MacGyver Challenge: Paint Cans
Posted by ReadyMade
Project by Donna Yen, Photo by Dean Schoeppner, Rainy Day Tea Towel, $18, leahduncan.etsy.com
Think outside the storage box with a hanging can system that’s infinitely adaptable to your home’s needs.
Skill Level
Easy
Active Time
Half a day
Cost
$
- Plastic containers
- 3 almost-empty paint cans, 2 small and 1 large
- Paint (we used Sherwin-Williams Forsythia, Belize, and Citronette)
- Chalkboard paint (we like Rust-Oleum)
- 1 wall-mountable rod (31½-inch Grundtal rail, $9, ikea.com)
- 3 S-hooks (2¾-inch Grundtal S-hooks, $3 for a 5 pack, ikea.com)
- White chalk
Materials
- Small paint roller
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Drill and ¼-inch bit
Tools
Reserve paint for another use by pouring it into plastic containers or jars. (You can also donate it for reuse, or dispose of it properly by checking the regulations in your area. Or simply pick up new empty cans at your local home store.) Allow the paint cans to dry out.
Remove labels: Soak in hot soapy water for several hours and scrape off.
Using a paint roller, paint the exterior of the cans in desired colors. Allow the first coat to dry and apply another until color is even. Set aside to dry.
On the smaller cans, measure 2 inches up from the bottom with a pencil and ruler. Mark along the perimeter of the can for a painting guide. On the bigger can, allow about 3 inches.
With a paint roller, apply the chalkboard paint to the bottom portion of the cans. Follow the pencil marks as guides for painting. Allow to dry and apply another coat to finish.
With a pencil, mark the back of each of the small cans half an inch from the top. Using a drill with ¼-inch bit, drill on your mark.
Mount rod against wall following manufacturer’s instructions.
Hang paint cans from S-hooks and fill them with whatever you wish. (Use a liner if you use as a planter for edibles.) Use chalk to label each container.
Variations: Use a standard towel rod with plain S-hooks from the hardware store. Try this in a bathroom to hold brushes and combs or in an office to hold miscellaneous supplies. Doodle images on the chalkboard paint.
