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Lolly Jane

DIY wood caddy for school supplies

DIY· Organization

25 Aug

Hello, hello! Debby from Time to DIY, and I’m excited to share a fun organization project: a homework supplies caddy! Back-to-school always kicks me into get-organized mode, although it doesn’t typically last very long, haha. I’m working toward the ‘everything has a place’ goal (raise your hand if you’ve mastered this with kids and please tell me everything you know!) so I’m going to show you how to make a portable caddy to corral all those supplies. Mine is pictured with younger elementary supplies, but it can easily be switched up. Read on for all the details!

DIY Wood Caddy tutorial. Step by step to make this easy homework caddy, great way to coral your kids school supplies! Love this easy wood caddy tutorial!

Caddy Dimensions

  • Inside: 15-3/4 in. (wide) x 4 in. (deep) x  2-3/4 in. (high)
  • Outside: 17-1/4 in. (wide)  x 5-1/2 in. (deep) x 3-1/2 in. (high)

Here’s what you need (what I used):

  • 4 ft. x 3-1/2 in. x 3/4 in. board (any wood will do – I used my neighbor’s scrap pine)
  • 15-3/4 in. x 4 in. x 3/4 in. board (I used the bottom of an IKEA spice rack)
  • Wood glue (and filler, if needed)
  • Nails (1-1/2 in. low-profile finishing nails)
  • Paint (Americana Decor Chalky Finish in Vintage)
  • Finishing wax (BB Frosch Clear Wax)
  • Pull handles (3 in. Canopy Cup Pull by Martha Stewart Living)
  • 5 jars (Target Dollar Spot) or cans
  • Homework supplies (pictured: markers, ruler, glue sticks, scissors, pencils, crayons and colored pencils)
  • Sign: Clip (Michaels), super glue, scrapbook paper (Heidi Swapp), and letters (Target Dollar Spot)

Cut measurements for a box to hold 5 jars:

Bottom board: 15-3/4 in. straight cut (pictured: IKEA spice rack bottom)

Front/back: 15-3/4 in. inside measurement with a 45 degree angled cut (outside measurement, 17-1/4 in.)

Sides: 4 in. inside measurement (5-1/2 in. outside measurement)

DIY Wood Caddy tutorial. Step by step to make this easy homework caddy, great way to coral your kids school supplies! Love this easy wood caddy tutorial!

After I made the cuts I dabbed a little wood glue on the edges and nailed the bottom and sides.

DIY Wood Caddy tutorial. Step by step to make this easy homework caddy, great way to coral your kids school supplies! Love this easy wood caddy tutorial!

I used some spackle to fill in some of the spaces. Wood filler is better, but since I was painting it, it didn’t matter. Next I painted (2 very light coats, it may crack if it’s too thick) and sealed it with one coat of wax.

DIY Wood Caddy tutorial. Step by step to make this easy homework caddy, great way to coral your kids school supplies! Love this easy wood caddy tutorial!

And finally, the hardware on the sides. Those are faux screws on the pulls with the real holes for the screws on the inside. It’s tricky knowing where to drill so I lined up painter’s tape with the sticky side out on the box and then attached the pull and poked the holes with a pencil. Then I removed it from the pull and and applied the tape on the box, put pencil marks through to mark the screw holes and drilled.

DIY Wood Caddy tutorial. Step by step to make this easy homework caddy, great way to coral your kids school supplies! Love this easy wood caddy tutorial!

I considered painting a message on the front, but then decided to use a clip so I could change it out during the year. I cut scrapbook paper and glued letters.

DIY Wood Caddy tutorial. Step by step to make this easy homework caddy, great way to coral your kids school supplies! Love this easy wood caddy tutorial!

I’m starting out with “you got this” because homework is sometimes the most stressful part of our day so it’s a bit of a subliminal message, and not just for my kids! This mama needs a lot of encouragement during homework sessions some most days, haha! I will probably change out the message by season and do count downs, etc. The clip is currently being held with a 3M Command strip, and when I’m ready to commit I will mount it with super glue.

The caddy is already a big hit!

DIY Wood Caddy tutorial. Step by step to make this easy homework caddy, great way to coral your kids school supplies! Love this easy wood caddy tutorial!

DIY Wood Caddy tutorial. Step by step to make this easy homework caddy, great way to coral your kids school supplies! Love this easy wood caddy tutorial!

DIY Wood Caddy tutorial. Step by step to make this easy homework caddy, great way to coral your kids school supplies! Love this easy wood caddy tutorial!DIY Wood Caddy tutorial. Step by step to make this easy homework caddy, great way to coral your kids school supplies! Love this easy wood caddy tutorial!

DIY Wood Caddy tutorial. Step by step to make this easy homework caddy, great way to coral your kids school supplies! Love this easy wood caddy tutorial!

DIY Wood Caddy tutorial. Step by step to make this easy homework caddy, great way to coral your kids school supplies! Love this easy wood caddy tutorial!

Please pin so your friends can enjoy this easy DIY Wood Caddy tutorial too! It’s cleary and easy step by step to make this easy homework caddy, great way to coral your kids school supplies! Love this easy wood caddy tutorial!

DIY Wood Caddy tutorial. Step by step to make this easy homework caddy, great way to coral your kids school supplies! Love this easy wood caddy tutorial!

