Wastebaskets with Wow!

Transform an ordinary wastebasket with a few basic materials and tools.

Step 1: Using the template, cut four panels from the 1/4" thick birch board. Sand all edges and surfaces.

Step 2: Lay one panel (panel A) on a work surface, and use wood glue to attach a second panel (B) to the outside right edge at a right angle. Align the edges. Let the glue set by holding the pieces in place for a few minutes. Reinforce with brad nails.

Step 3: Lay panel B on the work surface, and glue a third panel (C) to the right edge of B at a right angle. Reinforce with brad nails.

Step 4: Keeping panel B flat on the work surface, and with the other two panels glued in place, glue the fourth one (D) across panels A and C and parallel to B. Again, reinforce remaining sides with brad nails.

Lay the wastebasket on its side on top of the wallpaper, and trace around it to make a pattern.

Step 5: Cut one 7- x 7 1/2" piece from the poplar board, and sand all edges. Apply wood glue around the outside edges, then place in the bottom of the wastebasket. This will form the floor of the basket and will sit roughly 1 1/2" above the feet. Reinforce the bottom using 1 1/4" finishing nails on two sides of the basket, from the outside in.

Step 6: Paint the wastebasket inside and out with two coats of black paint, allowing it to dry between coats.

Step 7: Using the wastebasket as the pattern, select a scene from a roll of toile wallpaper. Draw an outline of the basket's sides on the wallpaper. (Note: Be aware that the sides of the wastebasket are not all the same dimension.) Trace and cut four panels of the wallpaper.

Step 8: Trim about 3/8" from the right and left sides of the wallpaper panels and about 1/2" from the top and bottom so that the panels will be framed by the black. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to attach paper to the basket (some wallpaper may be prepasted, while others need adhesive).

Step 9: Seal with two coats of Polycrylic, and allow time to dry before using the wastebasket.

Trimmed in ornate moulding, this wastebasket adds a stylish counterpoint to any room.

Step 1: Using a jigsaw, cut a piece of 1/4" thick birch plywood into four 10" x 12" pieces.

Step 2: Following the template pictured below, draw an arch across the top of each piece. Cut out the arch using a jigsaw. Sand all edges.

Step 3: Lay one panel (panel A) on a work surface, and glue a second panel (panel B) to the right edge of A at a right angle. Align edges, and secure using wood glue. Hold in place for a few minutes to set the glue. Reinforce sides with brad nails.

Step 4: Lay panel B on the work surface, and glue a third panel (C) to the right edge of B at a right angle. Align the edges, and secure them with wood glue. Reinforce with brad nails.

Step 5: Lay panel C on the work surface, and glue the final panel (D) to the right edge of C and also to the left outside edge of the first panel, A. Let set, and reinforce with nails.

Step 6: Lay open wastebasket on the pine panel, and trace along inside edges of basket. Cut with a jigsaw. Apply wood glue, and align the bottom so that the edges are flush with the sides. Nail in place using 1 1/4" finishing nails on the sides, from the outside in.

Painted wastebasket with moulding trim.

Step 7: Measure the outside edges of the wastebasket, and cut pieces of moulding for the trim, mitering to fit. Glue in place approximately 6 inches from the bottom.

Step 8: Glue four square wood knobs to the four bottom corners, which will create feet for the wastebasket.

Step 9: Paint the inside and outside of the wastebasket with two coats of black paint. While the paint is still wet, rub some off the moulding so that the design shows more clearly.

Step 10: Paint the inside of the wastebasket with three coats of gold glaze, allowing it to dry thoroughly between each application.

Step 11: On the moulding, apply gold glaze, then wipe off to enhance the detail. Using a smaller craft brush, apply gold paint along the edge of the moulding, but do not wipe off. Paint the feet gold.

Step 12: For a finishing touch, brush gold glaze along the top arched edges of the wastebasket and down the sides. Smear the edge of the gold "band" with a rag or cheesecloth so that it is not crisply defined.

Step 13: Paint and let dry, then glaze and seal the entire wastebasket with a coat of Polycrylic.

Originally published in Lowe's Creative Ideas for Your Home and Garden magazine. Copyright [November/December 2002] Direct Marketing Ventures, Inc.