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Home » DIY & Crafts » Craft Projects » Miniature House Upcycled as a Planter

Miniature House Upcycled as a Planter

May 3, 2016 By Amy 11 Comments

3 May

What junk have you been collecting lately, just to turn it into something else? I’ve been collecting miniature houses that range from faux birdhouse to brightly painted cottage. Each piece seems to have another purpose, such as a tealight holder or tissue dispenser, but I’d like to upcycle all of these in some other way.

collection-miniature-bird-houses - StowAndTellU.com

Since today is our monthly Junk Revision Challenge and the theme is inspiration for Mother’s or Father’s Day, I decided to repurpose one of these houses into a planter gift.

This is just one of the projects, and I’ll try to keep it short, so you can be sure and check out the rest of the monthly challenge ideas further below:)  

Turn a miniature house or bird house into a planter. Nice for porch or patio, great gift idea - birdhouse-planter - StowAndTellU.com

DIY miniature house planter

Supplies

Spray paint

Chalk paint or craft paint 

Clear sealer spray (outdoor varnish if going outside)

Peat moss pots

Bar of soap

Sandpaper (200 grit or so)

Seedlings: annuals, perennials, herbs, ground covers, or grasses

paint-distress-birdhouse

I chose the black metal tealight holder house. The opening looked big enough be able go get some plants inside the house without much fuss, so here’s how I did it.

I gave the whole piece,inside and out, a few coats of lighter colored spray paint, and let it dry.

I painted the outside only with several coats of white chalk paint, and let that dry.

I rubbed some soap over the roof surface, using the same distressing technique I used, here.

I painted the top with a dark taupe color, and let that dry.

I sanded down the roof, gently, to get a chippy look.

Finally, I sprayed on a clear top coat.

how-make-birdhouse-planter - StowandTellU.com

I transferred my seedling plants into the peat moss pots. These worked good for this because they can be squished a little.

I placed the peat moss pots inside the opening, squeezing the pots a little here and there, to make them fit. I was able to get 5 little peat moss pots inside this house.

how-make-birdhouse-planter-upcyled-miniature-house-garden-planter - StowandTellU.com

Some might call this a birdhouse planter, honestly when I was collecting all these little houses, I considered them mock birdhouses, and it wasn’t until I took a second look at them that I realized they weren’t all birdhouses. Some were just miniature houses with an added purpose, what do you know.

mini-bird-house-garden-planter-gift-StowAndTellU.com

Either way, I know my mom would have loved to get this for Mother’s Day, whether she kept it as a planter, or replanted the annuals in her yard and used the miniature house as a tealight holder.

I ended up giving this one to my friend, as a hostess gift. With summer party season coming up, I might have to do some variation of this project as a gift real soon.

Thank you for checking this out  ~ Amy

Scroll on down for even more Mother’s and Father’s Day inspiration from my Junk Visionary friends —>

 

Junk revision challenge takes place once a month by diy bloggers who upcycle old and vintage items and furniture - StowandTellU.com

Filed Under: Craft Projects, Home Decor, Seasonal Tagged With: Gift Ideas, SEASONAL SPRING, Summer and Outdoors, Upcycled and Repurposed

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Comments

  1. Tammy says

    May 4, 2016 at 9:28 am

    Very Cute! What an adorable idea as a hostess gift

    Reply
  2. chris aka monkey says

    May 4, 2016 at 11:34 am

    love the paint job and what a cute multi-purpose gift xx

    Reply
  3. Joan M. Stricker says

    May 4, 2016 at 5:43 pm

    That turned out so cute, now I’ll have to be on the lookout for a house at the thrift stores.

    Reply
  4. Kim Jones says

    May 4, 2016 at 9:37 pm

    Hi, Amy
    Think your house turned planter is really cute! Love flowers in anything and everything! Good job!
    Kim@huntandhost

    Reply
  5. Keri says

    May 4, 2016 at 11:33 pm

    Amy, this is such a clever repurpose of the birdhouse! You did a great job on this! It’s very beautiful.

    Reply
  6. Lucy ~ Patina Paradise says

    May 5, 2016 at 6:26 am

    I love how this turned out especially the paint job! It looks great as a planter. Now you have me searching for unexpected things that could house plants. Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply
  7. Tuula @ Thrifty Rebel Vintage says

    May 5, 2016 at 9:43 pm

    That’s very cool Amy! I love it!

    Reply
  8. Feral Turtle says

    May 5, 2016 at 10:28 pm

    I bet your friend loved this gift! Good job Amy!

    Reply
  9. Bliss says

    May 9, 2016 at 7:47 pm

    That’s pretty cute. You know, now every little house I see at garage sales I’ll be thinking of you.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Miniature Tealight House to Mock Punch Tin Lantern | Stow&TellU says:
    June 22, 2016 at 6:26 am

    […] two black metal tea light houses in my thrifted miniature house collection.  One was upcycled as a bird house planter, which turned out to be a nice gift for Mother’s Day.  I decided to try my hand at turning […]

    Reply
  2. Miniature Tealight House to Mock Punch Tin Lantern says:
    August 1, 2017 at 10:52 am

    […] two black metal tea light houses in my thrifted miniature house collection.  One was upcycled as a bird house planter, which turned out to be a nice gift for Mother’s Day.  I decided to try my hand at turning […]

    Reply

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