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Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Barbwire trim on re-purposed Toolbox Tote.Ugly to pretty


I hope you saw this blog ...  Tool Box Tote Trays and STUFF. Fab Finds $14.00  of my fabulous 'picks' that I bought for $14.00. If not, you can go to the link above.



I love the old time-worn wooden toolbox totes ... what a story they could tell.

 
This gray one is my favorite but it is big and heavy. It is 32½" long ... 8½" wide. There is a little compartment in the back where two saws would have been kept. 
This is a carpenters tool box.

Can you imagine carrying this around full of tools?
I cleaned away all the gunk, washed it really good and sanded it to show more ware and get rid of the stains.
 
Then I applied a thin coat of light brown BRIWAX. Never used this before, but I really love it. This brought out the glow of the bare wood and brightened the gray color. May have a little blue in the gray ... maybe a French gray. Looks rich now. 
 
I had two really neat antique pieces of barbwire and this "key-like-cotter-key-chained-together-thingy" that I thought would look good on it.

  
Ugly, mean looking Barb ... OUCH

Here is the make-over. 
 
I attached the wire with the three, big SHARP barbs to what I decided was the front because I wanted the slotted saw compartment in the back for standing stuff like platters or books.


The rather plain, simple piece of twisted wire with very sharp barbs would go on the back.
 
 That piece looked a little lost all by itself, so I moved it to one side, added the key chain thingy and the rusty iron star.


Wow, this turned out good and needed to be on the front ... but way too late because I had nailed big staples in to hold everything in place, so no changing anything now. Just go with it. 


My daughter has dishes at her ranch house that are decorated with Western scenes and barbwire ... so I got the bright idea to clean up and decorate this tote for her to use as a centerpiece this Fall.

 Well; now have decided it is way too big for a table centerpiece. 

Regardless of size, or how or who will use it, I was happy with the decorations and I will find a place for it.

I simply added some Texas Whitetail deer antlers and an old clock face. Too much stuff distracted.


I think it turned out pretty nice and I will enjoy decorating with it, that is if my daughter does not borrow it. 

I am sure you could not miss the ORANGE tote in the first picture ...


But look at me now ........... 

Tutorial coming up soon about the Tote and that beautiful lace tablecloth in the background.

Thanks for the visit. I love your comments. 
Blessings,
Audrey Z. 


Linking to: 
The Dedicated House

From My Front Porch to Yours


Savvy Southern Style Wow Us Wednesday













16 comments:

  1. My sister has my grandfather's carpenter box. I love what you have done with yours and I love your daughter's dishes! Pinning this! ~ Maureen

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  2. As always Audrey, you are inventive and your artistic skills shine. Love the changes and additions to the larger carpenters box and the feminine gentleness of the smaller repainted tote. I look forward to each post you write. Thanks for visiting and commenting on my post. Appreciated.
    Joy

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  3. Came over from Gotta Create to drool over your finds. I have a large collection of tool boxes and totes. I am currently working on some newer ones to make them more distressed. Thanks for sharing yours. They are beautiful!

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  4. lOVE THE LITTLE TOTES, AND THE EMBELLISHMENTS!

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  5. Oh, my! It really is just perfect! So beautiful! Thank you for sharing. Visiting from FMFPTY. Would love it if you would share this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2012/08/make-it-pretty-monday-week-10.html Hope to see you at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  6. Audrey I love your tool caddys. What a fab project. Thanx for sharing at THT!

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  7. Oh, Audrey...these are waaay cute. You are so good at putting new dresses on all kinds of things. You are, indeed, a talented artist.

    I am looking and thinking about a centerpiece for my big dining table and this would be awesome...so, NOW, I've added a wooden tool box to my "I WANT" list. :))

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  8. You are so creative.... great job!

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  9. What a fabulous makeover of the totes! I have a really large one too and trying to decide what to do with it. Thanks for the ideas! Way cute!

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  10. Love the barbwire addition to the tote. You had on your thinking cap!

    ~Bliss~

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  11. Thanks for following me! Meant to tell you I'm following you now too. Just love all your projects and redos!
    Blessings back to you,
    Cecilia

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  12. I'm glad you couldn't see me when I read this post and saw that first tote! YOU are SO creative!!
    That is just adorable. And the clock..so perfect..tiny blue hands..amazing.
    Then the second, a bit simpler one..and every bit as cute and clever.
    I think I MUST follow you! :):):)
    Mona

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  13. Love how you embellished that old toolbox! Very handsome.
    Thanks so much for linking up at I Gotta Create! <3 Christina

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  14. Love both of these tool boxes! I really need one like that! Love the florishes on the old "orange" one! Great work!

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  15. This one turned out fantastic too! Wow, you are very creative! Love all the old rusty decorations on it.
    Debbie :)

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  16. you sure know how to decorate a tote...so nice

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