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Photo 1 |
As I mentioned before, I always try to reuse objects, as is the case with my laundry storage system, a set of metal cans and plastic buckets that serve to keep everything in place.
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Photo2 |
Glass jars in general are easy to reuse, just wash and remove the labels with hot water or thinner and they are ready to use, with cans it is usually not so easy, many cans have logos and product information printed on the can itself, which makes it impossible to remove them, but I don't like that it is possible to identify the original content of the can, visually they look cluttered and even if a label is placed on them to indicate the current content, it often gets lost in the middle of the rest, the goal is to be able to identify the content with a simple glance, or at least see the label easily.
In the first cans that I upcycled, I painted and used the napkin technique to apply some designs (photo 2), they were pretty but with use the paint peeled off and they started to look ugly, if I were to give them a touch up with paint only in the damaged spots it would be noticeable because the paint wouldn't be exactly the same color, and as I had the appliqués if I were to give a new coat of paint it would cover them.
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Photo 3 |
Another option I tried was to use the napkin technique all over the can, that is, line the can completely with the napkin, but as the napkin is very thin, it didn't cover the letters on the package, to avoid this it was necessary to paint first, since the can that I was working with was black with white letters I painted it black and covered it with the napkin, so the result was a very dark can (photo 3).
Using the same technique on a can without any printing, the result was better (photo 4), but here too, with use, the paper started to crumble, so it wasn't a very durable solution either.
Next up was to cover it by painting, I used paint for crafts that according to the packaging was suitable for metal among others, the coverage was good, it covered all the drawings and letters and after ten years the can has some scratches but it lasted much longer than the previous ones (can in the center of photo 5).
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Photo 4 |
The last ones I painted, I did it with wall paint, it started as an experiment to see if it worked, I had some cans and yogurt plastic buckets, and as I had some paint left on the board after painting I decided to test it on the cans to see how it went, and the truth is that they turned out better than I expected, since I was painting on metal I thought the wall paint wouldn't stick well, but the truth is that it sticks and even resists scratches well (can on the right of photo 5 ).
Since that experience I have painted several cans and buckets with paint for exterior walls, some with textured paint and others with simple paint, I also tried to cover a bucket with wallpaper, I liked the result but it is less resistant to cleaning and even to the wear and tear than the painted buckets.
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Photo 6: Left - original can; Center - can painted with internal wall paint; Right - can painted with interior wall paint.
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Photo 7 |
Photo 7: - Back left - original can; Back right - can painted with exterior wall paint. Front left - original can; Center front-
can painted with exterior wall paint; Front right - can painted with exterior wall paint with texture.
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Photo 8 |
Photo 8: Left - original bucket; Center - bucket wraped with wallpaper and painted lid with interior wall paint; Right - bucket and lid painted with exterior wall paint.
For those who want to put this idea into practice, here are some suggestions:
When choosing containers, take into account what you are going to use them for, cans are good for storing dry products, I do not recommend using them if you have to wash the containers regularly, as they can rust with moisture. In these situations it is better to use plastic containers, if it is for food glass jars are even better.
To clean, use a damp cloth if you can, if you need to wash, do not use abrasive pads, prefer a sponge to avoid scratching the paint.
If you can, gather several containers and paint them all together, it is more practical and wastes less paint.
When choosing paint, pay attention to what you want to cover, a light paint to cover a can with dark designs will require more coats of paint.
I painted my blue cans with two coats of paint, the first in the vertical direction of the can and the second around the diameter, so It didn't get marks of the brush.
The painting of cans and plastic containers requires very little paint because these materials do not absorb the paint, so you can wet the brush directly in the can, but if you prefer to pour paint into a container, start by pouring little and if necessary add more.
To store the brush (or roller) for reuse, wrap it in cling film, put it in a plastic bag and keep it in the fridge, this way it doesn't dry out and you don't have to wash the brush between coats of paint.
If you have poured the paint you can save it to apply the second coat later, cover with cling film pressing the film over the paint so that there is no air between the film and the surface of the paint, this prevents the formation of a «crust» over the paint which can then leave lumps when painting. You can also pour the paint in a container with a lid that seals well, the paint will hold up well for a few days if it is well closed.
Avoid putting the used paint back in the paint can as it can carry impurities that will «spoil» the rest of the paint.
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