Ages 18+
Shoe Garden
Skills/Topics:
-Woodworking
-Home Decor
Supply List:
-Wood Board
-Wood Beams
-Measuring Tape
-Writing Tool
-Hot Glue Gun & Glue
-Plastic (preferably thicker but thin enough to cut)
-Scissors
-Nails
-Saw
-Hammer
-Paint
-Paintbrush (not needed if you use spray paint)
-Rocks
-T Square
Alternative Supply List:
-If you don't have wood, nails, a hammer, and a saw you can use a short cardboard box instead such as a copy paper box lid. If you use a cardboard box try decorating it with paint, paper and mod podge (or a 50/50 glue water mixture) or something else to make it fun and decorative!
-If you do not have a measuring tape use a ruler if available.
-If you do not have hot glue use what you do have.
-If you only have plastic wrap and plastic bags try to layer them and be careful not to rip them.
-If you do not have paint leave the project unpainted.
Overview:
During this project you will create a decorative "shoe garden" or shoe tray to put your shoes when you come home.
Project Directions:
Step One:
Measure the space you are going to put your shoe garden in. Collect your materials and if you can recruit an assistant!
Step Two:
If you are using cardboard instead of wood cut or obtain your desired box size. Then skip to step 5. If you are creating your project with wood then continue reading this step.
Cut two wood beams the length of your desired shoe garden. Cut two wood beams the width of your desired shoe garden minus the thickness of the beams already cut. For example if you want your shoe garden to be 1 foot by 4 feet long with boards that are 1 inch thick, you will cut two pieces that are four feet long for the length of the shoe garden. Then you will add the thickness of the first two beams which was 1 inch each for a total of two inches. You will subtract this measurement by the desired length of the beam which is 1 foot so the cut will be 10 inches. Then you will cut two beams to 10 inches. If this step is not done then you will end up with a shoe garden that is 1 foot 2 inches by 4 feet long.
Step Three:
Nail your wood beams together with the small beams between the long beams. I would recommend nails that have a small head and that they are long enough to hold the pieces securely together. If the nail goes through the long beam and barely into the short piece it won't hold together. If you have a T Square you can use it to make sure all of your pieces are put together at a 90 degree angle.
Step Four:
Measure, cut, and nail together a bottom onto the wood beams. I used a board I already had so I ended up having to cut two pieces for the bottom. The board I used was about 1/4 inch thick.
Step Five:
Measure, cut, and glue a plastic lining into the inside bottom of the shoe garden. This will protect the shoe garden from water damage as it is used over time. I used a hot glue gun to glue the plastic to the edges of the shoe garden, once dry the hot glue will help seal the water from reaching the bottom panel of wood as well. If you have thin plastic considering taping it or using a different form of glue since the hot glue may melt it. I used an old plastic mat that we had in storage.
Step Six:
Paint and or decorate as desired. I used spray paint I had left over. I may paint it with another coat at some point if I have leftover paint from another project.
Step Seven:
Put the shoe garden where it will "live" within your home. Then fill it will rocks. If you fill it with rocks first, it will be very heavy to move. I placed my example in my entryway/mudroom... now to work on the rest of my entryway!
