This will be quick because my hubby is waiting on me to come outside and help him wash my car. I have been busy this week, along with some other great teachers, working on a pinterest project. I finally finished up this afternoon and took them to my classroom.
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I made this bench out of milk crates zip-tied together. I then
added a bench seat to the top. It is also zip-tied on. I bought
the red crates at Lowes for @ $7. |
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I also made this 3 crate one. I am thinking about arranging
these 2 benches in an L-shape in the corner. Not sure yet. |
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I made the stools with my teacher friends Tuesday.
The lids lift up for storage inside. These will be placed
around the rug in my meeting area probably. I may
make a few more. |
Here are the next pinterest projects I plan on making. I went by Lowes and picked up the material to make these
whisper phones today. I also picked up some tissue paper at Wal-Mart to make
these. I also have an empty Crystal Light container and popsicle sticks to make these
writing prompts with. What pinterst projects are you working on this summer? I just love getting things ready for my room!
Precious! So impressed! You did a great job! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLaura
Peace, Love, and First Grade
OMG! Love the bench!!! I am soooo going to make one! I made some little stools last summer that are similar. You can see on here
ReplyDeletehttp://simplysecondgrade.blogspot.com/2011/08/cheap-classroom-projects.html
This looks great! I didn't realize you could make crates look like a bench. What did you use for the actual seating part?
ReplyDeleteStorie
Stories by Storie
I used a piece of plywood, then some foam from Walmart (actually from a twin-sized egg-crate mattress topper $10), and then material from WalMart (feels like a vinyl table cloth $3/yard). I also helped a friend make stools. She covered hers with regular material and then clear plastic material. Hope this helps
ReplyDeleteThose stools are fabulous as is that bench! You are one talented woman :). Glad I found you today.
ReplyDeleteKelley Dolling
Teacher Idea Factory
This bench is a great idea and I am SO glad I found you through Pinterest! Your idea is WAY cheaper than the sideways bookshelf I was considering. Thanks so much!!
ReplyDelete~Stephanie
3rd Grade Thoughts
Stephanie, I was also considering the sideways bookshelf but didn't want to fork over the money. These milk crates were free!!! Can't beat that. I love a bargain!
ReplyDeleteJennifer
How did y ou go about getting g your free milk crates??
DeleteThe 4 crate bench would fit perfectly in front of my classroom window! How did you zip tie the plywood to the top of the crates?
ReplyDeleteI have the same question
DeleteWow! I love the benches and stools. I am so going to try this for my room! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteEileen Griffin
Second Grade Sunshine
I'm wondering the same thing....how did you attach the plywood to the crates? Also, for the single seat ones...do you have them hinged on one side so they can lift up?? I love the idea of being able to store clipboards or whiteboards and pens on the inside...how clever!! Love it!!
ReplyDeleteI did not use hinges on the stools. The top just lifts off.
ReplyDeleteThe bench was a little tricky. Let me see if I can explain it. I am supposed to help a friend make one so I will try to take pictures when I do. I cut the wood to fit the bench. I then placed the wood on the floor and sat the bench on top of it. I took a pen and drew dots where I wanted to drill holes for the zip ties. I drilled the holes. This is the tricky part. I put the zip ties in one hole and out another. I did this for all holes. I then put the cushion and material on top of zip ties (the ends were sticking out other side of wood) and stapled down. Then I zip-tied the wood to the milk crates. Let me know if this does not make sense.
Jennifer
I get free Milk Crates all the time. Last summer I saw on a couple of blogs how they made something similar but I didn't want to spend the money. This allows me to put those milk crates to good use and a place to put centers as my room is small and I am always having comments about too much furniture. I can double up on furniture and storage on a budget!
ReplyDeleteLove the bench and the fabric you used!! Thanks for the idea.
ReplyDeleteApril
Wolfelicious
This is such a great idea! Love the blog, keep up the great work.
ReplyDeleteI am your newest follower. Love it if you came and checked out my blog! Plus I am having a giveaway right now.
www.loveofteachingkimberly.blogspot.com
This bench is fabulous. My crate seats didn't hold up this year but I think this would. LOVE it!
ReplyDeletewww.missnelsonsgotthecamera.blogspot.com
LOVE this idea!! Cheap and easy! Where did you get free milk crates or where I can get cheap milk crates? So excited about this idea!!
ReplyDeleteI don't have a Lowes where I live has anyone found any other bins that work well?
ReplyDeleteYou can find the same bins that I bought at Lowes on Amazon here.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.com/ClosetMaid-43217-Closet-Fabric-Drawer/dp/B002JCT968/ref=pd_sim_hg_4
Jennifer
What a great idea! Welcome to the bloggy world.
ReplyDeletehttp://secondgradelockerroom.blogspot.com
Love this! I was thinking about zip tying it without a drill. What if you marked the locations the used a heavy duty stapler to attach it to the bottom of the wood? I'm not very skilled with a drill.
