Ya’ll are in for a treat! Not only is it Trash to Treasure Tuesday, but also my main squeeze is joining me in today’s fun. JC, my husband, and I are taking this misfit sewing desk top and turning it into an upcycled mud bar perfect for summer playtime. At the bottom, you’ll see my blogger friend’s projects in a bit.
Does the top look familiar? If not, you’ can see the Mid Century Modern desk I upcycled for my Finding Home Program in this past post. To begin with, I asked JC what he thought it was from and he took a few guesses.
He guessed it! However, he didn’t remember the exact project, but knew it was a sewing desk top. For this reason, I’ll give him a 9 out of 10. haha.
DIY TIME
Let’s get our party started! First, if you notice above, I already removed the flap of wood from the sewing desk opening. That way I’m ready to go for the next step. Then, while I begin sanding off the desk top, JC begins cutting 4″ x 4″ posts into four pieces for legs on our miter saw.
Next, we cut 1″x 4″ boards for a skirt to support the top, and another skirt for a bottom shelf. After that, all have a pocket joint added using my jig. I love, love, love that thing.
Last, we cut a few pieces of 2″ x 4″ board so we can add a back to our upcycled mud bar. Finally, two small pieces are attached directly to the skirt using a bolt and T-nut.
They sink in and make a safe support for builds.
Afterward, we add the two 2″ x 4″ uprights using exterior screws.
*post sponsored by HomeRight (see full disclosure)
NEXT STEPS
Now it’s time to have a blast…literally! {{happy dance}} In the past, JC has used one of my sprayers for our boys bedroom remodel ceiling. That’s was about 6 years ago. So, this time, I’m letting him have all the fun to see what he thinks of some of my favorite tools.
To start, I familiarize JC with my sprayer and set up my spray shelter. We fill up the canister per manufacturer instructions on the exterior paint we chose to use. Next, I show him how the tip allows for spraying vertically, horizontally, and so on. Also, how the flow knob can make a heavy or light spray. I have him try the sprayer on cardboard for practice, then, he has at it full on. woot!
Then, he begins on the underside to coat it first. For this reason, we can flip it up to coat the rest of it. Look at how pretty that blue is!
You can imagine I had to bite my tongue watching him spray. haha. However, he did a fantastic job for his first time! No runs, very little overspray, and only two coats needed. Additionally, if you’d like to see it in action, check out this video below.
THE REVEAL
Meanwhile, my littlest is happy to oblige by testing out our upcycled mud bar playset. Likewise, I feel the need to make some mud pies.
As well as the fun accessories we add, we also have hooks and mounts to make everything easily accessible. I love me some functional fun too!
Here’s to building with the one you love most. In conclusion, if you’d like to make this upcycled mud bar potting bench a part of your indoor or outdoor fun, you can find it in my online shop.
Magic Linen Waffle Blanket ~ $130
SHARE
Likewise, do pin and share our upcycled mud bar from sewing desk top to inspire others to think outside the #trashure.
To get these DIY tips & tricks in your inbox, be sure to sign up for my newsletter. PLUS, you will get a special discount to my shop. Now, it’s time to see what my Trash to Treasure friends have for you! See below…
TRASH TO TREASURE INSPIRATION
In like fashion, my blogger friends have created projects to inspire you too. Take a peek below.
Also, more fun builds like our upcycled mud bar:
This is an adorable project. What fun for kids! I can see this being used in several places at my house, with no kids involved! I still haven’t gotten a sprayer even though it has been on my wish list for a long time. Winning one would make that wish a reality. Thanks for always having such great give aways.
You sound like me…I am a kid at heart! Love to use this HomeRight sprayer. I know you’ll love it too!
That has cuteness all over it.
I do have 2, rather large old metal wheels that I would like to paint. Right now hubby is in process of cleaning off the rust, etc so winning this sprayer would be a great blessing when it comes time to painting.
Thank you for this wonderful giveaway opportunity.
Have a wonderful day.
Thanks! So glad spring is here and we can be outdoors in the dirt. haha. Sounds like fun!
That is so cute. What a great way to use the top of the sewing desk.
Thank you, Jean. I’m glad to have given it new life. 😀
How cute!!! I would have loved this as a kid!!! I can also see her potting some flowers to help Mom with the gardening!!
?????❤️?
You and me both…always down in the dirt! Thanks, Rebecca.
Hi Larissa, You and JC make a great team for sure! What a great build, and your HomeRight tools came through again. I love the paint color and all the brightly colored accessories you added. This is such a fun and pretty mud bar. Have a great day.
We had a blast! Fun to see him try and get hooked too. tee hee! Thanks!
