PROJECTS ONE HOUR PROJECTS Archives

No one in my family likes my garage sale milk can find. If something happens to me (check my husband’s story-just completed our trusts) the first thing he will do is haul my milk can to the curb. I know right. So I decided my milk can makeover was the perfect way to honor my favorite garage sale find. Here’s my second favorite.

MILK CAN

MILK CAN MAKEOVER

There is a lot happening in our family room. With our remodeled stone fireplace the room feels a little heavy with pumpkins, pumpkins and more pumpkins.

So I wanted to take it down a little with the milk can.

PAINT

My milk can gets paint over most years. But I am so in love with my favorite creamy white paint that I skipped this step for this year’s fall debut.

I added packing material that I keep on hand for my repurposed projects and just stuffed the inside of the can. It gives the stems a little more height. A few years ago I added fresh branches when an early snowstorm brought a few branches on the patio.

It made have been a bit much with the branches overpowering the same corner.

And then I recycled some blue floral stems to compliment the Hale Navy paint that trims the family room windows. It was nice to take a break from my traditional orange berries and pumpkins this time of year.

Outside these windows are leafy trees and so I wanted a less complicated look so my floral stems would not compete with twenty-year-old trees just beyond the window.

I did add a little grapevine for a little contrast.

I really like the look for an unexpected, non-orange, fall color palette of the blue-grey stems I found at Hobby Lobby.

Of course, I had to add a pumpkin. Like the children’s book- there is no such thing as too many pumpkins!

Please pin for milk can enthusiasts to find! Would love a follow on my page too.

WEEKLY IDEAS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

When we rescued our first Bernese Mountain dog, Owen, one of the stipulations was we needed a gate. My husband built a gate on a Saturday for Owen. Just one of the many reasons I love him (and my husband). #wink We now have two gates on opposite sides of our backyard. So after ten years, it was time to create simple ways to decorate the gate.

I had visions of grapevines, vines arbors and lights, but the reality was the gate gets roughed up with the lawnmower and yard trash. Oh, and the occasional dog that ends up on the wrong side of the gate.

I kept the gate decor simple.

This is our other Berner Chloe when she got stuck trying to escape. Notice the wash tub on the opposite side of the gate as a second line of defense.

Simple Ways to Decorate the Gate

Add grapevine wreath or garland

I started with grapevine because grapevine is fade resistant and weathers the elements. I purchased a bundle from Michael’s a few years ago. And, I plan to buy this grapevine bundle.

Grapevine makes everything look like it took way more effort than it actually did. I ran out of grapevine wreath or I would have beefed this up a bit more.

2. Add a Sign

I purchased this sign a year ago but realized it needed a little something-something to make it pop. Taking a tip from this repurposed craft idea I added a wood shutter behind the sign and attached it to the exterior side of the gate.

If you look closely you can see Chloe behind the gate in this photo.

3. Add color

As soon as I added the red shutter slat it upped my gate game. It made the gate look more family friendly.

With a yard full of green grass and patio cushions, the addition of color to a wood gate was the perfect touch of whimsy.

On the opposite side of the gate, I used vinyl letters like these stickers to create this fun sign for the grapevine wreath.

4. Add a Bell I love the idea of a bell on a gate.

Adding a bell serves as a friendly hello and a heads up when someone or something (bear) tries to enter the gate after hours. I used a similar bell like the one I used on my front door.

I had so much decorating our backyard gates. What do you like to do with your gates to give it a little more sizzle this summer?

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Here was a fun way to re-wild the yard this summer. Just be careful about the squirrels. They went nuts for my birdseed cakes.

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