Project #1: A toy box for Kona
My first project was something I've been wanting to do for quite a while, build a toy box for my dog. I know, I treat my dog like a child, I admit it. But seriously, she has so many toys, and they are everywhere. I completely forgot to take pictures of the process, I promise to be better about that! I kind of based my project off this project from... you guessed it, Ana White. My version is significantly smaller though!
Here's my cut list:
3/4 inch MDF (3/4 is kinda overkill for this little box, but it's what I had, you could easily get away with 1/2 inch)
2 @ 17 1/4 x 12 (sides of box)
2@ 15x12 (front and back of box)
1@ 15 3/4 x 15 (bottom of box)
2- 1x3 @ 18, ends cut at 45 degrees, not parallel to each other (bottom trim)
2- 1x3 @ 18 3/4, ends cut at 45 degrees, not parallel to each other (bottom trim)
2- 1x2 @ 18, ends cut at 45 degrees, not parallel to each other (top trim)
2- 1x2 @ 18 3/4, ends cut at 45 degrees, not parallel to each other (top trim)
1/2" cove molding
2 @ 18 , ends cut at 45 degrees, not parallel to each other
2 @ 18 3/4, ends cut at 45 degrees, not parallel to each other
Step 1
Build your box. I used my Kreg Jig to drill holes on the side pieces and then added them to the front and back pieces, building, literally, a square box with no top or bottom.
Step 2
Add your bottom to the box. I placed mine inside and then just screwed it to the sides from the outside of the box. (You'll cover up the holes later when you put on the bottom trim.)
Step 3
I painted my main pieces now. I just used some black paint I had on hand for the outside and some
off-white on the inside.
Step 4
Cut your bottom trim to fit around the outside of your box. I stood mine up on their ends and mitered them to have prettier corners, but you don't have to. Then I glued and screwed them onto my box from the outside. I use self-driving screws, so I don't have to counter-sink and pre-drill every hole. Call me lazy, but it saves me so much time. And I never split my wood. Ever.
Step 5
Cut your 1x2s to fit around the top. I laid it down on it's side and again, mitered the corners. Glue and screw again.
Step 6
Now you have a very large ledge on the top edge, and it's pretty unsteady. Here's where your molding comes in. Once more time, I mitered the corners and cut it to fit perfectly around my box and glued it on.
That's it! All, everything! I filled my holes, sanded a little, and taped off the black part of my box. Then I spray painted the off-white that I'd used on the inside on the trim pieces. I had a extra wood applique from Lowes on hand so I spray painted that too, and then gorilla glued it on the front. Done.
Now Kona's favorite thing to do it take all her toys out of her new toy box. Except the ones she can't reach cause she's still a baby. Someday I'll teach her how to put them all away (haha), but for now, at least they have a place to go!
