Repurposed Tool Caddy Centerpiece for Thanksgiving
Old, handmade rustic tool caddies used to be a mainstay of garages and basements. Their simple wood bodies have been replaced with plastic versions for modern DIYer’s. Which is just fine, because these oldies can then be repurposed for home decor! If you can get your hands on one, I’ll show you how you can make a Repurposed Tool Caddy Centerpiece for Thanksgiving.
Today’s project is part of our monthly Thrifty Chicks Challenge, when a group of creative bloggers all create around a theme. This month we are focusing on Repurposed Centerpieces. I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with, especially since we’re entering the holiday season! I’ll have links to their ideas at the end.
Repurposed Tool Caddy Centerpiece for Thanksgiving
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First off, let’s set something straight. I perused Pinterest a little and came to the conclusion that folks don’t know the difference between a tool box and a tool caddy. I would say a tool box is in a box shape and has a lid on it. It usually has hinges and a handle on top. They can be repurposed as centerpieces, too, which I’ve done before. {“Vintage Toolbox Centerpiece for Spring“, “Toolbox Half, Repurposed”}
But this rustic tool caddy is for the handyman (or woman) on the go. It can be picked up and lugged around simply and they can see all their tools in full view. It’s got a simple construction and was usually handmade from extra materials laying around. Which to me makes them even more beautiful!
Many times these old tool caddies have seen many layers of paint and stain and have their share of paint drips, too. But this one I found was pretty bare. Honestly a little too boring for me. So, if there’s not enough interest, you have to add it!
Begin by Sanding the Tool Caddy
These oldies were made for practical purposes; most are pretty rustic. I’m going to use this as a Thanksgiving Centerpiece, so it needs to be nicer. I popped some 120 grit sandpaper in my palm sander (you can get mine for smaller hands HERE) and smoothed all the roughness out. Then I scrubbed it clean with some sudsy water and let it dry completely.
Next, Stain the Tool Caddy
To add history and age, I stained the tool caddy with some Provencial stain. The darker color makes it look older and will bring about a primitive look when it’s seen behind paint. I used regular stain and used a foam brush to apply it so I could toss it afterward. (You can find similar stain HERE and the foam brushes HERE). I usually use gel stain and wipe it on, but it was easier to get in all the nooks and crannies using regular, runny stain and a foam brush.
Doesn’t it look so much better already? I was tempted to keep it like this, but didn’t want my Thanksgiving Centerpiece to look this dark. I do love how the dark stain shows all the character of the wood though. If I only had 2 of them:(
Once Dry, Paint the Tool Caddy with Milk Paint
Miss Mustard Seed’s Farmhouse White Milk Paint is the perfect top treatment for this piece (you can get it HERE). It’s in powder form and you mix it with water. You can create a great white wash effect with it because it’s not thick like normal latex. I brushed on a first coat, let it dry and then put a second coat on.
It never looks good after the first coat as you can see from this pic. Once the 2nd coat was dry, I hand sanded it to give it that rustic look and gave it a sealer coat of poly ( I use THIS stuff on everything).
Gather your Thanksgiving Centerpiece Fruit and Foliage
The word “Bountiful” always makes me think of Thanksgiving. To decorate the Thanksgiving table, I like to decorate with fruits and veggies to go along with that theme. Anyone can gather these items; most are from the grocery store or the yard. I added a few things from my Fall decor bins, but not many.
Here is the refreshed tool caddy, along with my trusty vintage turkey and the items I gathered:
To Arrange the Thanksgiving Centerpiece:
Decide First Where to Add your Candlelight
Every special occasion table should have some form of flickering light. Try to plan this out first, not last. I added simple votive cups to 2 aqua jars. The fluted ones set perfectly in the top rim (you can get them HERE). If you’ve got jars, you’ll love having some of these handy!
Place the Largest Items in your Centerpiece First
Tom turkey is the star of the show for this holiday, so he gets the middle spot. The other large piece is the pineapple, which represents hospitality. It’s on the back side to balance out the turkey.
Fill the bottom of the caddy with pinecones. This will help all the other elements to show. Move the pinecones around as you need to adjust heights.
Next I placed the rosy red pieces to balance them throughout the arrangement with the turkey’s red gobble.
It’s starting to take shape…
Rather than fresh flowers, I used live leftover summer succulents in baggies. They look like a flower and add a unique foliage texture.
Add Fruit in Layers By Color
Add each colored fruit and veggie by color, balancing the colors throughout the centerpiece. Make sure it looks as good from the back as the front. Don’t all these beautifully colored fruits and veggies look bountiful?
Add Foliage and Sprinkle
To finish up, add feathery texture with fresh clippings from your yard. I snipped our cedar trees which give a wonderful fragrance, along with the clove-studded oranges. Sprinkle nuts in shells around and tuck in some of the spaces. I added 2 more succulents at each end to make the magic number of 3. I had 2 little springs of autumn berries I added to each side. Moss would have been nice too, now that I think about it…
Want to see the final look? I love how the repurposed white-washed wood tool caddy looks with all the beautifully bountiful fruits and veggies sticking out. It’s complex, yet simple and clean.
