From a Sap to a Treasure! How to get this look!

An idea for a sap bucket turned treasure. I always find the best sap buckets on my junkin trips. Recently I found one that was perfect to repurpose for a trash can or french flower holder. They are normally tall and narrow which makes them perfect for a little bathroom or powder room trash can. The narrow style fits perfectly between the sink and la toilette!

The one I found was in good condition with minor distress and a few dents. After all these were used to drain sap from a tree, so it is normal to find them with imperfections which only adds to the charm.
To one side is usually a little hole that was used to hang on the tree.

To start, I painted the bucket inside and out with my favorite Honeysuckle bloom color. It is a fresh cottage white. As usual, I forgot to take a pic before the painting, but it is galvanized tin and grey, so you get the idea.

After this step, I painted the top inset design with 2 coats of a soft nutmeg brown acrylic paint and dry brushed some white with a stencil brush. Dry brushing just softens it a bit. Remember it does not have to be perfect, just stay in the lines of the bucket for neatness. You can use any color you choose. I wanted to stay with the new neutral color styles that are so chic at the moment.


I like to add another step which is optional called "fly specking". This is done by using the nutmeg paint a little watered down for an inky consistency. Using the stencil brush and a Popsicle stick, fly speck the stick across the brush towards you. This will put little specks of color on the solid background. Again it softens the look and gives an aged appeal. Practice on paper first to get the feel and look you want before putting it on your surface.


Now at this point you can varnish the entire bucket inside and out with a water based varnish as pictured. This step I feel is important for durability in using it as a trash can. You can wipe it clean when needed and keeps the surface from marking.
You do not varnish over the graphic if you have already glued it in place. That will be a different finish later. If you want to use it for fresh flowers, I would place another tall vase inside to hold the water for the flowers. This way, the paint will not lift or bucket rust.


After the varnish is dry, I added a french graphic from the Graphic Fairy to the front. I enlarged the graphic to the full page size on the printer to fill in the entire space on the bucket and printed using card stock paper. You will glue this in place with ModPodge glue only to the backside of the card stock graphic. Cut out the graphic as close to the design as possible so it looks like it is part of the background.



At this level it is finished, but I like to cover the graphic with a product called Triple Thick. It gives a glass like finish to the graphic without smearing the ink. It makes the paper durable and easy to wipe clean when needed. This sealer is really thick, so work in short strokes and let stand flat or on it's side to dry so the sealer does not run thick. This step takes some practice, but gives a wonderful result.

Now remember the little hole to the side? I like to tie on some vintage hem tape and lace ribbon to embellish.

Here is the finished bucket ready for a French look with flowers or to fill a small corner to use as a chic trash can.

This vintage treasure will be going over to my etsy boutique soon, but if you can paint a bucket, cut with scissors, glue and varnish and tie on a ribbon, you can make this one too. Have fun

Happy Creating, Celestina Marie