DIY Monday: Pine Box special

Looking for a coffee table that's a real conversation piece? (Or perhaps a conversation stopper?) Got a vampire fetish that needs to be indulged? Need a final resting place for a beloved pet? Or perhaps you've just got a frugal streak that rebels at the idea of the funeral industry getting your family to shell out US$ 10,000 for your final ride - whatever your reasoning, you might be interested in building your own casket. Mother Earth News has a nice article on the subject from their April/May 2003 issue here. Casket hardware and plans can be purchased here (separately or as a kit, people- or pet-sized), along with a book of more plans. About.com has a resource page here, including sources for everything from very traditional caskets (Trappist, Orthodox Judaism) to art caskets. Oh, and if the full-scale thing freaks you out, how about some gawthic accessorizing with a DIY coffin purse? If purses aren't your thing, it could probably make a pretty cool candy dish, or, with a scaled-down version, a fun business card holder...