Xx