Larissa, this is ADorable. You and JC did an awesome job. Who else would have taken a sewing table top and construct a child’s potting table. This will be a hit on the blogs.
Totally fun because I got to build, work with my guy, and get another stash out of my shop. haha! Thanks so much, Cheryl!
My son would have loved a mud bar when he was little. I have the best memories of him playing in a huge mud puddle. 🙂
Thanks for sponsoring the give-away, Larissa.
Sheila
A kid after my own heart for sure. My pleasure!
My kids would have loved a mud bar! This is adorable and love the color you chose! Right now in my living room I am staring at a stool, a storage bench, and an end table that could use a makeover! A sprayer would help me tackle all three of these at one time. Thank you for the opportunity to win this giveaway!
Right?? I would have been in mud heaven as a kid. Though I still was just not in such a cute way. haha! You are too funny! 😀 My pleasure to share.
Just what I need for a green house project!
Fun!
Oh my goodness, Larissa, how do you do that?
I so respect that you save and recreate the most clever things. You and JC both did so well on this adorable project!!!!!
I had my eye on it waiting for warm temps to be able to work. So glad it came out fun and easy to do. Thanks!!
Great project! Love the blue color.
You know I love my blues. Tee hee! Thank you!
That is such a great upcycle Larissa. Your little one has really grown!! I remember her as a baby.
Right? Time flies so quickly, as I’m sure you know. Thanks so much!
Hi, this project brought back old memories for me. I loved making mud pies when I was a little girl with some old pans and spatulas my Grandma have me.
I would have loved this little mud bar. Thank you for sharing.
Those are the days…truly. Such fun to be had at virtually no cost.
Wish I had your vision for seeing treasure in trash. Love the mud bar. Thanks for the giveaway.
It sure is fun to try. Thanks for the love! I wish I had a sprayer for everyone. 😉
Super cute! Love the color!
JC loved seeing that color come to life on the raw wood. Fun for me to watch too!
Such a great idea for children.. Looks great and I bet they could have hours of fun and creativity..Thank you for sharing.
Have a wonderful day
Yes! We love our other mud bar and it is used all.the.time.
so cute Larissa! i was going through our huge storage shed and spotted a sewing machine just like this! i have one in my house with flowers in the hole, but this one is so cute for a youngun! and i love the color! i just may have to try it and that’ll give me the wrought iron legs for a different project! thanks so much for the idea!
Ooh…now you’re talkin’, Gwen! Sounds like fun!
Love this! and your cute model is precious with her hat and pink bike! Thanks for the giveaway!
We had to have fun with it. tee hee! Thanks!
This is super cute and what a great color. I bet your little had a blast testing it out. You are always VERY creative with your ideas.
Wahoo! We sure had fun. She told me she needed this one as well as their larger mud bar. ahaha…my kinda kid.
Well! What fun! I didn’t know what that piece was, or what a mud bar was going to be. Your eye for creating never ceases to amaze me. You and your hubby did a great job! Laughed when you said you had to bite your tongue when letting him use your tools of the trade. Now, that’s what a good easy marriage is all about. Such beauty in the creating and and the created. I sure like the spray tent. Is it a beast to repack?
I couldn’t wait to put my vision into shape. Building this is much like our mudroom storage, so this was easy-peasy. JC is always fun to work with…I just need him full time. 😉 Thanks for the smile! As for the tent, it tucks away easy into a bag. Set up and tear down take 10 minutes.
This is such a fun project! I would use my sprayer for all sorts of things. I am always painting something, but mostly painting my daughter’s kitchen cabinets. She and my son-in-law just bought their first house, and are doing all sorts of fix-ups.
You are a gal after my own heart, Stacy! 😀 Thanks for the love.
You, JC, and your little one… absolutely adorable! …. and so is this mud station, my friend! XOXO
aww…thanks! I love having family to work with.
This is darling! Cute idea and great color!
Thank you bunches, Marilyn!
NOW I know what I want for my birthday! NO, not purfume or jewelry…I want a Paint Sprayer!!
yasssss!! haha!! My motto #toolsoverjewels really! Since I was 16.
Really, really cute.
Thank you, Pamela. 😀
That’s a clever use for the sewing desk top! I would use a sprayer to do some chairs.
Thanks! You will love it for that as spindles are a nightmare.
I love this! What a wonderful upcycle! I love that you could have an assortment of bins with different sensory items: water, kinetic sand, cloud dough, rice, slime, ice, whatever. This is an occupational therapists dream. Your daughter is very lucky. Also, cute. As for the paint sprayer, I can think of a multitude of items around here that could use some TLC. Thanks for the inspiration!
