DIY Rustic Avocado Sailboat – Easy Coastal Decor
I bet you’ve never heard of an avocado sailboat before. Okay maybe you have, but it probably involves shrimps and a tangy mayonnaise of some sort. This one doesn’t taste too good and looks better on a bookshelf or mantle rather than on the dinner table 😉
Can you spot the avocado yet? It’s hiding right there under the upside down map of South Africa.
See, right there 😉
And it was super easy to make too, plus it fits’ right in with this month’s Cast in Concrete IBC challenge.
What’s The IBC All About
The IBC, or International Blogger’s Club, is a group of bloggers from all over the world who challenge each other to make something using a common theme. Our last challenge was “I Love Resin” and we shared a tutorial to make a gorgeous Spring wreath bursting with love and lots of greenery. You’ll find all my friend’s “Cast in Concrete” projects at the bottom of this tutorial and they’re stunning. So don’t miss out.
Okay, before we get to the tutorial be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. And don’t forget to subscribe so you’ll never miss a post!
What you need
For the concrete sailboat bottom
- One avocado (Thick-skinned Hass avocados work best)
- Concrete Mix or Plaster of Paris
- Thick cardboard or tin scraps
- Craft paint, paintbrushes and glue
For the sail
- Skewer or straight twig
- Clear drying craft glue
- Map of your favorite place, cut into a triangular shape
I downloaded an old map of South Africa from Wiki Commons but feel free to use any map, as long as it can be cut into a triangular shape. Lucky for me, an upside down South Africa already looks like a sail 😀
How to Make a Concrete Avocado Sailboat
Slice the avocado in half and remove the pip and scoop out all the flesh. Save the flesh for this yummilicious salad and the pip to plant in the garden ? Wash the avocado peel and dry well.
Place the avocado peel on a stable surface. Depending on the shape you may need to balance it so the top is level. I just used some clay to prop mine up a little. Mix up a batch of concrete or Plaster of Paris according to the manufacturer’s instructions. I used concrete since this is a concrete challenge 😉 Pour the mixture inside the peel.
Make sure the peel is level before inserting a skewer or twig inside.
Leave to cure fully, before removing the peel.
Sand the little sailboat shape smooth and flatten the bottom a little with coarse sand paper. I wanted my avocado sailboat to look rustic, so covered the entire bottom with brown craft paint.
Once the paint died, I applied a thick layer of craft glue and then added white craft paint on top of that.
I love watching the cracks forming as the glue and paint dries.
To finish the bottom off, cut a strip of cardboard or old rusty tin ceiling and carefully bend and glue the strip around the avocado sailboat shape.
And finally, glue the map to the skewer mast, and add a small flag.
It’s that easy to create a little rustic boat using an avocado peel.
For me what makes it special is that the sail is a map of our beautiful South Africa.
Plus I got to use up some of those ceiling tile off-cuts we have lying around 😉
What do you think? Is it something you would add to your coastal decor?
If you like the idea of making an avocado sailboat, don’t forget to pin it for later.
Sharing is caring 😉
And don’t forget to go have a looksee at the other awesome “Cast in Concrete” ideas the rest of the girls in the Int’l Bloggers Club came up with.
- Meegan Makes shows us how to make gorgeous cement block planters.
- A rustic little sailboat with an avocado twist by yours truly 😉
- Raggedy Bits created a clutch of faux concrete eggs. I love the nest idea.
- An ingenious concrete air planter from Birdz of a Feather.
- A really clever way to make a zen-styled garden orb from Unique Creations by Anita.
- And last, but not least a moss encrusted concrete planter from Interior Frugalista.
Oh and if you’re looking for some of the things we used, we’ve got you covered Disclosure: Clicking on the links below, means we may receive a commission from Amazon. But don’t worry it won’t come out of your pocket, and it helps us come up with more amazing craft ideas to share with you 😉
And if you prefer to buy rather than DIY then perhaps you’ll enjoy these.
