Busy, busy, busy!  The other day my daughter wanted to "help" me with one of my projects.  I love when my kids help me.  We were in the garage spray painting some wood.   I gave her a job of spray painting some tiny clothespins.  I ran inside to grab something, came back and squatted down to finish spray painting.  What I didn't know is my daughter had set her can of dark brown spray paint right under me (on accident).  I sat on the thing just enough for it to spray paint all over my rear.  Only me!
I'm sure after that story you are inspired to go spray paint something.  Let's make some 2x4 stocking hanger/holders!
  Grab a 2x4.  I cut mine in 7 inch pieces.  Sand those pieces.
Grab a hook of some sort.  Mine is from Home Depot.  It cost me a whole .38 cents.   There are nicer screw in hooks (and more expensive) but this cheap one gets the job done.  The only thing I suggest is not getting one this long.  A shorter one will do the job.  I drilled the hole for the screw.
Use some pliers to twist the screw in.  I couldn't find my pliers so I used this thingamajig.
At this point your project should look something like this.... =-
Add on one of these small craft finials from Lowes.  They just screw in the top of your 2x4.
I took my project into the garage and spray painted it.  While I was waiting I ironed freezer paper onto burlap and printed the kids names out with my printer.  I'm in love with this font.  It's called I'm Bored :)
Cut the burlap to fit on the face of your 2x4 piece and then use Cut Tacks Tachuelas.  I think it's hilarious they are called Tachuelas because when you reach your little fingers in the package it's like a bunch of little Dracula's biting you.  OK not so funny but I thought the name is appropriate.  Tachuelas are great.  You can push them in the wood a little and just use a hammer to complete the job.
Last but not least use Gorilla Glue to secure the two pieces together. 
You're done and your kids will be super happy!
A wall in my house is dedicated to crates right now.  Not because I necessary want a wall of crates but I am storing them for an event.  As they have sat there the past moth I have found...Crates are so useful!  So many fun things to do with them.  They are great for Christmas decorations.  As you can tell by the picture below I use them to store stuff and my kids use them for their Lego's.
 Building a crate is easy.  Here we go with Crate 101....
Grab a piece of wood.  If you are like me you have a ton in the garage.  If not go down to Home Depot and grab what you like.  The piece of wood in the picture below cost about $1.60ish.
Decide what size you want your crate.  I'm going to build a 12x12" one.  Cut (6) 12 inch pieces.  Then cut 2 of those pieces in half lengthwise as shown in the picture below.
You should now have (4) 12 inch pieces and (4) 6 inch pieces.  Grab you handy dandy air powered staple gun.   If you don't have one you can use nails and a hammer.  I have to admit...this little tool is a lot of fun ;)
Staple the corners together to form a box.
This above picture was so hard to take with my left hand!  Here is a pic of the started box...
 Place your 6 inch pieces on the box you just built (the (2) 12 inch pieces we cut in half lengthwise).
Finally staple or nail those babies on.
Lately I have been using my crates for photo props but you can also use them for decoration.  Grab that crate you just made and paint it dark brown, sand it, make yourself a cute burlap wreath and this is what you get....
I'm not sure exactly how much this cost me to make total because I had all the supplies on hand but if I were to guess I would say about $3.00.  Can't beat that!