Containers from Found Items

By valleylynn
August 26, 2011

Found items for plant containers can be quite whimsical or they can be more formal. The key is to be creative when looking for items to use.

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Sep 3, 2011 6:52 PM CST
Name: Pegi Putnam
Norwalk, Ca. zone 10b
Charter ATP Member Region: California Cat Lover Container Gardener Dog Lover Garden Art
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I'm hoping everything will go OK on the gall bladder, he has a history of a lot of surgeries and had to go through all his medical history with an MD before they would even attempt it. I'll tell him it is a piece of cake and he will probably ask what kind of cake. I never know what is coming out his mouth, thus I'm carrying around duct tape. Rolling on the floor laughing

Went back to look at that chair for 50 cents again, no matter what color you paint it it will look great. Someone was planning on restoring it and lucky you came along at the right time.

How do you make the cent sign? Can't find anything on my keyboard that looks like it.
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Sep 3, 2011 7:16 PM CST
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
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Cent sign = alt0162 = ยข Hold alt down while using the number key pad then release the alt key after all numbers are typed.

The lady ran out of steam and didn't need this last chair. The others she finished and uses them in her dining room. Great old chair. : )

Robin and Pegi I would love to see photos of your chairs. We'll have to post our after photos also. It will be fun to see how each chair turns out. Hurray!

Take a look at some of these painted chairs. http://www.google.com/search?q...
Last edited by valleylynn Sep 3, 2011 2:18 PM Icon for preview
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Sep 3, 2011 7:34 PM CST
Name: Allison
NJ (Zone 6a)
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oh geeze.. I will never remember that
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Sep 3, 2011 7:34 PM CST
Name: Sharon
Calvert City, KY (Zone 7a)
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Really neat chairs, Lynn.
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Sep 4, 2011 9:30 AM CST
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
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Thanks Sharon. I am struggling with how to paint them. Especially the large chair.
Any ideas?
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Sep 4, 2011 9:58 AM CST
Name: Sharon
Calvert City, KY (Zone 7a)
Charter ATP Member Houseplants Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
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I'm thinking about it. I have a barstool and an old chair that I'm thinking about as well. Plus a slatted children's swing that needs to be either mounted on a wall or hung somewhere out of the weather, it is so very old. So I'm thinking. I've painted chairs before, many. I wish I'd kept pictures of them. The challenge here is to paint something that will work well outside and fit the flowers that will be with it.
I'll keep thinking. In the meantime, I have one that is nearly ready to start work on. I've finished sanding, and getting ready to coat it with Kilz.

I'll take pics as I go.
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Avatar for Dutchlady1
Sep 4, 2011 9:59 AM CST
Thread OP

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Paint it with something green (like vines) and then anything that blooms on that chair will look like it has just 'sprung' from the vines!
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Sep 4, 2011 12:59 PM CST
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
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Sharon I have never done a chair for outdoor use. Would Kilz be the first step after sanding? Then what. I have never painted a chair, I have only used hand applied stains and finishes.

Hetty I love the vine idea and think it would work well on the children's chairs. I will have to give that a try with one of them. Thumbs up
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Sep 4, 2011 1:05 PM CST
Name: Sharon
Calvert City, KY (Zone 7a)
Charter ATP Member Houseplants Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
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Well, you need a sealer that can be painted over. It won't protect the wood forever but depending on your humidity, it should last awhile. Kilz is the only thing I can think of that could be painted on easily. So I don't know for sure how long the wood would be preserved. Mine might be sheltered by my porch, or a tree and that would protect it for awhile, but not for years. So I'm just taking a chance on Kilz because it is easy to paint over. I am going to use outdoor acrylics, though, just so the paint will last longer. And outdoor acrylics don't necessarily have to have a sealer coat. They are sealers in themselves. I figure with the kilz and the outdoor acrylics, it stands a better chance of lasting through the elements, for a few years maybe.
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Sep 4, 2011 1:17 PM CST
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
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I can keep the big chair on my covered deck, that would help it last longer here. We do have a long rainy season.
And I never thought about the outdoor acrylic paint. Something for me to look into.
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Sep 4, 2011 1:26 PM CST
Name: Sharon
Calvert City, KY (Zone 7a)
Charter ATP Member Houseplants Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
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The outdoor acrylic paint usually comes in bottles and is somewhat glossy, I think. It bonds well to Kilz, so that helps.
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Sep 4, 2011 2:15 PM CST
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
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I like the idea of it having some gloss to it. Our local hardware store has an wonderful, knowledgeable person in the paint department. I will go talk with him about which brand will do best here in the PNW.
I found this online at Home Depot. I could buy a gallon of the white and tint small amounts different colors?
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Sep 4, 2011 2:27 PM CST
Name: Sharon
Calvert City, KY (Zone 7a)
Charter ATP Member Houseplants Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
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Tint, yes. But the white will make the colors pastels. As long as you know that, it works.
Plus, if you are using Kilz and tinting with acrylics, then make sure the Kilz is not oil based. It would need to be latex Kilz.
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Sep 4, 2011 2:32 PM CST
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
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It's a good thing you are here Sharon. I did not think of that. Not sure how I feel about the pastels either. More thinking needed.
Where do you buy your paint? And what brand? ? Does it come in bright colors?
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Sep 4, 2011 2:34 PM CST
Name: Sharon
Calvert City, KY (Zone 7a)
Charter ATP Member Houseplants Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
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I can find the outdoor acrylic at the craft section of Walmart or at any craft shop, Hobby Lobby, Michaels. It's probably cheaper at Walmart. Hang on, I'll get a picture for you.
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Sep 4, 2011 2:52 PM CST
Name: Sharon
Calvert City, KY (Zone 7a)
Charter ATP Member Houseplants Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
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OK, here's what I would do.
Either buy spray or regular Kilz, either will work.

Paint your chair with a matte finish outdoor latex paint in the main color you want the chair.

Then add the designs or the finishing touches with one of the outdoor acrylic paints, which I think only comes in gloss, not sure, but the gloss is ok for the design work.

Gloss paint sort of rejects any other kind of paint that's applied to it, the matte or satin finish doesn't. But if the gloss is on top of the other layers it won't have anything else over it. I think you are safe if you use outdoor paints anyway and you should be able to get them at a hardware shop in the colors you need.

Here's what I use, but mostly for indoor things. Even so, this will also work for exterior. I was just thinking you might be able to find what you want in small cans at a hardware store. You should be aware of its base, though. Paints with an oil base won't hold acrylic/latex over it very well. Acrylic/latex is water based, it just doesn't adhere to oil.

Thumb of 2011-09-04/Sharon/2f7345
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Sep 4, 2011 4:04 PM CST
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
Forum moderator I helped beta test the first seed swap Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant and/or Seed Trader Garden Ideas: Master Level
I did know you couldn't mix oil base with latex. I can't believe how much more I know now about paint just from this thread. Thumbs up
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Sep 4, 2011 4:47 PM CST
Name: Sharon
Calvert City, KY (Zone 7a)
Charter ATP Member Houseplants Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
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Good. Glad we can all help each other.
Fun, too!
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Sep 4, 2011 5:13 PM CST
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
Forum moderator I helped beta test the first seed swap Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant and/or Seed Trader Garden Ideas: Master Level
Sharon do you have a photo of the child's swing. I would love to see what it looks like.
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Sep 4, 2011 5:16 PM CST
Name: Sharon
Calvert City, KY (Zone 7a)
Charter ATP Member Houseplants Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
Native Plants and Wildflowers Dog Lover Ferns Daylilies Irises Cat Lover
I'll take one.

It was hand made for me, so you know how old it is.
BRB
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