How to make a 'cheap and easy' DIY rustic stool

Sprouts and Stuff is a gardening blog with a seed-forward focus. The blog's author, Rhonda Brady, describes herself as a nature lover, lazy composter, and vegetarian, among other labels that include wanna be artist and soon-to-be grandmother. Rhonda only writes about things she has grown, used, or created. She believes great gardening advice is what inspires others to garden, and thus writes her blog with the intention to motivate and excite all gardeners, from beginner planters to advanced horticulturists. 
No garden is complete without spaces to sit and enjoy the beautiful scenery and evidence of hard work. Rhonda shows how to make a rustic bucket stool to do just that. The stool is inlaid with stones and other organic materials that make it look natural in any garden. The best part however, is though the stool looks expensive and professionally-made, anyone can easily make one using only $2 in supplies. 
Advertisement
This rustic bucket stool is incredibly cheap and easy to make. All you need is a 5-gallon bucket and bag of concrete or your preferred cement recipe. 
Simply explore the nature around where you live to find long, sturdy sticks for the legs. The sticks should be at least 16 inches long and 1 1/2 inches in diameter, although the thicker, the better. You can also use pipe, dowels, old chair legs, bamboo, or other materials for the legs. Be creative and consider what is already available to you in your home. Similarly, look around for decorative items such as shells, leaves and rocks. 
When making these types of projects, you should always wear gloves and a dust mask as protective gear. 
First, cut, clean and seal the wood legs and spray the bucket with cooking spray. Lay the decorative items in the bucket in your desired pattern. Next, mix the concrete in a separate bucket or tub. Allow the concrete to rest for 10 minutes or until it achieves the texture of cookie dough. Pour the concrete over the decorative pattern, pressing down as you fill the bucket. Next, insert the legs no less than 1 1/2 inches into the concrete. Step away and let the soon-to-be stool sit for at least ten hours. 
After ten hours, it is time to unmold. Simply flip the stool over so the legs are standing firm on the ground and the bucket is up in the air. The bucket should easily slide off the concrete mixture. Clean the top by using a hammer to knock-off and chisel away extra concrete, exposing the decorative pattern. If you need to, trim the legs to level them or to achieve your desired height. 
Mist the top with water and wrap the top in a plastic bag to allow it to cure. After 1- 2 weeks, seal it, sit down, and enjoy your new rustic bucket stool! 
For full instructions, visit Sprouts and Stuff
As evidenced by Rhonda's gorgeous rustic bucket stool, cement has a myriad of applications beyond building. Waterproof, weather-resistant, and easy to work with, cement is perfect for all kinds of garden DIY projects. For example, you will need a fabulous table to go with your new bucket stool. Make a side table using a concrete mold based on melamine shelving, as suggested by Addicted 2 DIY. Or opt for The Merry Thought's hanging table that again makes use of a 5-gallon bucket. To enjoy your new outdoor table and chairs in the evening, light a garden pathway with Restoration Hardware-inspired concrete fire columns and laced cement votive candles
Advertisement
Are you inspired by the many creative uses of cement? SHARE this article! 
Resources Sproutsandstuff