Kids’ Plastic Picnic Table Makeover

As you know, we entertain a lot in the summer, hosting quite a few family picnics. Guests include my 3-year-old nephew and 2 and 4-year-old nieces. It was decided that I needed a kid’s table and mom scored a Little Tykes picnic table at a yard sale for me for $15. Hurray for yard sale season (and moms)!

How to paint a child's plastic picnic table 

But when you don’t have a yard full of fun brightly colored kids’ toys; the red, blue and yellow looks out of place, not to mention it was faded and a little worse-for-wear. 

kids picnic table before

I decided a little makeover was in order. 

Materials:

  • Spray primer (2 cans)
  • Spray paint (2 cans for all over) I used Rustoleum Oil Rubbed Bronze.
  • Another can for decorative purposes (optional)
  • Spray clear coat
  • FrogTape
  • Vinyl decals (I made my own using supplies from Happy Crafters)

Tutorial:

First, I lightly sanded the picnic table with a fine grit sandpaper and gave it a good spraying with the pressure washer. (Thanks, Steve!)

washing picnic table

This also comes apart some how, but I couldn’t figure it out so I didn’t bother. Apply a coat of primer: 

DIY plastic picnic table transformation

Then spray paint:

painting plastic picnic table tutorial

I let it dry and ‘cure’ for a few days. 

Using my FrogTape, I created a rectangle (table runner) outline on the table part of the picnic table and taped off the rest of the table top. 

child's picnic table makeover

Using my Silhouette Cameo and Silhouette Design Studio software, I created and cut out the letters for a dinner time prayer.

Silhouette Studio designer software

Happy Crafters

I applied the sticker type vinyl letters to the center of my rectangle and made sure FrogTape and vinyl letters were pressed down securely.

kids picnic table makeover

Then gave it a coat of spray paint in Rustoleum’s Lagoon. (I used a large piece of cardboard to shield the benches.)

painting plastic picnic table

I peeled away the FrogTape and decals while the paint was still wet. I still have blue fingernails to prove it. 

picnic table makeover

I let that dry for a few days (in my vehicle mostly since it’s been raining off and on so much)…which is why I had no choice but to be patient as well! Then I used my FrogTape again to create a border around my “place mat” and filled it in with DecoArt’s Patio Paint. Then peeled away my FrogTape and again…let it dry for a few days.

painting kids plastic picnic table

I had to touch up the paint here and there. Then sealed it with a spray clear coat (satin finish) and let that dry.

clear coat

Much better! And a sweet little reminder for the little ones to pray before digging in. 

childs picnic table makeover after

 

We tested it out over the fourth of July. Now it fits in with our patio…

plastic picnic table makeover

*This sponsored by FrogTape. FrogTape provided by Shurtech. The opinions are completely my own based on my own experience.

 FrogTape Blog Squad

 *Vinyl provided by Happy Crafters.

HClogopngsmall

Ombre Stenciled Flower Pots

This is definitely the summer of DIY flower planters at DIYShowOff, isn’t it? We’ve always been so busy with projects INside the house, that decorating outside hasn’t been a priority but this year, I’ve been especially happy to celebrate summer. I wanted to spruce up the yard a little with some colorful flowers and flower pots and that’s exactly what I’ve accomplished. I do promise (I think) that this is the last DIY flower pot project of 2013.  

Stacked Stenciled Ombre Flower Pots Tutorial

Materials:

  • Terra cotta flower pots (5 different sizes from smaller to bigger)
  • DecoArt Patio Paint (1 Blue Jay Blue, 1 Robin’s Egg Blue, 1 Blue Bahama, 2 Cloud White, 1 Woodland brown)
  • Vinyl stencils (I created mine with my Silhouette Cameo and vinyl from my sponsor, Happy Crafters). 
  • Krylon Clear Coat
  • Rebar (mine is 42″)
  • Potting soil and flowers
  • Optional: Curtain rod finial (I found mine at a thrift store and spray painted it white)

Ombre flower pots Tutorial:

I purchased three colors blue and two bottles of white patio paint to create 5 colors in styrofoam bowls:

  • Blue Jay Blue
  • 50/50 Blue Jay Blue and Robin’s Egg Blue
  • Robin’s Egg Blue
  • 50/50 Robin’s Egg Blue and Blue Bahama
  • Blue Bahama

deco art patio paint

For each pot, I started with one of the base colors above. Using a foam brush, I started on the bottom, “feathering” the paint. I then elevated my pots to make painting/drying easier. 

painting terra cotta flower pots

Then added white to the paint and feathered another row on the same pot, working my way around the pot.

And added more white and repeated.

ombre flower pot tutorial

When the bottom was dry, I flipped the terra cotta pot. Then added more white to my paint and finished all the way to the top and a little down into the inside. 

I did the above steps for each paint color for each terra cotta pot.

Then I mixed all of my left over paint together and painted the insides of my flower pots…

painting flower pots

then flipped and painted the bottoms and let them dry overnight. 

painting terracotta flower pots

Next, using my Silhouette Cameo and vinyl from Happy Crafters, I created vinyl stencils with this little quote:

Your mind is a garden.

