Upcycle: easy DIY faux hammered metal planters (with spider web topiaries.)

I needed something tall to flank each side of our front door.  Since I’m a symmetry girl, I wanted them to match.  This is what I came up with: these faux hammered metal planters.  And just for funzies,  (since it’s Halloween and all) I thought a spiderweb topiary or two would be kind of cool.

I made a faux hammered tin planter, using aluminum foil, Mod Podge and black paint.  Oh, and I did it on planters that the dog chewed up as a puppy.
We will discuss my hoarding tendencies and inability to part with anything (chewed or not) at a later time.

As you can see, the dog chewed the crap out of the sides of the planters.  Covering the chew marks was what made me think to use the aluminum foil.  I tore strips of foil and used a liberal coat of Mod Podge to adhere them to the planter.  Because it kind of crinkles as you put it on, the foil masks the chew marks.

When the Mod Podge was dry, it was time to dry brush on some black acrylic paint.

Working in patches, add a small amount of black paint directly to the surface.  Dry brush the paint over the planter.  When it is spread as far as that amount will go, begin to “smush” the paint into the surface with circular motions.  The effect looks like old, beat up tin.  (Perfect for Halloween.)

See the difference?

To make the topiary, I took a regular obelisk shaped trellis from the garden center and hung a jar candle from the top.  (I will show you how to make these another day.)

I wrapped the obelisk in fake spiderwebs (These are TOTALLY non-flammable, by the way, so no worries about having the tea-light candle at the bottom of the jar), then in some black tulle, and added a few plastic spiders.

I’ll post more photos on my Halloween Party Wrap Up on Monday.

In the meantime, I am happy with the way these faux hammered metal planters turned out and am so glad they no longer are all chewed up and grody.

about Vivienne Wagner