Here’s to staying more organized this year! For more ideas, check out my back-to-school DIY backpack holder,

IMG_9107

my DIY laundry room ladder for vertical organization with hooks,

SS_sidetullipsfull

or my DIY industrial kids table with convenient hooks and bucket storage underneath.

IMG_7741

Follow me over at Time to DIY or on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter for more DIY home decor ideas. Hope you have a wonderful day!

24 Comments

About Lolly Jane

Meet Kelli & Kristi, twin sisters and authors of Lolly Jane. We are two busy wives + mommas who are makers of all things pretty. From signs to home decor and holiday crafts or redoing furniture in between soccer practices, we do it all all while armed with an ice cold Diet Coke. Join us in our DIY adventures! XOXO

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. clairejustine says

    07/25/2017 at 2:05 pm

    This looks perfect. What a great idea 🙂 Thanks for linking up to Creative Mondays.

    Reply
  2. Leanna says

    07/24/2017 at 11:33 pm

    This is perfect for back to school organization. All the munchkins needed supplies in a organized open display where they have easy access and you can see what they need before the supplies run short.

    When my boys were in school I always had a go to stash of school supplies hidden in my room so we never ran out. They always had what they needed for homework. Love this idea for young families.

    Reply
  3. Elise Cohen Ho says

    07/24/2017 at 9:42 pm

    That would be just perfect in a craft room.

    Reply
  4. Iris Nacole says

    07/24/2017 at 1:15 pm

    What a great project to complete and use! It’s super cute! Thanks for sharing it with us at The Creative Circle Link Party!

    Reply
  5. Lynne says

    07/23/2017 at 8:32 pm

    So cute and useful…perfect for back to school! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  6. Carol says

    09/15/2016 at 1:35 pm

    This turned out great! Featuring when my link party opens up tonight!

    Reply
    • Lolly Jane says

      09/16/2016 at 3:40 pm

      Thanks so much, Carol!! XO

      Reply
  7. Melissa Ruddy says

    09/09/2016 at 11:45 am

    This is so cute! I love that it has side handles so it can go from room to room easily. Great project!

    Reply
  8. Mary-the boondocks blog says

    09/07/2016 at 1:20 pm

    This is really adorable. I love the color you have painted it and the cute sign on the front says it all. But I want to use it to store my crafts too. Is that okay? Pinning and sharing.

    Reply
  9. Theresa @DearCreatives says

    09/07/2016 at 8:27 am

    Lovely idea & tutorial. Thank for joining the Inspiration Spotlight party. See you again soon. Pinned & shared.

    Reply
  10. Carol Cassara says

    09/07/2016 at 5:32 am

    What a great eye for color and design. Over from W H W and enjoying your site!

    Reply
    • Lolly Jane says

      09/07/2016 at 1:55 pm

      Thanks for coming by, Carol! XO

      Reply
  11. Holly McCall {McCall Manor} says

    09/06/2016 at 9:06 am

    This is just the cutest, sweetest little caddy around! Loving the colors and the saying!

    Reply
  12. Marie says

    09/05/2016 at 6:33 am

    This is so pretty and functional! I totally want to make one for me. Thanks for the awesome tutorial!

    Reply
  13. Jann Olson says

    09/03/2016 at 9:53 pm

    I love it! I’m sure it makes homework much more fun too. Thanks for sharing it with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

    Reply
  14. Crystal says

    09/02/2016 at 7:57 pm

    This is so cute. My favorite part is the tag line though! With the Olympics still on the mind I feel like this sums up a confidence boost 🙂

    Reply
  15. Janet Trieschman says

    09/02/2016 at 6:11 pm

    I love the handles you used, they seem very substantial. Thanks for sharing your post with us at Creatively Crafty #CCBG http://tryit-likeit.com/link-party-it

    Reply
  16. Amila says

    09/02/2016 at 5:12 pm

    wow!This is really interesting.Wish I could do such a DIY project!

    Reply
  17. Joanne E Boulter says

    09/02/2016 at 3:41 pm

    Great project. Thank you for sharing at SYC! xx Jo

    Reply
  18. Charlotte Burkholder says

    09/02/2016 at 11:51 am

    Nice job, I was thinking I should get some kind of crate to improve the clutter on my kitchen counter recently. I’m leaning toward a rustic wooden crate look. Like to invite you to come share your post Sunday at a linkup at wwww.pursueyourproject.com. The linkup opens at noon, leave a comment if you want to increase the chance to be featured!

    Reply
  19. Angela says

    09/01/2016 at 10:17 pm

    What a cute and useful idea! Thanks for sharing at Your Inspired Design!!

    Reply
  20. Elisha Wolter says

    09/01/2016 at 6:30 pm

    I really really like your caddy, it looks fantastic and very easy for the kids to use!

    Reply
  21. Jess says

    09/01/2016 at 9:37 am

    This turned out so great!

    I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

    Reply
  22. Haley says

    08/27/2016 at 5:20 am

    Love this! Perfect for back to school!

    Reply

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WELCOME TO LOLLY JANE
We're Kelli and Kristi, identical twin sister DIYers to love to create and spruce up our spaces on a budget. Our eclectic blog is where we share it all... from home decor, crafts, furniture revamps, awesome project roundups, tasty recipes and more...all while armed with an ice cold Diet Coke!
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