One neighbor's trash is another neighbor's treasure. Trash day in our neighborhood is Friday. Therefore Thursday night is a good time to go pallet-hunting. What may look like a simple jog through the neighborhood for exercise is actually a scope-out for pallet wood. I've found numerous pallets this way as well as old windows for crafting.
People in my neighborhood were probably scratching their heads as a petite woman jogged by and then swung back around with the car and heaved and hoed their discarded pallet into the back of her car. Eventually I'd like to make a coffee table or side table with an old window as the glass top, but my skills are not that advanced yet. So the windows are currently sitting with lots of stacked up pallets waiting for me in the garage.
After disassembling the pallet wood and yanking out the nails, you've got some free weathered wood--if you like that look. I happen to like the shabby chic look so the weathered wood suites me just fine. As the pallet wood stockpile in the garage gradually increased and was narrowing in on the space the car is theoretically supposed to take up (when the garage isn't being used as woodshop), we considered that it was high time to make something from the pallet wood.
Enter ye old wood box. They might sell these at an ye olde shoppe or other such quaint establishments. I saw the plans for such a piece here on Shanty 2 Chic. I differed from these plans a bit by using pallet wood and by not staining the piece once I was finished for a more rustic look.
You start with three pallet boards of equal size (ours were 31 1/2" by 3 1/2 "). You then cut two end pieces with a table saw (4 5/8" by 3 1/2"). You assemble the box with the boards at right angles using the end pieces to cover each side. We then used a nail gun with 16 gauge finish-nails to nail the end pieces on. On Shanty 2 Chic they used wood glue, but we didn't think it needed that.
Then comes the fun part--filling the box. I put some cinnamon scented pinecones in the box to add a holiday aroma. For some greenery I added some boxwood clippings from my yard. I also put some candles and small votives in Mason Jars to give it some light. I lit the candles to see what it would look like. If I were going to do it again I would probably put all the candles in the Mason Jars, so the greenery doesn't catch on fire :) You can also change up the box fillers with the season. Next year I will probably put some mini pumpkins in the box along with the candles. I put my box on my coffee-table, but it would also look nice as a centerpiece on a long dining room table.
For some added Christmas decor, I strung an Advent calendar made with mini mittens and gloves from our curtain rod in the dining room. A number of friends asked me if I made it, since I had made knitted mini ornaments as gifts before. However, since it took me hours to knit even one mini sweater ornament in the past, I learned from that toil just to buy a pre-made knitted advent calendar---not to attempt to make it myself. The advent calendar is from Garnet Hill, which can be expensive usually but has some good holiday sales.
I also have some "Chatterblocks" from Garnet Hill that are fun to play around with for the holidays. You can spell out any combination of holiday slogans, and we change them up for the seasons. Similarly our friends find it funny to spell out naughty phrases on them when we aren't watching. You know who you are.
To match the music garland on the Christmas tree which I talk about here, I wrapped some presents in vintage sheet music (from a book I bought at a library book sale). I had to tape a few sheets together to fit around the larger presents, but I like the effect. Plus I ran out of wrapping paper this year and didn't want to head out to buy more wrapping paper for the few remaining gifts :) I tied the sheet music with some leftover baker's twine and some free printable tags.
I'm off to make some last-minute gifts. I always think I'm on top of things but there is at least one gift I procrastinate with each year. Have a wonderful Christmas with your friends and family and may your days be merry and bright.
Anne with an E