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    Home » DIY & Crafts

    Repurposed Oil Can: Pumpkin Photo Holder

    Published by Pam Kessler | 516 words. · About 3 minutes to read this article. - 8 Comments

    A repurposed oil can makes for a fun pumpkin photo holder for fall. A QUICK and EASY fall DIY project with vintage Halloween printable image included.

    When I ran across some rusty oil cans at a local estate sale recently, I immediately knew what I wanted to make with one of them.

    A pumpkin photo holder for fall. Or in this case, a super cute vintage postcard holder.

    Vintage oil cans

    A repurposed oil can makes for a fun pumpkin photo holder for fall. A QUICK and EASY fall DIY project with vintage Halloween printable image included.

    Did you think that was a photo of me from childhood? Nope, that's actually a copy of a vintage postcard that I scanned.

    I don't know about you, but I love a good vintage postcard image and love when I have a cute place to display them. Back in the spring I showed you how I displayed some vintage Easter postcards very simply. And this idea is almost as simple!

    Simple is my middle name. No comments from the peanut gallery.

    DIY Repurposed Oil Can Pumpkin Photo Holder

    Supplies:

    • Oil cans (can be found at flea markets, antique booths or a Habitat For Humanity ReStore)
    • Orange Craft Paint
    • Green Craft Paint
    • Clothespin (I prefer the mini ones)
    • Photo or postcard
    • Grapevine, twine or fall leaves

    Instructions:

    Wash the grease off the oil can with soapy water and a rag you never want to use again.

    Oil can being repurposed into a pumpkin photo holder

    Paint the bottom orange.

    Painting oil can

    Paint the collar green.

    Painting oil can

    Cut some curly things from a grapevine wreath and wrap it around the top. You could also use twine or faux fall leaves if you'd like.

    Oil can pumpkin repurpose

    Finish it off by attaching a vintage postcard image to it with a mini clothespin.

    Image of little witch and black cat

    Vintage Halloween Postcard Image

    If you want to make your own repurposed oil can pumpkin photo holder, you can either use one of your own photos (kids, grandkids or pets decked out in their Halloween costumes would do nicely) or print out my little witch girl.

    Tip: Rather than using the actual postcard for crafting, I normally scan them and print them out. This original postcard made it through 109 years without too much wear and tear, I'd hate to think my klutzy self is the reason it gets ruined NOW!

    Vintage Clapsaddle Halloween postcard - little witch and black cat

    She might put a spell on me if I did that!

    You can either right click the image to print it out or click HERE to find it as a pdf for printing and crafting.

    A repurposed oil can makes for a fun pumpkin photo holder for fall. A QUICK and EASY fall DIY project with vintage Halloween printable image included. #repurpose #upcycle #upcycling #thriftstoreupcycle #halloween #halloweendecor #halloweendecorations #falldecor #falldiy

    Now run out to your garage, grab an oil can and start painting! But before you do that, it's the 2nd Wednesday of the month so it's Thrift Store Decor Team day! Yay!!!

    Go on over and see what everyone else has up their sweater covered sleeves this month!

    Thrift Store Decor Team

    Iron Look Lamp Makeover from Our Southern Home

    Stained Apple Basket from Domestically Speaking

    Repurposed Oil Can Pumpkin from House Hawthornes

    Farmhouse Style Serving Tray from Petticoat Junktion

    Halloween Haunted House Decor from Sadie Seasongoods

    Repurposed Shutter Magazine Rack from My Repurposed Life

    Creative thrift store makeovers

    A list of all my Halloween projects can be found here - Featured Halloween.

    Other posts you may enjoy:

    Repurposed Vintage Snack Set: Who Knew?

    Repurposed Funnel Jack O'Lantern

    Vintage Thermos Lamp Tutorial

    « I Lost My Head At The Country Living Fair
    Homemade Squirrel Repellent Recipe »
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    Comments

    1. Sarah Ramberg

      October 10, 2018 at 6:20 am

      Super cute!! I have a few oil cans in my stash...somewhere. Well, now I'm wondering where the heck they are? But either way, I have that very same postcard cuz she's the cutest witch ever!

      Reply
    2. gail

      October 10, 2018 at 11:35 am

      ohhhh, how cute! Not at all what I expected. The vintage oil can turned out soooo adorable. Love the vintage print too!

      pinned!
      gail

      Reply
    3. Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces

      October 10, 2018 at 1:23 pm

      Such a cute idea! And I love the idea for using a mini clothespin! Fun!

      Reply
    4. Jenny

      October 10, 2018 at 2:25 pm

      My advice? Glue some felt or something on the bottom before you put it on a table! It IS cute, although I think I might just use the oil can as is in its vintage glory- no paint!

      Reply
      • Pam

        October 10, 2018 at 3:54 pm

        I have plenty of oil cans "in all their glory", this was a project for fall decor 🙂

        Reply
    5. Maryann

      October 10, 2018 at 3:00 pm

      So creative! Love them!

      Reply
    6. Leslie Schmidt

      October 10, 2018 at 11:42 pm

      I never would have thought of this, Pam. It's really cute.

      Reply
    7. Christy @ Our Southern Home

      October 11, 2018 at 5:32 pm

      Girl, you've gone and done it again! This is such a clever idea!

      Reply

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    Learn how to create a budget-friendly home you'll love using repurposed thrift store finds, easy DIY & craft projects, and seasonal gardening tips.

    Hi, I'm Pam Kessler, the owner and author of House of Hawthornes, a website dedicated to all things home and garden, focusing on vintage decor. I enjoy upcycling and repurposing thrift store finds, super easy DIY projects (if it can’t be finished in an afternoon, it’s not getting completed), and mixing quirky vintage finds throughout my home decor. I also have a self-taught passion (obsession?) for flower gardening . . .

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