Turn Dollar Tree Items Into The Cutest Spring Box Planter With A Crafty DIY

Even if a little frost is still clinging to your lawn, there are plenty of spring door decor ideas to welcome the warm weather, but what can you do for the inside of your home? If you're eager to kick off the spring season without blowing your budget on decor, consider crafting a mini garden planter to bring some springtime joy to your countertop, computer desk, guest bathroom, or any other space that needs a little sunshine. All of the materials you need can be picked up at your local Dollar Tree, making this clever project surprisingly budget-friendly. You'll start by smoothing and sealing a patterned napkin to the flat surface of a bamboo cutting board. By securing this small cutting board to one side of a wood crafting crate, you can make it look like a pretty planter box. 

For the base of your project, start by gathering a Cooking Concepts Bamboo Cutting Board and a Crafters Square Wood Slat Crate. You might also want Crafters Square Wood Craft Cubes, wood beads, or similar small pieces to serve as feet for your planter. Lastly, pick up printed napkins of your choice. Dollar Tree's seasonal aisle is a great place to find a fun and festive print! To pull everything together, you'll also need Mod Podge, craft paint, paintbrushes, hot glue, and fillings for your planter box, such as marbles, topiary foam, flower picks, greenery, or moss.

Hot glue small feet to the wood crate, if desired, then cover your entire cutting board and wooden crate with a layer of paint. Chalk paint will give the surfaces an interesting, weathered look, but acrylic or spray paints will also work beautifully. Choosing a light color like white will help the napkin print stand out when it's pasted onto the board. After the paint is dry, unfold one of your napkins and trim the design down to size so it covers at least the top half of the board. Peel the ply layers of your napkin apart until only the thin, printed layer remains. Brush a layer of Mod Podge onto the cutting board and let it dry completely.

If you use wet Mod Podge, you risk smearing or tearing your image. Instead, transfer it using parchment paper and an iron. Lay your napkin image on the cutting board with the dry Mod Podge beneath it. Put a sheet of parchment paper on top, then gently glide over it with a dry iron on medium heat. Do not use steam. The heat will reactivate the dry Mod Podge and fuse it to your napkin print within a few minutes.

Glue your wood crate to the cutting board so the board stands behind it like a wall. Your napkin print should be visible over the top. Make any final touches, then fill your "planter" with marbles or stones to balance out the weight of the cutting board. Add a chunk of topiary foam and start arranging greenery or floral picks. While you're shopping, check for other little crafting details and accessories or affordable Dollar Tree items that will add a touch of spring to your home.

In total, this project shouldn't cost more than about $10 for all the essential parts, assuming you already have some crafting supplies like paint and hot glue on hand. Of course, there are endless ways to decorate and customize your mini planter box. For spring, these Seasonal Collection Easter Lunch Napkins  and Assorted Floral Garden Pastel Greenery will set a pretty floral scene, but this craft can also be adapted into decor for any season simply by switching the color palette and planter fillings. Dollar Tree's Seasonal Collection Fruit-themed Napkins would be the perfect backdrop for a summer fruit stand theme. Of course, solid and patterned napkins can also be used in your craft project for more versatile year-round decor. 

While it certainly looks like a cute cottage planter, this craft may not be best for housing real plants, since the wooden crate lacks drainage at the bottom and may warp with moisture. Likewise, it shouldn't be used outdoors, but will make for a charming indoor display in bedrooms, bookshelves, or kitchen countertops. Instead of filling it with soil or live plants, stick to plastic plants — Dollar Tree usually has a whole aisle to choose from. Mixing different florals creates a more elevated look. If you insist on something more genuine, try dried flowers. The tiny crate could even be an interesting air plant holder idea to create a beautiful display of greenery.