And as always, wishing you a wonderful, crafty week filled with lots of love. Thank you for popping in for a visit. Stay Safe.
You know I’m going to love this, just because it has a map sail. Ingenious!
High praise from the Queen of map repurposing ideas. Thanks so much, Claire ❣
Wow, you are so clever! I love your little sailboat!!
Tania
Thank you, Tania. I really appreciate that.
Coolest salvaged boat I’ve ever laid eyes on! It’s perfection. Top to bottom!
I’ve featured this in this weekend’s DIY Salvaged Junk Projects. Thanks for linking up!
That makes me so happy, Donna, thank you.
What a cute project! Pinned for later.
Thanks so much, Libbie
Fabulous upcycle!! I’d love for you to join us over at the Creative Crafts Linky Party every Wednesday through Sunday
https://creativelybeth.com/creative-crafts-linky-party-29/
Followed and Pinned! ?
Creatively, Beth
Thanks so much for the invite Beth. I’ll see you there 😀
How cute and I can’t believe you used an avocado to mold the concrete! Love it. Pinned!
Avocados are the best 😉
Blowing me away every time you make something. I truly would have never dreamed of a project like this. I just love that you used a map for the sail, and how everything you do has a definite Michelle created this look.
Awwww Leanna, thank you so much. The map does make it more special
You are so clever Michelle! You have such an imagination and see the potential in everything. Love the cute little avocado boat and how you used the South African map as the sail. That’s so cool how you formed the cracks for the bottom of the boat.
Thanks so much, Linda. It was pure luck that the map of our beautiful country worked so well as a sail
Well, we have avocados around here and no one has ever made anything like this from them! I wish they would. I love that sweet sail. It really is a lovely tribute to you homeland. You girls are all so creative.
😀 I thoroughly enjoyed this “cast in concrete” challenge, Kim. It was so quick and easy and I got to enjoy a yummy avocado salad while celebrating our gorgeous country. Win-win all round.
Michelle,
In a million years I never would have thought of using an avocado to make a sail boat. And I just love this idea. Especially making it with cement! The map sail is just the icing on the cake. This is such a fun piece for Spring and Summer decorating in my apartment cottage. Thanks for sharing, my friend.
You’re welcome, Meegan. I’m really happy with how the little avocado sailboat turned out. She’ll be going down to our little house by the sea as soon as we can take some time off work.
This is so crazy clever!! I absolutely love every inch of your creation right down to the map sail!! So very creative Michelle!
Thank you, Sam
This is just the cutest Michelle. The way you make everything looks so old and rusty is brilliant. And I learnt something new today. the glue and the paint to create cracks very clever. I always buy those expensive craft product to do that.
That glue and paint trick is my go-to technique if I want to create a cracked-up effect. It’s so easy and works every time.
Michelle, I have avocado ? in a small bowl right now to grow a plant. I don’t know why I didn’t think of making a boat! Oh my, you open the creative part of my mind every week. Love it
The thought of planting a little seed of creativity somewhere always makes me happy. Thank you, Deana. I hope your avocado tree grows tall and strong and that you get to make some sailboats with the grandbabies too
This group is amazing! I love coming here every Monday to see what you guys do! I never in a million years would have thought of doing this with an avocado! Unbelievable !
Avocados are such crazy, yummy, amazing things. I love that you can eat them and use them in craft projects too 😉
Gosh, I love the way your creative mind works. Such a unique and patriotic concrete craft idea. Love the rusty goodness too!
It worked out way better than I expected and I’m super happy that old map of South Africa could finish the picture 😉
Coming over from Blogging Fifty. This is so clever. Pinned!
Thanks so much, Laura, and happy to have you here
Well, this project really floats my boat! I love how you worked the South African map into your sail! And you always go the extra mile with your finishes; the glue crackle looks amazing!
😀 I’m happy to hear that Sara and lucky me, our upside-down country is the perfect sail shape.