Metal Bucket Crafts, Plus 23 Ways to Use a Metal Bucket

From Trash to Treasure: Floral Metal Bucket Craft with Rub-on-Transfers

Transform a discarded metal bucket into a blooming beauty! This post shows you how to create a charming floral metal bucket with rub-on transfers. Plus, discover 23 clever ways to repurpose a metal bucket! 

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My amazing husband recently surprised me by bringing home a lovely white metal bucket he found. Knowing my love for breathing new life into discarded items, a mischievous glint appeared in his eye. "No need to throw this away," he winked. He was right, of course. This bucket was destined for something special.

And what's more special than a touch of floral beauty? Today, we'll transform this ordinary bucket into a charming flower pot using the magic of rub-on transfers. But before we get started, let's peek into the many possibilities a humble metal bucket holds!

23 Ways to Repurpose a Metal Bucket:

• Composting Champion
• Planter Paradise (with drainage holes)
• Diaper Pail Disguise
• Feathered Friend's New Abode (birdhouse)
• Pet Food Pantry (with a liner for food storage since I applied Mod Podge to this piece)
• DIY Wedding Wish Well
• Miniature Wastebasket
• Bathroom Butler (toilet paper holder)
• Cord Corral for those extension cords that you can never locate
• Gift Wrap Genie
• Laundry Helper 
• Rainwater Collector 
• Hat & Mitten Haven
• Sock Sanctuary (no more lost socks!)
• Toolbox
• Camping Chair (perfect for outdoor adventures)
• DIY Ottoman
• Bucket Light (get creative with a puck light!)
• Mailbox Marvel (corral mail in one spot)
• Magazine Rack
• Umbrella Stand 
• Emergency Car Kit Holder 
• Toy Tamer (say goodbye to Lego-land and hurt feet)

Now, let's get crafty and create a floral masterpiece with a metal bucket!

Materials:

1. Metal bucket (any size or color will work)
2. Rub-on transfers (floral design for this project)
3. Mod Podge Matte Spray
4. Rubbing tool (usually included with transfers)
5. Clean cloth

Instructions:

• Clean Up Crew: Wipe down the bucket with a clean cloth to remove any dust or debris that might prevent the transfers from sticking.

• Floral Frenzy:

  • Unleash your inner artist! Begin placing the floral decals all over the bucket using the provided rubbing tool.
  • Once the decal is in place, be sure to burnish the decal with the cover to set the design in place
  • Don't worry about perfect placement – a whimsical arrangement adds to the charm.
• Seal the Deal: Once you're delighted with the design, take the bucket outside and apply three light coats of Mod Podge Matte Spray, allowing each coat to dry completely before applying the next. This step seals the transfers and protects them from wear and tear.

I even decorated the lid!

Tips & Tricks:

• Bucket Bonanza: Don't have a white metal bucket? No sweat! You can easily spray paint any bucket the color of your choice.
• Lid or No Lid? This project works with or without a lid, so personalize it to your liking!
• Embrace the Imperfect: Sometimes, I get caught up in making things perfect, which can stifle creativity. This project is a reminder to loosen up and have fun!
• Alternative Container: No bucket? A popcorn tin can work just as well.

The Beauty of Rub-on Transfers:

You cannot make a mistake with rub on transfers. Sometimes, my desire for everything to be perfect can be a bit paralyzing. This project was a great reminder to me to loosen up and have some fun! The beauty of rub-on transfers lies in their ability to transform any object into a work of art, regardless of your artistic skills. 

If you give rub on decals a try, do not wait for the perfect item to apply them to. Just go with it, let your hair down and have fun with it. I have learned a thing or two here recently. The rub on stickers make whatever you are working on beautiful, so it really can be as simple as giving a white metal bucket a whole new look by applying them, rubbing them on, and taking a look at your work, and thinking my, oh my... I did this! 

Flowers always make me smile despite our love/hate relationship with one another. I wish I was a gardener, but since I am not, I find other ways to incorporate them into our home.

Do you have a unique way to bring flowers into your home decor? Have you ever used rub-on transfers in a project? Share your thoughts and creations in the comments below!

Ciao,

Cara