DIY Dollar Tree Rustic Shovels

Create these DIY Dollar Tree Rustic Shovels with just a few supplies and plastic toy shovels from Dollar Tree!

Aren’t these rustic shovels super cute! I love how they turned out. Not only are they cute but they’re so easy to make!

Can you believe these rustic shovels began as play toy sand shovels from Dollar Tree?! These are so cute to tuck on porch. I can’t wait to use them with my fall decor too!

With just a few supplies and a little bit of time you can create these too!

Here’s what you’ll need –

Supplies

• Plastic toy shovels from Dollar Tree
• Brown spray paint – I use Rust oleum Painters Touch in the color Espresso
• Mod Podge
• Cinnamon
• Paint brushes and paint sponge
• Twine
• Torn homespun fabric

Step 1

Spray paint the shovels. I coat one side first and once dried I flip it over and spray paint the other side. I just applied one coat on each side.

Step 2

Working in sections, apply a coat of Mod Podge to a section of the shovel.

Step 3

Sprinkle section you covered with Mod Podge generously with cinnamon and gently tap to shake off any excess and to make sure you have the entire section covered with Mod Podge.

STEP 4

Gently dab Mod Podge on top of cinnamon. You don’t want to brush it or it will move the cinnamon you sprinkled around. You simply want to dab it on.

Step 5

Once you completed a section continue to move on, working in sections until you covered the entire side. Once the top side is covered, set aside to dry completely and start working on the other shovel.

Step 6

Once the top is covered and dried, turn it over and repeat Step 2-4 working in sections covering with Mod Podge and cinnamon. Set aside to dry.

NOTE

• If you’ve missed spots, simply go back to the spots and cover with Mod Podge, cinnamon, and Mod Podge.
• If you get little spots of white Mod Podge that didn’t dry clear, simply cover it with a coat of Mod Podge, cinnamon and Mod Podge just like in Steps 2-4.
• If you want more of a grungy look or what more cover, repeat Steps 2-4 adding Mod Podge, cinnamon and Mod Podge to get the desired look you want.

Step 7

Once the shovels are dry, I held them together with some twine. I didn’t hot glue them together in case I want to separate them.

I then wrapped it with a piece of torn homespun fabric.

That’s it!

Just be patient with it and have fun. I like to take my time and work in sections with this project.

And you can’t mess up. If there’s a section you don’t like or missed some, just give it a coat of Mod Podge, sprinkle with cinnamon and dab on some more Mod Podge.

I intentionally added some spots with just Mod Podge and cinnamon and didn’t add the Mod Podge on top so it looked like the shovels were old and dirty.

You can watch the process on my Instagram and a video is coming soon on YouTube!

If you make this too I’d love to see! Snap a picture and tag me on Instagram at motherthyme.

Happy crafting!