That Plant Life: Budget-Friendly DIY Planters for Spring That Only Cost $2 to Make

By Brittni • Updated on 05/21/2017

Textured DIY Planters Using an Unlikely Material

If you can’t tell, I’m pretty obsessed with unique DIY planter ideas at this point. I don’t know if it’s because its almost summer and I’m thinking about plants a lot more or if I’m just a teeny bit crazy.

But either way, I have another planter project to share today, and I think this is one of the most unique ones yet. Mostly because of the texture and the fact that one of the supplies needed is a recyclable material you probably already have in your pantry. Can you guess what it’s made out of? Click through to find out!

I made these textured DIY planters using recycled tin cans and corn husks, of all things! The results are one of my favorite things because the texture is so interesting and intricate. Plus, they only cost a few dollars to make. 

Unique DIY planter idea using an unlikely material (that gives it texture). Click through for the step by step instructions.

Materials

  • corn husks (available on Amazon)
  • recycled cans
  • hot glue gun (and glue sticks)
  • acrylic paint
  • paint brush

One bag of corn husks covers at least 5 small to medium sized cans, which make each planter about $2 to complete. Super budget friendly!

Instructions for Unique DIY Planter Idea

Paint corn husks with acrylic paint. Then, let the husks dry on a flat surface. For some husks, I fully painted them and for others, I watered down the paint, so that some of the husk color would show through.

While paint is drying, remove labels from recycled cans and wash thoroughly. Then, dry the cans.

Once the husks are dry and the labels have been removed, glue the first layer of corn husks to the can. Completely cover the can with one layer of corn husks. Then, add a second layer of corn husks that are more intentional placed, to add an element of design. I overlapped some of the layers to create more dimension and cut some of the ends into points to add interest.

Once the husks are on, all you need to do is add some soil and a plant or use them as vases and add fresh flowers.
How to make textured DIY planters

P.S. I actually made these almost two years ago and never shared the tutorial, but kept the planters all this time because I loved them so much. So, I did a little reshoot and here they are. It’s amazing how far behind I get on things sometimes. 🙂

Textured DIY Planter Idea

Unique DIY planter idea using an unlikely material (that gives it texture). Click through for the step by step instructions.

Photography by Amelia Tatnall Lawrence

What do you think? Could you tell these were made of corn husks?

14 comments | Click here to reply

BRILLIANT!
I have a few huge cans of white maize kernels which I’ll have to open to make these planters.
Looks like we’ll be eating pozole stew for months but we’ll have some awesome planters!

Ana

This is genius! Love the idea, and you can change them every now and then, and have fresh differently colored vases all the time.

KMP Furniture Blog

Love this idea. now to find some corn husks

Letia

I love indoor plants they make me feel somehow refreshed. I think this one is a great idea. Thank you for sharing, looking forward to more creative posts.

Laurel Santos

OMG, I did not know they were corn husks, and I love the idea of recycling them into beautiful little vases! What a great way to get texture in such a cheap way – love this post!

Julia – http://bunnybaubles.com

Julia

lov it!!!! congratulations!!!!! patrice from Argentine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

patrice

Awesome idea! I want to try it with the plastic containers larger plants come in.

Annie

Thanks Lisa.

Brittni

These are SO cute! I lover this idea! It’s so creative and so simple and I love the natural texture it brings to the space.

Lisa Mecham

Thanks Sophie and Marcia. Happy you like the project.

Brittni

These would look amazing on a windowsill. I love this idea.

Sophie

Great fun!!! Many thanks!

Marcia

Thanks Michelle.

Brittni

This is such a creative idea, I love it!
https://www.makeandmess.com/

Michelle
Leave a reply