Transform a plastic planter into a padded footstool, complete with scoot-around wheels.
Materials
large plastic planter from nursery or garden shop, with dish
fiberfill batting
all-purpose glue
sturdy fabric to cover
cording
button with a shank
plywood
caster
Note: The planter should have a drainage dish that the planter fits into.
Steps
- Remove drainage dish, turn upside down on tabletop and pile the top high with fiberfill batting cut to fit. Add a spot or two of glue to secure the batting to the plastic dish
- Cut a circle of fabric large enough to fit over the batting and dish, with enough left over to fit under the dish by several inches.
- Take a running stitch around the out edge of the fabric circle and place on top of the batting, down the sides, and to the underside of the dish. Knot securely.
- Cut a wide length of batting to fit smoothly around the planter. The sides of the planter will no doubt angle out slightly so it is easier to measure and cut the material before adding the batting, but allow a bit extra for it. Cut the fabric long enough to allow for about a 1" overlap down the sides and about 3" overlap at both the top and bottom. The one at the bottom will need to come back up the inside of the planter to at least 1" past the ledge.
- Wrap the fabric around the planter and mark where to stitch for when you turn it right side out. Take a running stitch around the top edge.
- Remove fabric, stitch up the side and turn right side out. Take a running stitch around the top edge.
- Pull fabric tube down over the planter and smooth out. Bring the bottom edge back up inside the planter. Pull the thread on the stitching around the top edge as tightly as possible and knot to secure.
- Place the drainage dish on top of the planter and push hard to force it down on top of the planter. You may have to hit it with a hammer or stand on it.
- Cut a length of sturdy wire, fold it into a U and thread it through the shank of the button. If desired, cover the button first with fabric from the footstool. You might even add a dollop of batting. Push the wires through the fabric on the top of the footstool (the drainage dish) and the footstool itself. Reach up inside, pull the wire as tightly as possible, and twist to hold.
- Smooth the fabric covering the planter down and back up inside the bottom. Secure with glue here and there.
- Fold a 2"-wide length of matching or contrasting fabric in thirds lengthwise, and glue it over the seam on the cover. Make two or three more such strips and glue to the cover at equally space intervals.
- Optional: A length of cording was added around the top of the stool where it joins the dish. The cording was made by cutting a length of the fabric that was used for the strips, and wrapping it lengthwise around a length of commercial cording. This was stitched down the length of the cord and cut off about 1/2" from the stitching. This edge was then pushed in between the top and bottom (planter and dish). Glue a length of cording where the edge of the dish meets the cover. This step is not necessary but adds rather nice finishing touches.
- Insert plywood circle, which should hold the fabric secure. Add casters.
Note: You might find it easier to secure the casters to the plywood before inserting it in the planter. 
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