Trash to Treasure – Garbage Can Flower Planter DIY
This may be my easiest and cheapest DIY yet…warning – you may find yourself scouring the side of the road for old garbage cans after reading this!
Our neighbors were moving out last fall when I nabbed these beauties, yes I’m referring to dirty old trash cans as beauties. Charlie and Fran were the cutest old couple and had lived in the house next door for 35 years. My kids loved them and called them Opa and Oma (which if you are dutch, like me, you know means Grandpa and Grandma).
They were originally from the Netherlands and I loved their accents…which I was always trying to imitate, but the Mr. says I sound like a Russian version of George Bush… I have no idea what that even means, but let’s just say I haven’t mastered it. We miss having them next door, but when they moved I scored a couple of fun things that they had been hiding in their garage. I’m pretty sure Charlie thought I was nuts for asking for their 3 ancient trashcans, but he was used to me constantly spray painting things in the garage, so he just shook his head and handed them over. :)
All I did was add Rust-oleum hammered copper spray paint to the handles and the rim of the can to fancy them up a bit.
Oh and the even easier part? Rather than filling the things full of dirt and having them weigh a zillion pounds, I flipped over a 5 gallon bucket in the bottom and just set a pre-planted hanging basket on top. Now, when summer is done they will be easy to stack up and store for the winter.
I became a little obsessed with the hammered copper spray paint and gave some of my other planters a little copper love too.
So there you go, $5 and 15 minutes is all you need. Ok, well you need some free garbage cans too, preferably garbage free…
Sharing at Savvy Southern Style
Clean & Scentsible
A Stroll Thru Life
Stone Gable
Funky Junk Interiors
So very cute! Now I have something to hunt for at garage sales this year! Love your website and your style!
I have the lids to garbage cans, any great idea for those? They don’t make good frisbees, lol!
hmm, drums, cymbals? fancy hat?! ha :)
This is so much fun. Love it, Kelly! Pinned it :)
<3 Christina @ I Gotta Create!
Wildly Original link party is open
Thanks for the pin Christina!
Love!
I also have flowers in a garbage can : ) but I love the hammered copper accents you added. Looks great !!!
Thanks Charlene, great minds think alike :)
Love, love, love this Kelly! You’re so clever!
I love, love this!! You have such great vision for the possibilities of pieces! This turned out so well!! Love the spray paint accents!!! ~Hugs, Jennifer
Love this Kelly! Thanks for sharing!! xo
Great idea! I love it… I have got to try some of that spray paint!
Thanks for sharing,Kelly! Such an adorable DYI!
Great idea, Kelly! The copper adds so much … you’d never those were salvaged garbage cans. And your idea of just adding a pot in them is brilliant.
Fantastic idea! I will have to borrow this one for my porch at the farm. Now off to find some trash cans :)
Kelly,
What a great way to re-purpose an old school trash can! Great post and site! I just found your site while looking around and am enjoying it… Are you open to additional blogs sharing your post? Let me know if you are interested. Bless you!
Absolutely adorable Kelly!