Storage Box / Side Table

by Sue
(Australia)

I made this storage box / side table by recycling an old milk crate and covering it inside and out with paper pulp. I gave the outside a textured finish with a mix of joint plaster, water and PVA glue. When it was dry I painted it with acrylic house paint.

This project took several months to complete because the pulp was quite thick and took a long time to dry out in our humid climate.

The handles are pieces of timber, glued and screwed in place prior to plastering.

The lid started off by cutting the base from a second milk crate; the idea was that this would sit nicely in the top of the box and would be strong enough to sit on. I had trouble getting the smooth finish I wanted on it, so I glued and screwed a piece of plywood onto the top of it. After much sanding and filling, it was eventually smooth enough and got a coat of paint. (I make life hard for myself sometimes!!)

I put a clear acrylic cutting mat on top to protect the surface from hot drinks and spills.

I'm making another one of these boxes, but, to keep things simple, the lid will be made from a piece of plywood with some stoppers on the inside to hold it in place.