I think I’ll be using this refreshed tool caddy for many centerpieces in the future, too!
If you happen to come across one of these old classics, definitely scoop it up! Or maybe you’ve got one hiding in your garage or basement (definitely buy a plastic one for the person you’re stealing it from;) With a little bit of TLC, you can elevate it to a centerpiece!
Shop to Create the Look: click on pics for more info:
Hope you were inspired by this Repurposed Tool Caddy Centerpiece for Thanksgiving. With some simply gathered materials, you can easily create a beautiful centerpiece for your holiday table!
Please Pin & Share and then enjoy all the rest of the Thrifty Chicks Inspiration!
Thrifty Chicks Repurposed Centerpiece Challenge
Itsy Bits and Pieces, “A DIY Folk Art Turkey Centerpiece From Re-Used Finds”
Audrey Would! Vintage, “A Centerpiece of Hazelwood Branches and Thrifted Copper Finds”
{Mine}
Color Me Thrifty, ” DIY Christmas Centerpiece with Snooker Balls”
Little Vintage Cottage, “Repurposed Sugar Tin Centerpiece”
Sharing at these lovely parties:
Turned out super cute! It’s crazy how the foliage makes all the difference in the world! Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Yes, foliage is always the cherry on top!
I love natural centerpieces, and the tool caddy is perfect. Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
Me, too, Cecilia! Your welcome:)
Great Thanksgiving Centerpiece, Lora! Love the fresh fruit and live elements! Thanks for joining us at Tuesday Turn ABout!
Thanks, Julie!
When I saw your tool caddy I had to smile! It looks so good! You will find lots of ways to decorate with it!!! I was very fortunate while visiting my dad’s tractor shed and finding his old red tool caddy! Needless to say it came home with me and I have used it year round for the past 4 years! It’s rough and still a little dirty but I wouldn’t have it any other way! Dad’s 91 yo and can’t remember where or how it came to be, so I am just assuming it was his since I located it in his shed! : )
I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying that special treasure, Doris! Thanks for sharing:) I knew someone out there probably had one of their
Dad’s or Grandpa’s!
I have the exact same tool caddy filled with jars of assorted screws in the workshop. Time to make it all pretty for the holidays after seeing this!
Definitely, make it pretty!!
Hi Lora! I just popped over from Color Me Thrifty (don’t you just love her?!) to see what you were gonna do with that caddy. And I was NOT disappointed! I love this! I don’t have a caddy….or a toolbox….but you can bet that I’ll be looking! Especially appreciate all the steps in assembling a centerpiece!! With out it, I probably would have just stuck everything in….creating a mess! Thanks so much! Pinning! Dona
Glad you stopped by, Dona! Yes, I love the creativity that Tuula comes up with! Good luck finding a tool caddy; thanks for pinning!
never met a wooden tool caddy that I didn’t love, your’s is so wonderful. All the fruit and naturals with the candles is a perfect fun rustic centerpiece for Thanksgiving and an easy way to head to Christmas!
I can’t wait to transform this one to winter and Christmas, Debra:) Think it will move to the coffee table next!
Very pretty Lora! I do think I knew the difference between a caddy and a box ;o)
Tania
Well, of course YOU do, Tania;) But Pinterest is a little mixed up…
Charming! Not only will it look wonderful for Thanksgiving, it will be great for the rest of the seasons and holidays too.
Thanks, Linda! I can’t wait to swap it up for winter and Christmas!
So cute Lora I have a big one I can’t wait to decorate with🙌🏻
Can’t wait to see yours, Ann! I’m sure it’s wonderful:)
Your centerpiece turned out fresh and fabulous! I love everything that you create and decorate and I have most of the items required in my home. The only thing missing is TIME! I am always amazed that you have the time to do all that you do throughout your home and I never get tired of looking back at all your tours and creations!
You’re so sweet, Pam! Thanks for the nice words:) I do have fun playing with all my vintage junk, and hope it inspires others to see the potential in their treasures, so they can create something fun and unique in their homes! Thanks so much for faithfully reading!
Your caddy centerpiece turned out great Lora! Love all the goodies you placed inside, and Tom turkey is adorable.
Thanks, Tuula! Wish our Thanksgiving was as early as yours, then we could enjoy Christmas longer!
I love this so much Lora! The caddy looked amazing even after just the staining step, but wow, what a transformation with the whitewash. Tom Turkey looks quite proud on his perch amongst the colourful fruit and succulents. Your table is going to be beautifully dressed with this centerpiece!
Thanks, Sheila! Now to set the rest of it…
Oh, that turned out beautifully, Lora! I love how you transformed the tool caddy and how wonderfully you decorated it! It will be so pretty on your table for Thanksgiving!
Thanks, Linda! I really love all the beautiful, various textures going on!