Upcycled Toolbox Garden Planter
April showers bring May flowers! I say bring it on! I’m so ready for a beautiful yard again and to be able to enjoy some outdoors – even though I hate the hot weather!
I’ve teamed up with my friends at Proxxon, makers of specialty power tools for DIY’ers and hobbyists, to bring you this upcycled toolbox made from yardsticks and paint sticks. I’m drawn to all things in miniature sizes, I’m not sure why? But I am! This was a DIY project that I had made originally in my book Creative Ideas to Organize your Home. But this time I added a special little twist. I loved the shape on the handles of the paint sticks I found and decided these would be perfect for a little decorative side panel. I made the entire toolbox project from odds and ends left over from other upcycled projects.
The mini toolbox is also a great desk organizer and you can make it any size to fit pens and sticky notes, use the toolbox for a stationary holder, paper clips, what have you. You can even stencil on the front of the toolbox or add some decorative metal elements, just like I did to the toolbox in the Creative Ideas book.
Watch the video to find out how to make the mini upcycled tool box and don’t forget to watch all the way to the end for the tip and the bloopers! I’m such a dork and sometimes I just get tongue tied!
You can make the toolbox larger if you have used wood around. You’ll need two pieces cut to the desired width of the upcycled toolbox. Measure the thickness of the wood and multiply times two. Subtract this measurement from the original length and cut an additional piece of wood. This is the base piece and it will inset into the bottom of the box.
Here’s a list of what you’ll need to make the mini toolbox:
2 paint sticks with decorative handles
1 yard stick
1/4 or 1/2 inch dowel rod cut to size
Proxxon Mini Chop and Miter Saw
mini nail brads
hammer
Paint
I also had some scrap floral foam and some silk flower ivy and floral sprays
Tacky glue.
I cut two pieces 5 1/2 inches long and one piece 5 inches long from the yardstick.
Cut each of your paint sticks to the height you want – I used 5 inches.
Create a “v” by laying the short 5 inch stick up on the side and position a side into place.
Hold this while positioning a front panel piece (5 1/2 inches) in place. Tack along the front lower edge with nail tacks.
Attach sides and flip over to position and tack back panel in place.
Attach the dowel by first hammering a nail tack into place on the top of the paint stick where desired (about an inch down). I let the point of the tack come slightly through the wood. Position the dowel into place and hammer the brad in to secure. Align the opposite side of the dowel and tack into place on other side.
Paint, embellish, stamp, don’t paint or don’t embellish if you don’t want to. It’s up to you, it’s your world. Plant your tree, or in this case paint your toolbox, then again, don’t paint it if you don’t want to! (he he)
I glued in floral foam and arranged my flowers. You can always add a little sign and give it as a cheerful gift to someone special!
Pretty easy! That’s all the instructions she wrote folks!
Until next time!…..
PS – Visit Proxxon’s website to get more information about the mini miter saw I used in the project. It’s really a handly little tool and I love mine. Also, help a girl out by sharing the video and clicking the like button. I’m really trying hard to grow my channel! Thanks a bunch!
(I did receive this Miter Saw gratis, however the views expressed are my own and if I like it – you’ll know it and I like it – ALOT!) No fingers or toes were hurt in the making of this project.