Thrifted Wooden Tote To Summer Garden Caddy

April 14, 2022

Photo of a thrifted wooden tote or caddy.

Did you know that April 14th is National Gardening Day! National Gardening Day was founded by Cool Springs Press in 2018 to celebrate the hobby of gardening and to encourage gardeners to share their expert knowledge. This is my kind of holiday!

In honor of National Gardening Day I transformed this very large wooden tote/caddy from Goodwill into a garden themed decor piece. (I think the tote was homemade.)

In addition to my project, I am joined by three other blogging friends with "garden" projects as well.

(When you click on the bold Amazon, Old Sign Stencils or Dixie Belle Paint Company affiliate links you will be taken to the products I used for this project. If you order it does not change the price or service at all. As an Amazon Affiliate, Old Sign Stencils Affiliate or Dixie Belle Paint Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)

Photo of a wooden tool caddy or tote being painted with black chalk paint.

After giving the tote a good cleaning with hot soapy Dawn Dish Soap and a rag, I brushed on Dixie Belle Chalk Paint in Caviar.

I gave it two coats.

Photo of Old Sign Stencils Sunflower Farm stencil.

I then chose this fun summer Sunflower Farm stencil from Old Sign Stencils to decorate my tote.

Photo of a stenciled galvanized sunflower farm sign.

I used this stencil once before on a metal sign HERE.

Old Sign Stencils are great quality stencils that all coordinate perfectly with each other for many more design ideas.

*Old Sign Stencils provided me with complimentary samples. All opinions about these fabulous stencils are my own.

Photo of Sunflower Farm stencil from Old Sign Stencils being taped onto a painted tool caddy.

I centered and taped the top of the stencil on the front side of the caddy with blue painter's tape. I swirled on the stencil using Fusion Mineral Paint in Raw Silk.

Photo the front of tool tote painted with black chalk paint & stenciled with "Sunflower Farm".

Here is the finished front side stenciling.

Photo of sunflower stencil taped to prevent flower center's paint from getting onto petals.

Next I taped the stencil onto one side of the caddy. The sides are tall, but not tall enough for the entire stencil sunflower. I taped across the bottom of the stencil at the bottom of the tote.

I then taped off the inside portion of the petals with blue painter's tape to stencil the flower's center. I used Waverly Hazelnut paint from Walmart for the center.

Photo of taped center of sunflower stencil to keep petal color off the brown.

Before swirling on Dixie Belle's Colonel Mustard Chalk Paint on the petals, I taped off the outside of the flower center. This makes stenciling so much easier.

I chose Dixie Belle's Kudzu for the leaves and stem.

Photo of an upcycled thrifted wooden tote.

I waxed the tote with both Clear & Black Best Dang Wax. I used clear first so the stenciling would not absorb the dark wax, and then the black.

Photo of the sunflower stenciled ends of an upcycled tote.

This is the side view of the tote.

Photo of a large wooden tote painted with black chalk paint, stenciled with Sunflower Farm Stencil, and filled with vintage garden decor.

I then filled the caddy with a small vintage watering can with faux sunflowers, a small vintage washboard, jute twine, and a galvanized container of vintage garden tools.

I think I will display my caddy on my covered patio this summer.

This will be a great farmhouse patio decoration!

Pin for later!

Fresh snow in northern Minnesota on National Gardening Day!

Enjoy even more gardening ideas to celebrate below in honor of #NationalGardeningDay!

Michelle from Our Crafty Mom shares an adorable Indoor Fairy Garden.

Gail from My Repurposed Life works her magic to create a Fairy Garden Tree Stump.

Suzanne from Shop at Blu shows us some creative Upcycles for Your Spring Garden.

Thanks for visiting!

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Comments

Sandi @ The Primitive SkateApril 14, 2022 at 8:18 AM
Love this! Great idea!
The Blue Building, Inc.April 14, 2022 at 1:50 PM
I'm loving that Caviar! What a great color with that beautiful gold sunflower! Just darling! And so convenient to keep your tools handy but looking decorative!
NaomiApril 14, 2022 at 7:31 PM
Oh, my gosh, Carlene! I can't believe that snow. My friend and walking partner's
daughter lives in Minnesota and last time she reported snow up there the next day we got it here in Michigan. My poor daffodils that came up and bloomed during the last warm days will fall right over!

I love the tote. I saw a similar one at the Goodwill near me recently and wanted to buy it but wasn't sure what I would do with it. Wish I"d gotten it now.
Debra@CommonGroundApril 15, 2022 at 11:33 AM
Upcycled tote plus vintage garden goodies equals love love love. Happy Easter Weekend, Carlene!
Funky Junk InteriorsApril 16, 2022 at 12:18 PM
Gasp.... that stencil and that tote were truly made for each other! Carlene, this is gorgeous! Such a creative use for the sides!

Organized Clutter

Thrifted Wooden Tote To Summer Garden Caddy

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