Whether you are looking for a fun way to add some sparkle to your garden or flower bed or dress up your deck, these eternal watering cans can be a lot of fun!
What I really love about these, beside being very simple to create, is that you can add so many different looks to really make it your own.
So, let’s get started!
what you’ll need ::
- metal watering can — pick up a new one from your local store or find an old one from a thrift shop, garage sale, or your own garage
- rostoleum spray paint (*if you already love the color of your watering can, then you can skip this)
- sand paper or sanding block (*optional)
- strands of crystals — I found mine at Hobby Lobby both in the jewelry making area and the wedding supplies
- transparent fishing line and a handful of small pony beads (*optional)
getting started ::
refinishing your watering can…
If you’re not happy with the current look of your watering can, no worries! It is super easy to give it a fresh new look, whether that means some funky bright colors, polka dots, or a classic look.
- give your watering can a good washing to remove any dust, dirt, or other lingering stuff and let dry
- lightly sand all surfaces of your watering can and wipe down with a clean cloth. you don’t need to try to take the old paint off. you just want to give it a slightly roughed up surface so the new paint will stick.
- evenly cover your watering can using Rust-Oleum spray and let dry
- cover with additional coats as needed, letting the can dry completely between coats
Don’t forget to spray the inside of your can, too!
The watering can I used was an off-white can with gold metallic trim. I really wanted that “old galvanized watering can” look so I used Rust-Oleum Universal Forged Hammered Spray Paint in Antique Pewter. The color and finish were exactly what I wanted! If you are wanting to go with a brighter, bolder color, check out the Rust-Oleum Universal Gloss Spray Paint which comes in colors like red, crimson, blue, yellow and green. If you want to add polka-dots or stripes to your watering can, simply use stickable dots or painters tape to create your desired affect before spraying. I think my next watering can project will include polka-dots!!
adding the crystals…
Depending on how you want your “water” to look, you can either simply attach your pre-strung crystals as is (explained below) or you can restring your crystals (also explained below). For my eternal watering can, I used three 7″ strands of crystals and one 6′ strand of larger clear acrylic diamonds to add some variety of shape and size.
- restring your crystals on clear fishing line to create strings of varying length and bead size/shape. to get your beads to stay in place, simply loop your line through the bead twice. be sure to leave a few inches of fishing line at the start of your strand for attaching it to the watering can spout. *you can skip this step if you’re happy with your pre-strung crystals.
- unscrew the watering spout of your watering can *if you can’t unscrew the spout, look at your craft store for some small metal hooks to attach the strands to the holes on the spout.
- thread that excess fishing line through a hole in the spout and tie a small bead on to the end of the line (we used extra pony beads we had lying around). this will hold your strand on to the spout of your watering can as it hangs.
- continue adding strands at varying spots on the spout until you have the desired look you want.
- reattach the spout to the watering can and hang your can from a landscaping hook.
