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You are here: Home / Crafts / Easy Upcycled Marimekko Decorative Tin Can Planters

Easy Upcycled Marimekko Decorative Tin Can Planters

26th April 2018 by Claire Armstrong 34 Comments

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Upcycled decorative Marimekko tin can planters

I made these decorative tin can planters partly to use up some of my paper napkins stashes!

Every time I go into a Scandinavian/Nordic interiors shop I wander around swooning over all the beautifully designed furniture. I can’t afford the furniture but don’t want to leave empty-handed so I buy a pack of Marimekko paper napkins.

Marimekko prints are a favourite of mine and have used their designs in lots of crafts and DIYs. I even have a Marimekko wallpapered staircase in my home and a unique decoupaged Marimekko bench in the garden.

DIY Colourful Spring Decorative Tin Can Planters

This time I thought it would be fun to show off lots of the Marimekko designs in one go. That’s when I got the idea for making a load of upcycled decorative tin can planters for the garden with the paper napkins. I love to repurpose tin cans into planters and collect them throughout the year.

OK, you may be thinking, you aren’t a paper napkin addict like me. And you I don’t want to buy lots of packets of paper napkins, just to make some decorative tin can planters.

Well, you don’t have to, there are plenty of sellers on eBay that sell paper napkins in small amounts specifically for decoupage. You can easily buy a variety of Marimekko paper napkins without having to buy lots of packets.

DIY Marimekko decorative tin can planters

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What you need to make Marimekko Tin Can planters

  • Empty tin cans – I used lots of the normal soup sized cans and a few big catering tin cans.
Empty tin cans
  • Marimekko Paper Napkins – As I have mentioned on eBay, you can buy just a few napkins at a time rather than a whole packet for each design. You only actually need one napkin per tin can.
Selection of Marimekko paper napkins
  • Rotary cutter and mat.
  • Mod podge
  • Foam brush
  • White spray paint
  • Acrylic spray varnish

For planting

  • Drill with a steel drill bit
  • Small Stones
  • Potting soil
  • Bedding plants

How to Make Marimekko Decorative Tin Can Planters

1.. First, before decoupaging the tin can planters, spray paint them white. The paper napkins are very thin and the planters will look better with a white background.

I think tin cans in a variety of sizes look great with this upcycle.

white painted cans

2. Next, cut up the Marimekko paper napkin to the size of the can to be covered. I used a rotary cutter and mat for this.

With the larger cans, you may need to use more than one paper napkin per can.

3. Next, cover the whole of the tin can in Mod Podge or other decoupage glue. It is best to add glue to the can and not the napkins as the napkins are very thin and likely to tear.

4. Then, separate out the cut three-ply napkin to the top printed ply. I find that if you gently rub the paper napkin between your thumb and forefinger, the ply layers should seperate more easily.

Carefully, lay the paper napkin on to the Mod Podge covered tin, and press down using a large foam brush. Wrap the napkin around the tin until it is all covered.

How to decoupage a tin can.

5. Then, once the glue has dried, spray paint the decorative tin can with at least 2 coats of acrylic varnish. Allowing the varnish to dry in between coats. This will help protect the decorative tin can planters from the elements,

Collection of Marimekko tin can planters.

Planting The Marimekko Tin Cans

I planted up the Marimekko tin cans in the same way as I planted my colourful tin can planters.

That is I firstly drilled holes in the bottom of the cans for drainage. I then added a layer of stones before the potting soil and bedding plants.

Potting Marimekko planters
Marimekko tin can planters

Now, all that is left is how to decide how to display the decorative tin can planters. I sprayed my Marimekko planters with the acrylic spray as I wanted them for outdoors in the garden rather than indoors.

They brighten up my brick wall in my traditional Victorian walled garden.

I also have a tutorial for cool Marimekko indoor plastic bottle herb garden which is great for the kitchen.

One thing is for sure these Marimekko planters are a cheap and easy way to add a lot of colour to my garden. I’m busy saving more tin cans to upcycle into decorative planters.

I think more the merrier. I’ve even made some oriental vase tin can planters for the garden to add to this collection.

Marimekko decorative tin can planters
Marimekko Decorative tin can planters
Marimekko Decorative tin can planters

 
If you are looking for an even easier tin can planter idea that doesn’t involve decoupage check out these gold crushed tin can planters. Or you can find more upcycled planter ideas on Favecrafts.

Another way to give tin cans a Marimekko makeover is to use wallpaper samples. This is what I did when I made a cool Marimekko desk caddy.

This post featured in the 50 best upcycles for the garden.
 

Upcycled decorative Marimekko tin can planters

 
 
 

Filed Under: Crafts, DIY Upcycling, Marimekko, Tin Cans Tagged With: decouape, marimekko, Marimekko planter, paper napkin, planter, planters, tin can, tin cans

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rhea Pentz

    27th September 2019 at 6:57 pm

    Hi,
    Love the great colors and patterns.
    I was wondering if you could use scrapbook paper instead of napkins.

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      30th September 2019 at 6:50 am

      Thank you, you could try scrapbook paper as long as it wasn’t too thick.

