My post today was inspired by a project that my husband did for me over the weekend.
I collect vintage coffee cans. I like the graphics and they are easy to find. I usually find the coffee tins in the garages at estate sales full of nails or bolts and such...a good re-purposed container for the family handyman.
I have put this collection to use as planters in my backyard.
I love the graphics and don't mind the weathered with time look.
I used to have them displayed on this tiered plant stand. But then I got too many. They needed a new home and I wanted them displayed as a group outdoors.
Here in Portland, Oregon we have a recycling and yard debris program. We have a big green bin (yard debris), a big blue bin (paper), plus a trash can and a bin for glass recycles. The blue and green bins are huge. If I ever need a good spot for hide and go seek I could fit inside. For lack of a better spot they live on our driveway and are an eyesore.
We don't park in our garage so I have a mixture of galvanized containers with plants in front of them to hide them a bit. This weekend I found an old screen door and Tom whipped up a project to hide them a bit more. I decided this was a good spot to display my coffee can collection.
Tom cut the screen door in half as it was too tall. We took out the tattered screen and replaced it with a bit of wire fencing that we attached to the back. Tom drilled a hole in the rear of each coffee container towards the top and we hung the cans with S hooks.
The whole project only took a couple of hours and the screen door set me back $5. I love that my coffee cans have a new home and I have room to add a couple of more if I want. They are planted with hens and chicks. The coffee cans have drainage holes in the bottom. He also added feet to the screen door frame.
This is a good place to show off my collection and is perfect to hide my ugly garbage cans.
If you have and idea for a future collection challenge, leave me a comment and finish the sentence "Show me your collection of ___." Always happy to share.
p.s. Thank you honey for doing this project!
We have those same bins. I love the handiness of them but the site is unbearable. This is a sweet collection that works out perfectly. Well done Mr. Tom and who knew Delmonte made coffee...Smiles...Renee
Posted by: Renee | June 26, 2012 at 06:36 AM
Great project idea! What a sweet husband you have. Mine is the same too when it comes to constructing projects for me :-)
Your yard is so cute. Such a clever use of the screen and the vintage coffee cans. I noticed the R on one of the containers too.
Thanks for sharing and the ideas!
Posted by: Doreen | June 26, 2012 at 06:48 AM
Just darling! A perfect way to disguise the cans!
Posted by: kim g. | June 26, 2012 at 08:29 AM
Looks great!
Posted by: janet | June 26, 2012 at 08:59 AM
that looks great! what a cool stand!
Posted by: rae | June 26, 2012 at 09:02 AM
Cleverness runs in your family! Looks great (much, much, much better than the bins, no matter how noble their purpose).
Posted by: barbara | June 26, 2012 at 09:42 AM
What a great idea! I see you have planted them with sedums so I'm guessing they aren't too much of a chore to keep watered. I just might borrow this idea in some form when we move our cross-fence forward. I have chain link so it would be a good way to make it look less utilitarian.
Posted by: Kathy | June 26, 2012 at 11:51 AM
Very cool!
Gloria
Posted by: Gloria | June 26, 2012 at 11:57 AM
I love the project. It works well for the screen effect but could be used anywhere. Good use of the collection, too.
Posted by: Annette | June 26, 2012 at 01:28 PM
Love how you displayed you vintage coffee cans! Such a great idea!! Your house is so pretty, and I love the grey! ;) xo Heaher
Posted by: Heather | June 26, 2012 at 03:47 PM
You're so right, those cans are always full of nails in the garage at estate sales! Love the ugly can hider. Those old coffee cans are so charming!
Posted by: Carol @ Old Glory Cottage | June 26, 2012 at 04:54 PM
Good to the last drop! Nice way to take them out of storage and into
your line of vision every day! Love it! Great idea!
Tammy
Posted by: Tammy | June 26, 2012 at 08:02 PM
I too have the huge plastic bins for garbage collection. All the houses in the neighborhood have the same problem of nowhere to go with them. You solution is brilliant. Nothing utilitarian, just wonderful, living greenery and lovey junk. Good job.
Sheryl
Posted by: Sheryl Remy | June 27, 2012 at 05:12 AM
Is there anything you DON'T collect? That's probably a smaller list...huh?
Hugs,
Meri
Posted by: Meri Wiley | June 27, 2012 at 07:02 AM
Love the way you hide the bins!!!
Posted by: elma | June 27, 2012 at 05:27 PM
Not a bin in sight ! What a great solution ... such a clever girl ... and what a helpful husband. You make a good team !
Posted by: Lisa W. | June 27, 2012 at 08:50 PM
I have been collecting tin and enamel cups for a garden project.I just may have to borrow your screen door idea.
I love the great recycling program in our area but I agree those bins sure are ugly and hard to hide.Good job on screening yours.
Posted by: Rois | June 28, 2012 at 07:06 AM
This looks great! (I keep my coffee filters in an old coffee can). I will forward this post to Mr Into Vintage as the great park-in-the-garage debate rages on... :-)
Posted by: Into Vintage | June 28, 2012 at 11:19 AM
Garbage cans? What garbage cans? Your driveway looks awesome and I'm suddenly wishing I drank 50 year old coffee so I could have me some nifty planters too! ;)
Posted by: Vintage by Crystal | June 28, 2012 at 05:33 PM