ReplyDeleteFabulous idea. Thank you for sharing. I have been trying to talk my husband into making something like this from plywood but this is so much easier.I would love to see the step outs for attaching the seat to the bench. Can you tell how you get the milk crates for free? I need my cubbies to lock. Any ideas come to mind for that? Thanks again for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGo to your local grocery store and politely ask if you can grab a couple of milk cartons...some will say no, because they give them back to the supplier; however I was able to get some without any hassle at all. Fantastic idea, I will be making this for my son's room this weekend...so much cheaper than any I have found at all of the big box stores.
ReplyDeleteAll I am going to say is school cafeterias use a LOT of milk. I may or may not have gotten mine there. My best friend also owns a grocery store and she can get milk cares also.
ReplyDeleteI meant crates.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, but I have one question...because you lay the crate on it's side,do you think the weight of the plywood + children sitting on it will cause the crates to bend underneath all that weight, or is having 3 crates together somehow fortify it better. I can see putting the plywood on top of the crate opening and then flipping it up to use the inside as storage. However, this would take away the slide-in/out basket. Again, just curious because they look really cute. I could use extra sitting in my classroom reading area!
ReplyDeleteI don't think there will be a problem with the crates. These are real milk crates and they are very strong. I don't think this would work with the crates that you buy at WalMart.
ReplyDeleteJennifer
Tammy,
ReplyDeleteLet me know if you make some and staple the zip ties. I'd love to know if that works.
Jennifer
Where did you get your milk crates from? I have been searching for some.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Bekah
I was able to get my free milk crates from a local dairy. They gave me 30 for free. If you have a local dairy try them.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea! Can you tell me the width of the plywood? It seems to overhang the bench a little. I'm guessing it's about 13 inches.
ReplyDeleteI need ideas for getting the milk crates! I have been all over my town and Jackson, TN and they all said they aren't allowed to give them away!!! I'm getting really frustrated because I want to make this!
ReplyDeleteKatie,
ReplyDeleteHave you tried your school cafeteria?
JenniferGrade2Happenings
i just found these on the Container Store website....
ReplyDeletehttp://www.containerstore.com/shop/closet/cubesBins?productId=10000531
hope this helps someone!
For your stools, how do you have the overhang on the plywood without it slipping off the crates?
ReplyDeleteI am going to try and make it for the upcoming year. How did you make the top part of the bench?
ReplyDeleteLove your seats! Found you via Pinterest and I am so glad I did... I'm your newest follower. Come by and visit when you get a chance.
ReplyDelete:0) Melissa
www.moretime2teach.blogspot.com
These are so cool! I absolutely love them! I blog over at http://www.2crafty4myskirt.blogspot.com/ Every Friday I feature a fellow crafter. I would love to feature you and this porject in an upcoming Friday. If you are interested please let me know toocraftyformyskirt@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteJust to clarify.... I did have permission to get my crates. I do not suggest anyone steal anything. I never said I stole these crates. They were given to me. Sorry if anyone took my humor to mean I stole them. This is why I never tell jokes.
ReplyDeleteJennifer
I have a question for ya...I've almost got mine entirely built but I can't seem to find bins to go in my crates that fit as good as your! Did I buy the wrong kind of crates?
ReplyDeleteDear Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteDo you have a link to the site where you wrote the most accurate account of how you made the bench seats with crates? I can't seem to locate the one I think I saw one time that included pictures.
Thanks so much for your fabulous ideas and your willingness to share them with others!
I found the bins that go in the crates in the dollar section at target. Now How much fabric to buy?
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer, I just finished making my milk crate bench. I am so excited about it. Anyway I posted a picture on pintrest but then realized that I did not give you created for the design. How do I do that? I am so sorry if I messed up. I want to make sure that you have credit for the design. I do have your bench pinned on my board as well as mine. Thanks for your help and great ideas.
ReplyDeleteIs there a way for me to look at your picture of your milk crate bench? I'm excited as I will be going to the Container Store tomorrow to buy crates. Can't seem to get them free around me. My email is pagruso@stesnb.org if you could send the name you use on Pinterest so I could take a look at your picture - Please!
ReplyDeleteMenards also has the bins for inside the crates in their storage/shelving section.
ReplyDeleteI used two crates together covered the top with a 1 1/2 foot x 2 1/2 foot board. Then used a Queen size pillow for padding and then covered with a picnic table cloth. Works great!
ReplyDeletehi jennifer i am trying to figure out how one zipties a plywood bench seat to the milk crates. on the plywood what would the zipties go through?
ReplyDeleteThank you I am thinking of making this for both my boys rooms!!! :-)
tess
Greetings from California! I'm bored at work so I decided to check out your blog on my iphone during lunch break. I really like the info you provide here and can't
ReplyDeletewait to take a look when I get home. I'm surprised at how fast your blog loaded on my mobile .. I'm not even
using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, wonderful site!
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I love this idea! I intend to use it in my house and eventually in my office.
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Netgear Router Tehnical Support
I just found your project on Pinterest! I'm looking to make one for my classroom - I know you use this for your kids to sit on, but do you think it would support a child standing on it? I teach little six year olds, but I wanted to put this under my SmartBoard. I have actual milk crates from the cafeteria, but how sturdy does it become when you add plywood and such?
ReplyDeleteTarget sell crates for $4. Hope that helps.
ReplyDelete