Spring is just around the corner and I am so excited to see the signs of life in my garden beds. I know some of you already have full blooming, or are even headed into winter on the other side of the world. However, here in Ohio, we are just starting to see buds and smiling cold-weather blooms, like crocus pop out. Today, I’m going to take this misfit bunch of furniture legs and turn then into some spring-like DIY rustic carrots.
There’s a story behind this loot. My friend, Mandy, sent me a picture asking if I wanted these wood turnings and legs. Me…”come to mama.” Right?? I mean, who would turn this down? This is the kinda thing that I just love to have on hand in my stash for when inspiration hits.
In times past I’ve used turnings like that to make my woolly sheep. In addition, I’ve created repurposed candlesticks. To be honest, I set them aside for a day or two on my bench. Finally, one day I sat down beside them and saw carrots. haha. Yep, I’m weird like that. I have two different sizes of the same style leg. One was a basic wood one, and the other had a metal cap.
DIY TIME
Let’s get this DIY rustic carrot party started! First, I had to remove those metal feet caps. That just required a little elbow grease to get that foot nail out and pop off the cap.
*post sponsored by HomeRight (see full disclosure)
Then, with the cap off I’m able to take my sander and knock down that edge from the leg cap. I also remove all of the finish to get a fresh slate. After I wipe them down it’s time for paint. woot!
PAINT TIME
I can’t say enough how the right tools make my job so much easier. Check out some of my favorites. First, I have my HomeRight Small Spray Shelter set up. In addition, I’ve got my Turn Table, and also my Super Finish Max Extra Sprayer ready to go.
I’ve filled my sprayer with a custom mixed orange color and attached my blue tip. With that in mind, the sprayer comes with 3 tips that allow you to switch from one medium to the next depending on your job at hand. See my past projects using it as well as my video demo below.
Because I wanted the legs to stay upright while spraying, I used a piece of scrap wood temporarily. Thankfully, they are painted in a matter of minutes. Clean-up is easy and also done in a flash, which allows me to put on another coat in an hour or so.
NEXT STEPS
Time to add my vegetation to my carrots. If you’ve ever grown them in your garden, you know that carrot tops are leggy. I wanted to recreate that feel with a natural element, so I used green raffia and my glue gun.
First, cut 6 strips of raffia about 7″ long. Then, bind one end with the floral tape. Last, put a bead of glue in the end and tuck in the raffia. One last bit of effect I added was a touch of gray wax. Viola!
SPRING FUN
Finally, I hope you can tell that I had a blast creating this vignette. Take note that everything here is handmade, second-hand, or found.
I’ve staged them in a Amish-made bucket with dried grass. Did you notice the apothecary bit on the front? I used a scrap of fabric and a t-shirt transfer to make it. Fun, yes?
Also, these fun printables I used can be found here: Seed packet & Seed packet 2. Make a banner or bunting, craft your heart out. tee hee!
If you’re loving this arrangement, you can find two buckets of carrots available in my online shop.
Boho Ruffled Bag ~ $55
GIVEAWAY TIME
HomeRight and I want to help you create your own home story, so we are giving away a Small Spray Shelter to one of you. Easy entry – just complete the widget below for as many entries as you like. Open to U.S. & Canada residents 18 years of age and older. In addition, winner will be notified by email and will have 24 hours to claim their prize. Additionally, be sure to check your spam!
In addition to giving me feedback below, do pin and share these DIY rustic carrots to inspire others to see past the “junk” too.
Up next, I’ll be giving this cutesy churn a facelift. See the after HERE.
To get these DIY tips & tricks in your inbox, be sure to sign up for my newsletter. PLUS, you will get your FREE Furniture Buying Checklist and special discount to my shop. Until next time!
Also, more spring fun like my DIY rustic carrots:
What a cute idea and Oh, so very clever.
I have variety of candle stick holders that could use a new make-over so that would probably be my first items on my list that I would use the spray shelter if I should happen to win.
Have a great day
Such fun for me. Thank you, Colleen. 😀 That sounds like a sweet project.
So cute! I love anything that says spring
You and me both. Makes a smile come easily.
How cute. Your vignette is perfectly charming. Can’t wait to see your new site.
Thanks! It was fun to put together. I’m anxious to get it up and running too.
I love the opportunity to win a paint spray shelter. I asked for one for Christmas but didn’t get it. Maybe now. LOL
aww…no fair! 😀 haha. Hope you win!
I enjoy your blog and see what you create from discarded items. It helps fuel my creativity. 🙂
I’m tickled to hear it, Rebecca. Thank you!
Cute project!
Thanks so much! 😀
I’m a spray paint lover, so the shelter would be awesome. Love the rustic carrots! You are so creative!
yahoo!! You will love this thing. I use mine all the time.
I have some picture frames I would like to paint.
Super cute upcycle for Easter, Larissa! Love the vignette you created with them too.
Warm weather is finally coming! 😀 Slow and steady. Thanks, Marie!
Very cute idea for Easter decorations Larissa. I am amazed how your mind can see how to make something out of nothing!
Thanks! This was one of those light-bulb moments that I can’t wait to get out of my head.
I love your carrots! I have some wooden carrots that I bought at a craft show years ago and I put them out every year because I love them! I have a picture frame project that I would like to do for my daughter. This would come in handy for so many projects! Thank you for the opportunity to win this giveaway!
Thanks, Ginny! 😀 Carrots are one of my favorite veggies to grow. So fun!
Very clever!
Thank you, Cindy. 😀
love the idea
Thanks so much. 🙂
Oh, yeah, those carrots are too cute!
I want one of those spray shelters. So many things I would use it for, but I believe I’d start with some frames I’m working on.
I couldn’t resist. Thank you, Toni. 🙂
You are so creative! Love the carrots!
Thanks for the smile, Melanie. 😀
These are sooo cute, and I love the vignette! I have been wanting one of these spray booths for a long time! It’s been on my Amazon list forever! I have some small shelves and picture frames that I’ve been wanting to paint, but the weather has prevented me. If I had this, they’d be done by now! Keep up the great projects!
I had a blast (literally!) working on this. Thanks, Karen! It was one of those ideas I couldn’t wait to get out of my head.
Cute!!!!
tee hee! Thank you!!
Love the carrots, love the sprayer. Would love to have something like this to use instead of buying cans of spray paint. Thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks! I know you’ll love this spray shelter too. 😀
We have a wooden set of snowman features with a big wooden carrot nose. Love that you made yours with leftover-throwaways. I am a hoarder of small wooden and metal boxes and bins and tons of old frames. I keep meaning to go to Amazon to order a spray shelter and turn them into something useful and free-up that storage space. Would consider myself Leprechaun lucky to win one. Happy St. Patrick’s Day.
That’s so fun! We made one of those with cupboard doors too. Endless uses for others “junk”. Back at ya!
How cute and clever. You always have great ideas! Thanks for sharing.
BTW, I absolutely love the gun cabinet makeover. That was amazing.
Thanks for the smile, Jerri. And for the compliment. That was a doozy of a job, but fun too. 🙂
Love the carrots! Really like the seed packets makes a cute arrangement.
Yay! Thank you, Mary. I just love seed packets.
Easter fun or farmhouse style so cute
Such fun for me to get that idea out of my head. Thanks, Cheryl. 😀
So so cute!
I have a stack of frames waiting for me to paint in this shelter.
Thanks! That sounds like the perfect project.
what a fun and cute project, love this.
I’m so tickled to hear it, Amy. Thanks!