Okay, let’s talk about this watering can project I did.
Getting Started
So, I had this old metal watering can kicking around in the shed. You know the type, seen better days, bit plain, maybe a touch of rust starting. Looked pretty boring just sitting there. I figured, why not try and jazz it up a bit? Make it look like something you’d actually want to see, not just hide away.
Didn’t have a grand plan, honestly. Just wanted to make it look less… well, less boring. More ‘artistic’, I suppose you could call it, though I’m no artist.
The Process – What I Actually Did
First up, cleaning. It was dusty, had some old dirt stuck to it. Gave it a good wash with soap and water. There were a few rusty bits, mostly around the bottom edge and the spout. Got some sandpaper out and went at those spots. Didn’t need it perfect, just smooth enough so paint wouldn’t flake right off.
Once it was clean and dry, I looked at paints. Had some leftover outdoor acrylics from another small job. Found a nice blue and a kind of leafy green. Seemed fitting for a garden thing, right? Didn’t want to buy anything new if I could help it.
- Cleaned the can
- Sanded the rough spots
- Picked out some old paints
Painting was next. Started with the blue. Just covered the whole main body of the can with it. Didn’t worry about being too neat where the handle and spout joined, figured I could touch that up later. Let that first coat dry completely. Took a good few hours sitting in the sun.
Then the fun part. Or maybe the slightly fiddly part. Took the green paint and a smaller brush. Decided to just do some simple wavy lines around the can, like vines or something. Nothing too detailed. Added a few dots here and there too. Kept it simple. Almost smudged it a couple of times, gotta be patient waiting for bits to dry.
Let all that paint cure properly overnight. Didn’t want to rush it.
Finishing Touches
The next day, checked it over. Looked alright. The paint seemed stuck on okay. To give it a bit more protection, especially if I actually use it for watering, I sprayed it with a clear sealant I had. Just a quick coat all over.
And that’s basically it. Stood back and had a look. It’s definitely not boring anymore. Looks quite cheerful sitting on the patio now. Doesn’t look store-bought, looks like someone actually did something to it, which was the whole point, I guess. A decent little afternoon project using stuff I already had.
