Painted Milk Can

Today, I’m gonna be honest about a couple of things. The first one will be easy to swallow …you might even agree with me…I love a good milk can!

I always linger over them in antique stores, sometimes I even carry one around with me while I try to talk myself into buying it…

But I’ve never come across one that’s super cheap, so I always leave empty handed. Until the other day.

I was in Michael’s (arts and crafts) Store and I found a cute mid-size milk can that I couldn’t resist. Because even though it was plain…I could picture that little can all decked out with the help of my favorite thing…paint!

But before I move on, there’s something else I want to be honest about. You might not like this one…brace yourself…I’m not head over heels in mad love with all-things-patriotic. Not that I don’t love my country! I just don’t like to add a lot of bright red, white and blue decorations to the house. Ekkkk! I really hated to say that. Are you mad at me!? I hope not because you know I made a ginormous String Art American Flag and it’s sitting front and center on my fireplace! It’s red, white and blue as American flags are meant to be, but the colors are ever so muted. Muted colors are my first love.

You might be asking yourself: What does this have to do with your milk can?

Well, this is absolutely supposed to be a patriotic project! So my milk can, whose colors may well be softer tones, are in fact: red, white and blue. 

So technically this is a patriotic project right?

I thought of calling this post:

Or maybe …

But in the end, it’s just a little painted milk can that is adding some serious cute-factor to our farm table…

That started with such humble beginnings…

And as a bonus, it was super easy to paint…gotta minute?

Here’s What You Need:

*Milk Can (mine came from Michael’s)

*Painters Tape

*DecoArt Chalky Finish Paint (I used: Serene, Lace and Cameo with Ultra-Matte Varnish)

I painted a coat of Lace on my milk can…

When it was dry, I painted a second coat…

I wanted to do a grain sack style stripe so I taped off the wide section and painted inside the tape w/ Serene…

When it was completely dry, I taped off my skinny lines and painted. (you can measure these tape lines but I just eye-balled the tape placement)

Each time I pulled up the tape, there were one or two tiny spots where the paint lifted. I went back and touched them up but then I sanded the entire piece …so the touch ups were unnecessary…

To add a little (muted) red to my milk can, I stenciled MILK onto the can using the Cameo.

When the paint was completely dry, I lightly sanded here, there and everywhere…

Lastly, I used Americana Decor Ultra Matte Varnish to seal the paint…

I think it turned out great! The amazing thing about Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint is that it comes in 29 vintage inspired colors, so no matter what your color preference, you’ll be able to find colors that are just right for you!

I added some of my dried Oak Leaf Hydrangeas and a little flag…

And I have myself a somewhat patriotic centerpiece!

Whatever your color preference, have a perfectly colorful day my friends~ xo





This post is part of my Year of Reckless Crafting where I’m stepping outside of my comfort zone of familiar crafting supplies and working my way through the craft store—> doing a project from every category!

Today I used galvanized steel and matte varnish for my project