DIY Recycled Custom Photo Planter

It’s that time of year when many people are looking to add more flowers and plants into their home decor. Luckily, there are so many different ways to make your own vases and containers to hold all of these plants. Here’s an idea that allows you to house your favorite plants but also gives you an opportunity to show off some of your favorite photos.

diy custom photo planter

DIY Recycled Custom Photo Planter Supplies.

  • a cylindrical cardboard canister lined with wax or similar substance (an old oatmeal can works perfectly)
  • knife
  • scissors
  • sandpaper or nail file
  • 3 printed photos
  • glossy mod podge
  • sponge brush

Step 1: Choose photos and canister.

diy recycled planter

The first thing you’ll need to do for this project is to gather your supplies. The planter shown uses a pretty standard size canister that you often get with oatmeal or similar food items. Make sure that the inside of the canister is lined with wax or a similar substance – you can tell because a lined canister will feel smooth and not like standard cardboard. For the photos, you can use one you already have or you can print some and cut them to size.

Step 2: Measure.

diy photo planter

Hold up one of your printed photos to the bottom of the canister so that you can see how tall you’ll want your planter to be. Use a pen or pencil to mark all the way around the canister so you’ll know where to cut it off. You’ll likely need to use more than one photo to cover the area all the way around the canister, so place each of your photos on the canister to see how they will fit and make cuts as necessary.

Step 3: Cut canister to size.

make a recycled planter

Once you’ve marked the canister so you know where to cut it, you’ll want to use a sharp serrated knife to chop off the top part of the canister. This likely won’t make very even edges, so use a pair of scissors to even it out and then use a sheet of sandpaper or a heavy duty nail file to smooth the edges.

Step 4: Secure photos.

diy photo container

Now its’ time to add the photos to the canister. Cover the sides of the canister with glossy mod podge and carefully line up each of the photos onto the can. Then you’ll need to go over the top of the photos with a coat or two of glossy mod podge as well. To do this, I recommend using a sponge brush rather than a regular paint brush because it won’t look as streaky. Allow the mod podge to dry fully before advancing to the next step.

Step 5: Add plant.

diy planter

This step can vary depending on what type of plant you want to add. But my recommendation would be to keep your plant in a standard pot with holes in the bottom and put a drainage try below it inside the canister. This way the photo planter is mainly used as a decorative cover and you don’t have to worry about wear and tear on it. You can also then remove the actual planter and change out the photos whenever necessary.

custom photo container

Step 6: Display your planter.

customized photo planter

That’s all there is to it! Now you can display your photos with pride and enjoy your plants in an easily customizable container. What types of photos would you display on your planter?