Monday, March 28, 2011

Turning a Pallet Into a Garden

Post image for How to Turn a Pallet into a Garden
I cannot claim credit for this one..click on the photo and it will take you to a blog called Life on the Balcony..a great garden resource for container gardening for apartment dwellers. 

As soon as all this snow has melted I am going to try this!  I want to start seeds directly in it instead of plants, just because I think it would be a neat experiment. 

I have been in a building mood.  I just need some space, our garage, aka: my building space is crammed full of stuff we had no where else to keep.  We are in the process of looking for a small piece of property (2 acres or so) to move to so we have a bit more room to spread out.  I will have a hard time giving up my little yellow house on the hill but what we are thinking of doing will be an adventure. 

Over the snowy weekend I worked on a small project.  I just have one piece left to add for it to be completed to my satisfaction but I will go ahead and share what I have completed.  Here is my humble salvage tool box planter…as you can see it still needs a handle but I was hoping to find an old pipe to use and I have yet to find one.
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I started here…DSC_0001-1
I dragged some old lumber I had salvaged a few years back out of our basement. (pallet wood would work great for this). I love the old chippy aqua paint and authentic dirt smudged in it. 

I measured the entire length of the board, calculated the size to make the box to best utilize the one board and started cutting. I did use a different piece of scrap wood for the bottom since it would not be visible. 

You can’t get anymore rustic than this..
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I am careful with sanding and working with old boards like this in case that paint is lead based. 

I was not precise in cutting since I am not worried about it being square or lining up perfectly, I just wanted it to be the right size to pop 4 inch garden center pots in.  I want to change out the flowers at will but I don’t want the plastic pots to be visible.   I used the side boards above to measure where to start the angle on the ends.  Used my triangle to mark the cut and took it to my compound miter saw.  I goofed one up and had to redo it, that happens to me a lot.  Especially when it is so cold out my fingers feel like they are going to fall off. DSC_0006-1
I did a dry run of setting it up to see how the bottom would fit.  It is a teeny tiny bit wider than the ends but not enough to matter, like I said this is a rustic planter so it being un-square is desirable. 
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I took all the pieces to my studio, at least it is warm in there.  I did a dry run of setting up the box but it needed something.
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I picked out a stencil and painted FLOWERS on the side boards, I wanted something light and faded.  It needed a little something more so I shadowed the lettering.   The other side I used an antique white and have yet to decide if I want to shadow the lettering.  (The first photo shows the side with the white lettering)DSC_0018
I did not worry about centering the lettering.  Remember rustic. 

I drew a line using the bottom as my guide to make sure I pre-drilled my nail holes in the correct place.
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I will pre-drill within the lines as the nails are square and the wood is old and dry, it would split if I just nailed it.  Normally, to make it easier on myself I would tack it in place with my nail gun but it was just too cold in the garage to work in there any longer and I can do fine with a hammer. 
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I used these square nails, they look more old fashioned.  I think they are some kind of concrete nail.  You can see the pre-drilled holes here. 
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I run a bead of wood glue (exterior) along the nail line, line up the sides and nail them in place.  How rustic is that!
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As I said before, I think an old metal pipe would look great as the handle, now to hunt one down or I may have to make do with a wooden dowel cut to size, I am not in a hurry so I am sure I can find an old pipe somewhere. 

The four inch pots fit inside perfectly. 
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And there you have my rustic tool box planter…this was a fun and fast project.  I will make plenty more as soon as it is warm enough to work outside in comfort. 

I also worked on a sign but I am stuck…I will sand it down, age it with glaze and all that but I am wondering, does it need a few flowers along with the vines or maybe a few vines added to the lettering??  Leave it as is but just distress it?

vineflowerssign
I am off to get to work around here, paperwork to do and some house cleaning. 

Glad you could stop in for a visit!
signaturePamela 

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34 comments:

  1. oh you are just so darn creative...I love both the ideas, even the one pallet one...some people are just so creative. Why can't I ever think of anything so cool...? I love that tool box with the geraniums...so rustic and farmy....may have to.....hmmmmm can I do it? you are inspiring.....

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  2. Hi Pamela! These are two wonderful ideas!
    Love that you are giving your tools a work out too!
    Bring this post over to the Farmgirl Friday Hop this week.. the linky is still open!
    Love it!
    PS. Thanks for the tip on the Morning Glories mixed with the roses too! I think that would be a perfect combo!

