Upcycled Thrift Store Tin Planter
I found the cutest little tin planter at one of my local thrift stores a while back and since it grabbed my attention, I brought it home. I knew I'd find a way to dress it up and make it useful again - eventually.
I nearly always turn my thrift finds into repurposed projects, but this time I went for a simple upcycle.
By the way, there's plenty of confusion out there between repurposed and upcycled projects. I've written a post all about it because there really is a difference!
This shabby little find was practically free - just a quarter.
I loved the shape and those curvy edges reminded me of French country decor, so I decided to go for a French-style makeover for this little neglected planter.
First, paint!
I'm a huge fan of paint. It can cover a multitude of misfortunes and totally transform most anything from sad to eye-catching.
After a soft white paint job, I hit the edges and corners with fine-grit sandpaper to add the appearance of a little age.
I needed a stencil to truly capture the essence of the French vibe I was going for, so I designed a simple text and swirling vine stencil.
One of the best perks of making your own stencils is that you can design them to perfectly fit your project! No extra stencil hanging off the edges or realigning it several times to get full coverage.
It makes the stenciling process so much easier.
I used an oil rubbed bronze acrylic paint for the text, a soft green for the vine,
and a delicate pink for the flower buds.
Once the tin was dry, I grabbed some floral foam and a few pink peonies leftover from a previous project.
I cut and trimmed the foam to fit into the tin. Since the sides were slanted, they provided a snug fit for the foam, which was a sweet bonus. I didn't even have to use the hot glue I had all ready.
Finally, I trimmed the peonies and added them to the planter.
This sweet little upcycled thrift store tin is the final project in the How to Thrift Shop Like a PRO series.
Visit the blog to get all 10 hacks, details on how you can get the "Fleurs" stencil, information on making your own stencils, and the FREE How to Thrift Shop Like a PRO Cheat Sheet.
Click the link below to visit.
Live Creatively,
Karen
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?