COPYCAT CARROTS

Make common goods uncommon indeed with a little creativity, a few familiar supplies and a smidge of effort. Shape a trio of oversize beribboned vegetables for a garden-fresh wall hanging for spring.

Materials and Tools

• Thin plywood or balsa wood board, 2' x 11/2'

• Narrow wood trim

• Off-white and green chalky-finish paint

• Paintbrushes

• Antiquing wax or sandpaper

• Small nails

• Hammer

• Wire-edged ribbon, 11/2" wide in patterns of your choice

• Glue gun and glue sticks

• Scissors

• Spanish moss

• Faux greenery

• Plain ribbon, 1/2" wide

• Twine

• Ribbon for hanging

• Stapler and staples

Instructions

1. Measure and cut narrow trim pieces to frame the board. Brush off-white paint onto the board and apply green paint to the frame. Let dry, and then distress the board with wax or sandpaper. Tack the trim pieces onto the board with small nails. Alternately, you can choose an existing picture frame instead of making your own frame.

2. To make a carrot, adhere the end of a wire-edged ribbon near the top of the board and weave the ribbon back and forth as you work downward. Gradually decrease the shape’s width, attaching to the board with a light application of glue at the turns. At the bottom of the carrot, snip off the excess ribbon and reinforce with glue where needed. Repeat to make two more carrots. Let the glue dry.

3. Arrange faux greenery at the top of each carrot and glue in place. Glue neat bundles of Spanish moss over the ends of the greenery. Create a ribbon or twine bow for each carrot and glue it atop the moss.

4. Staple a length of coordinating ribbon to the back of the board and hang.