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  3. Hello! I found your blog on BNOTP today. I really like your toolbox and I'm impressed that you made it yourself. I love the pallet idea. We made a compost bin out of pallets. I'm thinking I could add another pallet to the other side to beautify the compost bin! On your other sign that said Flowers, I think you need a few flowers. Just a few. I want to make a sign that says Herbs but I haven't gotten around to it.
    Jane
    http://cottageatthecrosroads.com

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  4. Pam,
    I love the tool box, and the pallet idea just went on my honey do list!

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  5. That is fabulous Patty. Thanks so much for joining my newbie party. I look forward to seeing you more.

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  6. Oh how I adore your creative space! I'm here from the Newbie party. Love your blog. I'm your newest follower.

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  7. Where did you find those cute little nails?! I must own those!

    And I am digging that pallet! I have been staring at one leaning up against my fence for most of the winter. Like this idea, thanks for sharing!

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  8. Your planter looks great and the palette idea is pretty sweet too--thanks for joining my Share the Love link party this week!
    Mary

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  9. Oh Pamela, that Trug is beautiful. I just posted a few post ago a Trug that I filled too! I love them. I need to have my hubby make me a few as I bought mine..so lovely. I love all your idea's..how about a heavy dowel for a handle? Or old broom handle! So many options..
    ~Sincerely,
    Shirley

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  10. Love the pallet idea! Your flowers box is so beautiful and I like the sign they way it is and then distress it but honestly anything you do always looks so good! :)

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  11. This looks so great! I love how old it looks, the distressing is perfect!

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  12. Hi Pamela - Love the palette planter...what a brilliant idea huh! Also love your toolbox planter project too, especially after you stenciled it.

    Happy Cottage Flora Thursday!
    -marie

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  13. What a cute project! Very cute :) I think I would leave the sign as is and just distress it? Maybe it would be cute to add some green?? A grassy green? Along the edges before distressing it so it looks like the green is coming through...

    ~ Happy Cottage Flora Thursday to you!

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  14. What a darling project you created! Thanks so much for linking up to Cottage Flora Thursday's and sharing this idea with all of us! xoxo, Tracie
    ps - the palette planter is so unique (never seen anything like it)

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  15. The trug is so sweet. Well done. Visiting from Tracie's. ♥olive

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  16. Both of these creations are just beautiful!

    Springtime Blessings from the Arizona Desert... Dawn...The Bohemian

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  17. Thanks for sharing...been contemplating some pallet ideas myself. Like the idea you've shown. I think I make some garden gates with mine.

    Cindy

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  18. Calling by to visit your Cottage Flora Thursday post,what a fun idea for a pallet, here our neighbours use them for vegetables to ramble over!

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  19. Both ideas are great but yours is prettier I'm a sucker for that bluiegreenie color yes I know that's not a real word..lol
    Happy April Fools day and hugs from Savannah, Cherry

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  20. You have a very good idea and great how to post here and I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to link in with some photos...either current or past (during the dormant seasons) to Flaunt Your Flowers on Friday with me. Many absolutely gorgeous gardens participate in this party, and yours would be a welcome visit for them all to make!
    I have enjoyed my visit here today...and have become your newest follower! happy gardening!
    (¯`v´¯)
    `*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
    ¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
    (¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.

    www.tootsietime.com

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  21. This is great thanks for the tutorial, I will be making this soon, I love old wood. Good luck on finding your land.

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  22. Coming in from Farm Friend Friday--I LOVE this. It is so cute. Hope you find your land too. We are looking at potentially finding a bigger piece of land too :)

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  23. What a cute creation! I love your creativity.

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  24. This is fantastic! Talent, talent, talent!

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  25. Beautiful! Love the rustic wood. you did a great job with the painting and distressing--I was convinced!

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  26. Pamela it's DARLING! I just scored one similar to this at the goodwill this week. I'm trying to figure out how to refinish it. I'd love to have you link this to my VIP party today! http://designergarden.blogspot.com/2011/03/vip-party-9.html

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  27. Pamela, you did a great job on your project! Quite lovely :D I am linking over from Flora Thursday.

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  28. This came out darling~ great job! Love the color and finish on it~ thanks for sharing at FNF! :)

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  29. You did a great job on your little box and very thorough directions. Love the palette planter too. Thanks so much for linking up to Beyond The Picket Fence.

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  30. I am gonna start saving palette's now that I have seen this! Wow!

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