How to Build a Rustic Wooden Tote
This beautiful antique tote was built from scratch...
When I first began my blog back in 2011 I would paint and
distress already made totes... Well I've come a long way baby!
Donna from Funky Junk Interiors encouraged me to pick up power tools and create my own. She told me they didn't need to
be perfect... isn't that what we like anyway? Rustic?
Well in the past 4 years I not only now make my own totes,
I make everything. I have an entire arsenal of tools in my
workshop and totes are my very favorite things to make.
For this rustic tote I used a very old and distressed 1" x 4"
from my stash of old, reclaimed wood.
I drilled pilot holes, used wood glue, and screwed the pieces
of the tote together with big old rustic screws.
The metal handle on this tote was some kind of wrought iron hook
that I bent to a right angle to fit around the top of the tote.
I bent the iron with a vise... This vise is from my Grandfather's
workshop and it is one of my favorite tools. I use it for most of my projects to either hold, bend, or squeeze something for a project.
I couldn't do without this tool and in some ways it feels like Grandpa is there overseeing the production. I think he'd be proud... He always encouraged me to do my best and work hard... I do.
When the tote was finished I painted it with Miss Mustard Seed
Milk Paint in Ironstone. Milk paint worked great on this project
because it soaked right into the old, thirsty wood.
After a couple coats of milk paint I used Rust-oleum Decorative Glaze to antique the tote. Paint it on then wipe it off...
It gave the tote a beautiful antique finish.
I love the way this tote turned out and
I'm up for making another one real soon!
Click here for more Rustic Tote and Crate Inspiration?
