Old Cable Spools to Garden Cart

My husband is amazing. I just have to say it.

Warning - Picture Overload (I couldn't help it, really!)

Larry ends up with a lot of empty cable spools from his business.

Empty cable spools

I usually try to find something to do with them. He's becoming very good at not throwing anything out until he checks with me first. Smart man. (so, who's really the hoarder here?)

I saw a couple sitting on their sides...and they looked like...wheels!

We have a lot of old wood and pallets lying around, too. 

When I asked if he could build me a garden cart, he said sure. I took measurements, drew out what I wanted, we discussed options, took measurements again and he had it done in about an hour! What a guy...he was so fast I didn't get any photos while he was assembling the sides. 

While he was building, I needed to make the 'wheels' look old. I had clipped a post by HomaStyle to my boards on Hometalk. I do get a lot of old wood, but there are times when I have to use newer looking wood. HomaStyle's post was about making new wood look like barn wood. Perfect for what I needed to do to the cable spools.

I had mixed up my vinegar with steel wool a few months ago, but never did use it. So it's been sitting waiting...and I think it got a little too strong. 

Tea and steel wool vinegar

I painted the tea on first, and when that coat dried, I painted on the steel wool vinegar. 

Painting on the tea

Painting on the steel wool vinegar

Look at the difference now!

When Larry had the sides assembled, we checked to see if it fit inside the spools. Perfect! Now he can add the bottom. The spools look too new still, but their 'axles' will get rusty once they are out in the spring rains.

Attaching the bottom

It's a nice, snug fit. 

Look Deb, it rolls! haha

I just love this wood with the letters and numbers on it. 

I think he did an awesome job?

He still has to make the 'handle', and attach the crate to the wheels. He will be doing that soon. But even without it, I am in love. 

Pickle seems to end up in a lot of pictures

Since we are still covered in snow, I can't fill it with flowers for the garden yet. So I took a couple of my stag-horn ferns and a variegated Boston fern to decorate it. 

Yes, our garden cart is on the pool table. 

Since the cable spools are not real wheels, this is a stationary garden cart. :)

I can't wait for spring and to see this new garden addition filled with colourful annuals. Now to decide which ones I want to put in it. 

I painted this watering can to give it a rusted look. Not quite what I was going for, but it's better than it was. 

Edit - The handle was finally built & added to this cart, and it still needs to be aged. It was given as a present so I didn't get it decorated for pictures, but I hope you get the idea. I have some more spools and wood, now to make another for me! :)

Do you have any old carts or wagons you put plants in? 

I'm sharing with -

                                         

Funky Junk's SNS                                                Serenity Now

East Coast Creative CWTS

                                        

Debbiedoo's & Fox Hollow Cottage                        Spring Thing Linky Party