GARDEN JUNK: Jello Molds Re-Purposed As Toadstools
April 16, 2014
I love these little individual vintage, aluminum Jello molds. I purchased many for about $3 last year at a thrift shop.
I purchased these two wood handled screwdrivers and the spade yesterday from a junk bin at an antique shop for $2 each.
First I thinned out some Rustoleum American Accents Colonial Red paint with water. This paint works quite well on metals.
I painted the molds with two coats of thinned red paint. Thinning the paint gave it some opaqueness, and the molds didn't look so freshly painted. I used a very fine grit sandpaper sponge to rub off some of the paint for an even more aged look. Then I added a coat of water based matte polyurethane. The molds are still wet here and shiny, but dried in a matte finish.
I also brushed some of the poly on the handles of my screwdrivers and the spade. I like the look of oiled or polyurethaned old wood.
Next, I used E6000 to glue white buttons on the red molds and mushroom colored buttons on the plain mold. To be honest, I have never ever seen a red mushroom or toadstool with white spots except in pictures, but I thought the red ones would be fun to make. Lastly, I used E6000 to glue the molds to the wooden tool handles. When the glue was dry (overnight), I brushed on one more coat of poly to protect them for the outside elements.
How crazy is this? I purchased some real, live flowers here in Minnesota on April 16th. I saw them at Menard's at two for $10. I will use them to stage some of my new garden junk until mid to late May when I can really garden. They will have to be indoors at night for sure and during the day sometimes too.
I think my toadstools are fun!
I think my toadstools are fun!
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Those are adorable! Love the buttons on them. Yay for buying flowers in April!
ReplyDeleteThese are so cute, great job!! has given me the idea to make some mushrooms with concrete using the Jello molds as the molds, I have some that don't have the Jello logo on them.
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely brilliant! Where do you come up with all these darling ideas for re-purposing? You should have your own t.v. show or write a book. You go girl! Those are the cutest and I am off to forage now.
ReplyDeletethese are so super cute
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They are very cute!! Great idea!
ReplyDeleteThese are too darn cute Carlene!! I absolutely love them :)
ReplyDeleteYour toadstools are adorable Carlene! Such a fabulous idea!
ReplyDeleteI love the name of your blog! That's awesome! I have the same mentality in my house. :) Love the garden/toadstool arrangement. What a fun conversation piece for the garden.
ReplyDeleteCarlene . . . you DID IT AGAIN!!!! What a darling idea, girl! The mushroom/toadstools are so clever! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSo very, very cute!!
ReplyDeleteDes champignons adorables... Vous êtes géniale !
ReplyDeleteGros bisous et joyeuses fêtes.
Those toadstools are FAB!!!! I think they are a must for every fun garden!!! Love them, Carlene!!!!
ReplyDeleteThese are adorable Carlene!!
ReplyDeleteWe saw red toadstools in the forests in Berlin, Germany in the mid70's.
ReplyDeleteAwesome idea!!! Love the toadstools and the display!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to start my day! Having my first cup of coffee and reading your site. Such a great idea! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteVery cute idea! Great also for a gnome or fairy garden!
ReplyDeleteHey Now!
ReplyDeletethose little things work great for toad stools. So cute!
Pat
They are so cute, where did you get the idea to make these?
ReplyDeleteHi, will be off to the junk sale after reading this. looks really good and will definitely be doing it. thanks so much :)
ReplyDeleteSuch an adorable idea! I have several of those molds and I needed an idea...thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDelete~Trisha
I loved the jello molds ideals & i have some . I wondered what to do with them & now I know what to do with them. Thanks for sharing with us the ideals.
ReplyDelete