Yes!! You are my kinda thinker. I love kids to interact with life in as many ways as possible. You will love this sprayer!
My husband and I are making a mounting board to display a piece of copper. It is the end of a copper pour. They pour the little bit left from something else they pour onto a flat surface and then left some run off the edges. It is very free form with some fingers of copper here and there. This piece went over the edge and has a very rough chunky piece on the end that is very rough on the underside. If you have a fetish for copper like I do, it is beautiful. However, it will scratch the wall badly if I hang it directly on the wall. Thus we are making a mounting board with a couple of spacers on the back. I am going to paint it black and a sprayer would be perfect.
I do!! Just added a copper boiler to my shop I would love to keep. Copper in my kitchen and in various spots. Love the patina. That sounds wonderful!
I meant to tell you how clever your use of the old sewing table piece. I recognized it immediately and have one I need to use.
Thank you.
What a clever idea! And such a cute one, too! Hubby did a fabulous job spraying the piece… you are so lucky to have him help you. Great job, y’all!
Thanks! Yes, need him around more often. 😉
This is an great project! We get excited around here when gardening season starts. I’d love to use the sprayer on a shelf I made as a backdrop for a baby shower. It needed to be stained dark then, but it would be more useable in my home if it were a softer color. Thanks for the opportunity!
Thanks!! We do too. A wonderful break from cabin fever. That sounds like a lovely project, Joan.
The mud bench is such a vibrant and happy color, and you and your husband are adorable. I would try the sprayer on some chairs that I’m dreading painting haha!
aww…thanks!! We have fun together. I hear ya on the chairs. Sprayer is the only way for me! 😀
I’m lucky to already own this sprayer, but I’d love to gift it to a friend. She’d love it!
You are an awesome friend!
Sure would love to have a new paint sprayer! I really enjoy your blog.
You will love it! Thank you for the kind words, Janet.
I always love your projects – and your Finding Home project! Awesome! So many could use a little help and brightening in their lives.
I’ve wanted a HomerRight paint sprayer for quite some time now! I’ve seen it referenced in so many wonderful projects.
I have a lot of options for a first project, but I think it would have to be my bedroom furniture. Thanks for your generosity and inspiration!
I sure do enjoy sharing my tutorials as well as my skills. Thank you. I have no doubt you will enjoy the sprayer as much as I do.
That mud bench is ADORABLE! My grandkids would love to use it and learn to pot up the plants they’ve started from seeds!
Plus the fun of working with your husband and customizing it to your own taste.
You’re so fun, Mercy! Thank you. Yes, we do have such fun. So many ways to create!
Our Larissa-inspired mud-bar has been going strong for…hmmm… 5ish years now! Kids LOVE that thing. Even 13-14 year old girls feel a need to give it a run every now and then. ? It just hosted a happy swarm of boy cousins for the afternoon yesterday! A millions thanks for the brilliant idea. Your newest creation is so cute in blue!
Wahooo!! That’s how it is with our. All neighborhood kids love it…it’s like a magnet. Even for the big kids at heart. haha! Thanks for the love!
Very clever!
Thanks, Janet!
Aw, that is super sweet!! And so are you two!! xoxo
Thank you, Nancy!
Just love the adorable mud bar. I have twin granddaughters and their sister (even some brothers) that I know would just love it. Love seeing all your creative ideas. I not good with having ideas but I can copy and live looking through all the blogs to get ideas. Right now I have a 3 drawer occasional chest I’d like to try spraying with diluted chalk paint. And I definitely want to get the spraying tent. Thanks for your great ideas.
It’s just so fun to treat the littles with imaginative play. They aren’t little for long! 😀 You will love both the sprayer and shelter. Thank YOU for the love. 😀
This is super cute, Larissa! Love the color too!
Thanks, Jen!
This is so cute, Larissa!! I could see kiddos having endless hours of fun with it! XOXO
Thanks! I know my kids use theirs daily (weather permitting). 😉
I appreciate your tutorials and the added details, such as the t nuts. And you are very practical with your repurposing creativity! It is inspiring 🙂
You’re welcome. I know I’m not the only DIYer who loves insider tips. 🙂
Oh my goodness! This is adorable! Love the color also!
These are so fun to create. Thank you, Sandi.
I had to read this if for no other reason than to find out what a mud bar is. Such a neat project.
My husband & I have worked on MANY projects together. Our biggest challenge is LISTENING to each other. We each think we have the best idea on how to proceed & we don’t always listen to the other person’s idea. You inspire me to try harder.
haha. Consider yourself informed. 😀 Thank you, Donna. You are so right. Listening and respect are key.