Vintage Metal File Repurposed Planter

May 01, 2022

Photo of a vintage file drawer.
I actually saw some of these vintage card files at a local consignment shop a while back, but didn't know what to do with them at first. Then an idea came to me.

The metal files are from the county courthouse.


(When you click on the bold Amazon, Old Sign Stencils or Dixie Belle Paint Company affiliate links you will be taken to the products I used for this project. If you order it does not change the price or service at all. As an Amazon Affiliate, Old Sign Stencils Affiliate or Dixie Belle Paint Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
 
Photo of a vintage file drawer.
Here's another angle of the card file drawer.

Photo of a vintage file drawer.
As you can see, it has no back.

Photo of a green plastic rectangular planter.

Photo of a rectangular plastic planter sawed down with a jigsaw & painted with brown chalk paint.
The planter box was a pretty good fit, but it was too wide with the edge, and a little too tall.

The planter was cut off with a jig saw, and I brushed on a coat of Dixie Belle Chalk Paint in Coffee Bean.  The planter had a textured finish so the paint adhered well.  

The inner pot now blends in better with the drawer paint color.

Photo of the front of a vintage file drawer.
I cleaned the drawer with hot soapy Dawn Dish Soap water and a rag.

Photo of a decor transfer being added to a vintage file drawer.
I really liked the brass handle and label holder on the brown drawer.  

I looked through my gold decor transfers scraps and found some from Redesign with Prima's, Gilded Home & Nature, and Somewhere in Paris, transfers.

Photo of a gold decor floral transfer applied to a vintage file drawer.
Make sure you have the transfers lined up before you let it touch any metal surfaces because there will be no repositioning it.

Photo of a thin sheet of wood.
I then measured the label frame opening and drew it out on a sheet of very thin birch plywood from Menards.  These sheets can be cut with a scissors.

Photo of a thin sheet of wood tag painted off white.
I painted the tag with two coats of an off white acrylic paint.

Photo of a pot of Oscar Series Carnations.
Our weather has not warmed up enough to buy bedding plants, but I did pick up this pot of Oscar Series Carnations at Menards.

Photo of the upcycled front of a vintage file drawer.
I added a bumblebee gold decor transfer to my tag.

Photo of a vintage metal file drawer upcycled and repurposed as a fun planter box.
AND, I planted the carnations in the rectangular planter that fit the drawer.

Photo of a vintage metal file drawer upcycled and repurposed as a fun planter box.
I love how this repurposed drawer planter turned out!

Photo of a vintage metal file drawer upcycled and repurposed as a fun planter box.
If I decide to leave the planter outside, I will spray it (including the inner painted pot),with a few coats of a clear sealer.

Photo of a vintage metal file drawer upcycled and repurposed as a fun planter box.
I may decide to plant a houseplant in the file drawer and leave it in the house!  

Photo of a vintage metal file drawer upcycled and repurposed as a fun planter box.
Pin for later.

Thanks for visiting!
Thanks for reading my blog, Carlene

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Comments

  1. Love your ingenuity and vision. Susan, Montreal, QC, Canada

    ReplyDelete
  2. Amazng makeover, Carlene! Looks great!

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  3. Great makeover, Carlene! Love it!

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  4. That came out so pretty. Briana from Texas

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  5. Extremely bee-utiful! Very clever use of embellishments. Thanks!

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  6. What a clever and creative idea for repurposing a metal file, Carlene!

    ReplyDelete

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