Your thoughts are the seeds.

You can grow flowers.

Or you can grow weeds.

making sure that the sizing was correct for each pot. I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut vinyl stencils.

Happy Crafters

Since I’m using the vinyl as a stencil, I peeled away the lettering.

creating a vinyl stencil

Applied the transfer paper and peeled away the wax paper like backing…

vinyl stencil

and applied the stencils to my terra cotta pots. Since the pots are curved, I found it easiest to apply each line of stencil text individually. Rub with a credit card then peel away transfer paper.

applying vinyl stencil to terra cotta

Next I filled in the lettering with brown patio paint.

stenciled terra cotta pots

I removed the vinyl stencils as soon as I was done painting and let everything dry for 72 hours according to the patio paint’s instructions.

painting and stenciling terra cotta pots

Then gave the insides and outsides a spray of protective clear coat. 

sealing painted terra cotta pots

Once that was dry, it was time to plant! I even tried to find flowers in purples ranging from dark to light for more ombre effect… purple ombre flowers

And followed Beth’s instructions for stacking my flower pots at Home Stories A to Z utilizing rebar.

stacking terra cotta pots

 

Watered them too. 

stacked ombre flower pots

Then topped off the rebar with my finial…

finial

stacked ombre flower pots tutorial

Colorful and happy! More DIY planter tutorials:

How to Make a Chandelier Flower Planter

pink-chandelier-planter

 

How to Make a Tire into a Planter

tire flower planter decor

 

How to Make House Number Flower Pots

house number flower pots

 

How to Make a Vertical Pallet Herb Garden

free standing pallet herb garden

This post is sponsored. Vinyl and transfer paper supped by Happy CraftersHClogopngsmall

2 DIY Tire Flower Planter Projects

I recently needed new tires (don’t even look at the tread…it was bad)! This is a great idea for upcycling! The July Challenge for Lowe’s Creative Ideas is Outdoor Art so I headed to Lowe’s for some supplies. 

DIY Tire Flower Planter Tutorial

tire flower planter tutorial at DIYShowOff

My summer home tour revealed a sneak peek of a super easy DIY outdoor decorating/planter. DIY tire planter…

barn party patio

See it?

party patio

There on the wall? Isn’t it happy?

tire flower planter tutorial

Materials:

  • Old tire
  • Valspar spray paint (color is Exotic Sea)
  • potting soil
  • flowers.
  • I already had some leftover fabric weed barrier from the pallet herb garden and some packing peanuts on hand.
  • Optional: chain and s-hook.

I gave the tire a good scrubbing with soap and water and let it dry. 

upcycled tire planter

Then gave it a couple of coats of spray paint (paint + primer). Let dry. 

tire flower planter tutorial

Next we used a  (correction) 1/2 inch drill bit to drill 6 holes into the ‘bottom’ of the tire for drainage. This takes a sharp bit and a lot of pressure (as in I tried but had to have my husband take over). It also produces a little smoke. 

How to make a tire flower planter @DIYShowOff

Then lined the bottom with a piece of fabric weed barrier and a few styrofoam packing peanuts.

How to make a tire flower planter @DIYShowOff

Time to plant! 

I used this arrangement for the wall mounted tire planter…

How to make a tire flower planter @DIYShowOff 

and these for the hanging tire swing flower planter:

How to make a tire flower planter @DIYShowOff

The drainage holes work! Specifically one of the six really works…

How to make a tire flower planter @DIYShowOff

When we’re entertaining, I move the wall mounted tire flower planter to the interior wall of our covered patio. It’s simply hanging on a big humungous sturdy nail. When the party ends, the tire planter is moved to an exterior wall for sunshine and rain/watering. It’s awkward but not too heavy or difficult for moving around to maintain.

How to make a tire flower planter @DIYShowOff

I loved it so much, I needed one to hang in our magnolia tree:

How to make a tire flower planter @DIYShowOff

Doesn’t it look beautiful hanging with my DIY chandelier flower planter in the background? 

How to make a tire flower planter @DIYShowOff

To hang from a tree: Use chain (double hanging length, add about 10″ for in the tire and more for the size of your tree limb). Wrap chain around tree branch and secure end pieces inside of the tire with an “s” hook. 

How to make a tire flower planter @DIYShowOff

Pretty!

How to make a tire flower planter @DIYShowOff

*After I stood back and admired my completed project, I decided to see if it had been done before and of course! You can see this idea at Recaptured Charm too. Sharing at So You Think You’re Crafty.

More planter ideas:

chandelier-planter-feature

House Number Flower Pots

house number flower pots

See more fun DIY ideas at Lowe’s Creative Ideas, follow Lowe’s on InstagramPinterest and sign up for the Creative Ideas magazine and app!

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*Disclaimer: As a member of the Lowe’s Creative Ideas Creators and Influencers network, I received a Lowe’s gift card to complete this project. The tutorial images, instructions and opinions are my own. DIY results may vary.