Transform Metal Buckets and Pails

Tin pails can show up anywhere. They used to be quite popular. Now you can find them in thrift stores, at yard sales, at Goodwill and maybe even in your garage or attic.

Tin pails can be decorated in so many ways. It’s all up to your imagination and style. I decorated these two with wedding in mind but I am trying to find a couple more to redo in other styles.

I think little pails make clever and cute reusable gift containers. Forget about bags and boxes, hand painted pails will make any gift seem extra special.

Supplies Needed:

An old tin/metal pail with a handle
Fine grit sandpaper
Spray paint in your color of choice
Clear coat spray to protect your design
Paper
Decoupage glue
Ribbon
Lace
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Scissors
Sponge
Sponge paint brush
Flat container of water
Clothespins (optional) for holding lace or ribbon in place while the glue is drying

Green Options:

You are breathing new life into an old pail, that’s super green.
Consider using low VOC spray paint like Krylon’s H2O line
Natural or biodegradable ribbon
Vintage or organic lace
Recycled or tree free paper

Directions for Decoupage Pail:

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  Start by selecting a pail that is in decent shape. You don’t want to deal with rust or dents unless you absolutely have to


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  If your pail has any labels or stickers remove them


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  Gently sand the pail so paint will stick to it


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  Spray paint it in your color choice


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  Let the paint dry


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  Select the papers you want to use, test a corner by getting it wet to make sure the ink doesn’t run. For this pail I used vintage wedding images that were printed on photo paper with an ink jet printer. It’s best not to use real photographs or actual vintage ephemera. Make copies of everything and print on new paper. This way you don’t damage the originals and if you make a mistake you can make more.


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  Cut out your design and start placing it on your pail. Play with around with the placement.
  If you have pieces of lace or ribbon to add, play with the placement of those as well.


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  For the pail pictured, I used a metallic gold spray paint, a piece of vintage lace, and copies of vintage postcards. I glued the lace on with decoupage glue and water and held it in place with clothespins while it dried. I placed the images around the bucket after gluing on the lace.


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  To decoupage paper, dip the paper in a flat container of water, pull it out and shake off excess water, use a sponge paint brush to cover the back of the paper with decoupage glue
  Place the paper where you want it and smooth out excess glue and water with a slightly damp sponge. Hold on tight to the paper to keep it in place while gently yet firmly smoothing the sponge over it.


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  Repeat this for every piece of paper you want to add to it.


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  Let it dry over night and see how it turns out. If everything is good, let it settle for a few days before clear coating it.


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  If something is wrinkled or just messed up, you can peel and sand everything off and start over then try a different type of paper that doesn’t wrinkle or tear as easily.