Turn Affordable Dollar Tree Items Into The Cutest DIY Storage Basket

DIY projects are a great way to take simple items and transform them into something new. If you're looking to create a useful storage solution out of affordable Dollar Tree items, there are a number of projects that can make that happen. One interesting DIY posted by Hometalk on YouTube lets you take a variety of wooden items from the Dollar Tree and create a storage basket that can be used in and out of the kitchen. And, it's relatively customizable, making this perfect for anyone looking to add some cute storage around their home.

What you'll need for this project is two bamboo cutting boards, two wooden crates from Dollar Tree, a wooden bead wreath, wood glue, a drill, a piece of scrap wood (this piece of wood needs to be the length of the cutting boards and the width of the crates), paint (the original DIYer used white), and large clamps. Some optional items that were used as part of the original project include wooden clothespins, a hole saw, and a sanding block (used together with the hole saw).

This DIY will require a bit of time to put together, especially since you will need to wait for the paint to dry. And since all of the wood pieces will be attached with wood glue, it typically takes some time to dry, so this storage basket could take up to 24 hours to complete.

To get this storage caddy started, you'll want to take off any stickers and residue. The original creator started by drilling a small hole (large enough for the wire inside the beaded wreath) where the handle will go through each board. Next, paint the cutting boards, the scrap wood that will act as a base, and the sides of the crates with white spray paint. After letting that dry, the creator went back in and used the hole saw to cut out one hole in both cutting boards to add a visual element to her project. This is a step you can skip for your own basket if you choose.

To bring this basket together, you'll glue the crates at either end of the scrap wood base, leaving a small space between the two boxes, giving you more storage room. Place a heavy item on top of the crates to help them stay in place while the glue dries. Next, glue the cutting board sides to the ends of the crates. You'll want to use large clamps to keep the boards in place to dry.

Once everything is dry, it's time for finishing touches, which include adding the optional wooden bead handle. You need to undo the hook that keeps the beads on the wire on one end, remove almost all of the beads, and then thread the wire through the hole on one side. Start adding the beads back on, and right before all of the beads are restrung, put the other end of the wire through the other side. Finish adding the beads and then reconnect the wire ends to each other in the center of the basket.

Besides cutting the hole in the center of the cutting boards, the other thing that the creator did to personalize this piece was to glue two clothes pins on one side of the basket. This gives you a spot to clip things like recipe cards in the kitchen or receipts if used on a desk. While this is another step you can skip, you might decide to add more than two clips to add more external storage room to this basket.

Another way to personalize this storage basket is to choose paint colors that work for your own decor. A design-forward option might be an accent color to your cabinets, furnishings, or walls — like a darker shade from the same palette. And while the original project did not touch the beads, leaving them the natural wood color, you could paint the beads so that they match the rest of the painted wood for a more cohesive look.

While the original crafter seemed to use this storage basket for kitchen items, like barbecue sauce and a bottle opener, this is a Dollar Tree DIY that would also help you organize craft supplies, or you could use it to keep things on your desk clutter-free. The most important thing to consider is how much weight you put in the storage basket if you plan to pick it up by the beaded handle.