Sunday, May 9, 2010

How to transform an ugly outdoor planter!

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day and a great weekend!! We were finally able to get into the yard, or in our case, the woods and clean up a lot of the leftover mess from all the snow storms of the winter. There is much more to do, but we got a good start! My yearly project before Mother's Day, is getting the porches and decks ready to enjoy, and that we did over the last few days. We were able to relax outside with the children this afternoon after church and lunch with my mom. I'll post some photos of that later.

One of the projects I did was to transform a very ugly planter!


Pretty ugly, right? This is one of those inexpensive planters made out of something like heavy styrofoam.  I had two of them I had used in the past, and although they are bland and boring, they do have a great texture and they're light.


I got out the flat black spray paint and started spraying. Then I dry-brushed on a medium brown paint I found in my kid's craft paint.


And it came out like this...


It definitely went from not so great to much better! I actually did one of these last year but never got around to this one until this year. I think they turned out great, and they definitely don't look like the wind will blow them away anymore.


Here's a sneak peek at the porch. I actually did something a little different from last year, and I will show that soon!




This is a really easy project to do, and a great way to recycle an old pot! 
I'll be joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday! Make sure you go by there to see some great befores and afters! 


Anita

28 comments:

  1. What a great transformation, Anita!
    love the warmer colors now!
    How apropos you found something from your kid's craft paint for a Mother's Day project!

    Southern Porches are so amazing!
    I'll be here again to see your porch update!
    ~Maria

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  2. Love it, I spray mine every year, mine is heavy though! I love your plants too, can't wait to see what you come up with this year.

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  3. Wow! I love it!! You would NEVER guess that they aren't heavy concrete! Aren't you clever! Hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day!

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  4. Joanne KennedyMay 9, 2010 at 10:20 PM

    Very nice! You turned it into something very expensive looking. Can't wait to see what you did different on your porch this year.
    Hugs,
    Joanne

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  5. Love it! Great look.

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  6. The Decorative DreamerMay 10, 2010 at 4:00 AM

    Very Nice! I am so glad to know this can be done on these types of pots, and to see it done! I love the brown over the black too. It looks fantastic!

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  7. Judy@judyfriendphotography.comMay 10, 2010 at 4:12 AM

    Looking good. Jude

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  8. Kim @ Savvy Southern StyleMay 10, 2010 at 4:27 AM

    Anita, that turned out great. It looks like it came that way.

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  9. Creations By CindyMay 10, 2010 at 4:44 AM

    It is so pretty! Love it. Be blessed. Cindy

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  10. Yvonne @ StoneGableMay 10, 2010 at 4:57 AM

    Your urn transformation is fabulous. I love the how just a little paint and creativity brought the "swan" out in this piece.
    You have a beautiful porch! I can't wait to see more.
    YVonne

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  11. Pam - @diy Design FanaticMay 10, 2010 at 5:00 AM

    Looks great Anita! It goes so much better with the porch floor.

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  12. so much better without a lot of fuss!!! looking forward to your porch reveal- we do not have a porch- wish we did- although we do have a patio on the backside of the house with a nice view of the trees. hope you had a great mother's day

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  13. The Quintessential MagpieMay 10, 2010 at 6:39 AM

    Anita, you did a great job on these! They do look so much more substantial the way you painted them.

    Years ago I painted one for a party... an undercoat of a copper color paint (I didn't have spray paint), and then I did a topcoat of a turquoise color I mixed. I use it in my LR now with an arrangement of dried grasses, and most people think it's an antique. Originally, I used it as the centerpiece for a round table and filled the urn with tropical flowers. So I love these urns, and I like how you made yours look bronzed.

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  14. Hi Anita! Oh, your planter looks wonderful! What a difference a little spray paint makes! Lovely!
    Hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  15. HELLO ANITA,
    WOW IT TURNED OUT BEAUTIFUL, I LOVE THE END RESULT, THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING THIS PROJECT WITH ALL OF US :) HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE WEEK, ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO VISIT WITH YOU :)

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  16. Anita, I love the way the geraniums look in your transformed urn, red looks great with the finish. Thank you for stopping by this morning and leaving a comment.I reallly appreciate you letting me know you liked the post. I always wonder if people are reading and learning anything new. Thanks to you I for letting me know, I guess they are, Happy Monday,Kathysue

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  17. Kathy @ Creative Home ExpressionsMay 10, 2010 at 10:25 AM

    This looks great, Anita! I have some of those pots, too, but not in the pretty urn shape you've got. Paint may be just what they need!

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  18. love what you did look like real concreat who would know thank you Anita for mothers day wish hope you had a great one to great job:)

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  19. Anita, nice job! Looks lovely.
    I had forgotten I sent the plates to college with my son. The good news is, I don't think he is using them so they may be in good condition. He thinks he has about 5 and they are salad plates. I had bowls too but he said they are pretty chipped up. He is coming home and will bring the plates it you still want them. I also have a serving bowl and platter in that pattern and you are welcome to those as well! I just don't have the storage space anymore.

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  20. myletterstoemilyMay 10, 2010 at 12:37 PM

    great idea, anita! it looks so much better
    for your brilliant painting.

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  21. Hi Anita!
    I finally got home from work :o)
    The napkin is in my sidebar... If you click on it, it will enlarge and you can see, it is not a true match...but your napkin made me get up and check on it!
    I bought it from PatsVintageStudio {eBay store name}
    http://shop.ebay.com/patsvintagestudio/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

    She doesn't have much right now, but I have found lovely vintage things on eBay. I now you and your mom bought those gorgeous dishes on ebay!
    There were 3 matching napkins and I was the only one bidding... 99 cents!
    shipping very, very reasonable {first class under $2}

    I'll leave the napkin there until you check it... I want to do a post on my vintage ebay finds sometime!
    It's such a lovely day today, time for a walk!
    Blessings ~Maria

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  22. Mid-Atlantic MarthaMay 10, 2010 at 6:13 PM

    How wonderful your urn looks! I love geranuims too. Thanks for your very kind visit -- I highly recommend Sanibel Island -- it's a wonderful laid back place.

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  23. Cynthia@ITLLDOMay 11, 2010 at 6:33 AM

    Great transformation!!! I have 2 of those blah old urns. I will just have to try this!

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  24. Anita....I just LOVE your urn and what a beauty you *uncovered* :)

    Blessings!
    Gail

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  25. Decor To AdoreMay 11, 2010 at 7:44 AM

    Wow! This looks fantastic. I may have to try this.

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  26. My Cozy CasitaMay 11, 2010 at 1:37 PM

    Hi Anita very nice job! what great idea,looks lovely.
    Thank you Anita for Mothers day I wish you have a wonderful day to.
    XOX
    Isora

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  27. Hello sweet Anita - I'm a new follower of your fabulous blog via Met Monday (catching up from last week!). Love what you did to the planter. I can't believe it's the same one! Amazing what a little bit of paint can do. I really like the effect the brown paint did on top of the black. Great idea!

    I'd love for you to come by for a visit - having a giveaway!
    http://emmacallsmemama.com/2010/05/bff-giveaway/

    Blessings,
    Marie

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  28. Creations By CindyMay 18, 2010 at 9:52 AM

    Anita, you have an award over on my blog! Be blessed. Cindy

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