      Reply
      • Pat Newhouse

        3rd June 2020 at 6:41 am

        When I lived in the bay area I love to go to the Merimeko store and buy their fabrics . I made a shower curtain and a sun dress from some of their designs. Great look!

        Reply
        • Claire Armstrong

          3rd June 2020 at 11:00 am

          Lucky you having a Marimekko store nearby. There used to be one in London but no more. Thank you.

          Reply
  2. MaryEllen

    10th July 2019 at 10:22 pm

    These take me back to the ’70’s when I saw my first Marimekko giant pillows in a house in San Francisco! So bright and cheerful. Loved it then. Love these now.. And easy to do!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      11th July 2019 at 5:50 am

      Thank you, I’m actually making some Marimekko pillows at the moment. So very 70’s.

      Reply
  3. Kids of the Wild

    14th September 2018 at 8:49 pm

    Love these, so bright and effective.

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      15th September 2018 at 3:39 pm

      Thank you so much ?

      Reply
  4. Marla

    3rd September 2018 at 8:44 pm

    Hi,
    I love what you did with these old tins cans. What a great way to recycle and they look so pretty. Congratulations of being featured on #GoingGreenLinky> sharing on twitter and pinning. Have a healthy, happpy & blesse day!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      3rd September 2018 at 10:19 pm

      Thank you so much. They certainly brightened up the garden.

      Reply
  5. Rosie (@greenrosielife)

    31st August 2018 at 9:58 pm

    I absolutely adore these and could also see them being used in the office, kitchen and bathroom etc to store things in. Bookmarking this to come back to in winter! #GoingGreen

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      1st September 2018 at 12:08 pm

      Yes they would certainly brighten up the home.

      Reply
  6. Susanne

    30th May 2018 at 5:51 pm

    Claire these are the prettiest most colorful planters EVER!! Thank you for sharing with us at Create and Celebrate…you are one of our features for the next party!!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      31st May 2018 at 6:28 am

      Thank you so much Susanne. I look forward to seeing the feature.

      Reply
  7. Caro | The Twinkle Diaries

    8th May 2018 at 5:44 pm

    These look AMAZING Claire!! I just love all the bright colours with the primulas and pansies — so beautiful! You never cease to amazing me with your creativity — where on earth do you find the time!!!! xx #HomeEtc

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      9th May 2018 at 6:01 am

      Thank you, Caro. They certainly brightened up the garden over the dull spring we had, and they look even better now the sun is shining.

      Reply
  8. Sandra L Garth

    4th May 2018 at 10:21 pm

    I am in love with this colorful idea and it’s going to be great for my herbs. Thanks for joining us again at Celebrate Your Story, have a great weekend.

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      5th May 2018 at 6:23 am

      Thank you so much, Sandra. I think they will look lovely with herbs.

      Reply
  9. Chas

    2nd May 2018 at 9:54 pm

    So pretty, I have done this with cans as well but I made them into pencil and paper clip holders. I love the idea of adding the color for flowers. Thanks for sharing on To Grandma’s House We Go!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      3rd May 2018 at 11:52 am

      Thank you. Yes they would make lovely craft caddies too.

      Reply
  10. Fionnuala

    2nd May 2018 at 7:58 pm

    These are so colourful and pretty. Before Easter some friend, their kids and my family had a crafternoon and made these as pencil jars. One friend has been collecting tin cans ever since for decoupage projects. It is such fun. #homeetc

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      2nd May 2018 at 8:01 pm

      Thank you, they would make lovely craft storage caddies too.

      Reply
  11. Debrashoppeno5

    2nd May 2018 at 1:39 pm

    I love these. I love how bright and cheerful they are. I think you have introduced me to a new project.

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      2nd May 2018 at 3:40 pm

      Ahh, thank you so much. They do make me smile.

      Reply
  12. Kimberley | Oh Just My Little Blog

    2nd May 2018 at 10:49 am

    These are so effective! They’ll really brighten up the garden, especially since the sun doesnt seem to be doing the job! x #HomeEtc

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      2nd May 2018 at 1:12 pm

      Thank you, Kimberley. They are certainly brightening up the garden on these dull days, I can’t wait for the sun to shine again.

      Reply
  13. Teodora

    1st May 2018 at 6:49 am

    Oh, they are so pretty!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      1st May 2018 at 2:25 pm

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  14. Julie

    30th April 2018 at 11:58 pm

    Just lovely, you can’t go wrong with colour in the garden, especially if the weather isn’t playing ball!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      1st May 2018 at 5:39 am

      Thank you Julie, they brighten up the garden even on these dull days.

      Reply
  15. creativejewishmom/sara

    29th April 2018 at 2:45 pm

    wow, wow, wow, you have done it again, Claire! Just love this idea, and am now kicking myself for tossing that large can I had……will just have to get some more! Thanks so much for sharing on craft schooling Sunday!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      29th April 2018 at 2:54 pm

      Thank you Sara. I know you’re a Marimekko fan too!

      Reply
  16. Cecilia

    28th April 2018 at 6:00 pm

    Claire, I love all of the color and the bee too! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      29th April 2018 at 7:37 am

      Thank you, Cecilia.

      Reply

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