decisions, decisions.

Published on by Quandie

Back in May of 2022, I purchased this watering can at a garage sale.

I called it my find of the day at the time because I was looking for a functional, yet vintage, watering can.  Most of the vintage watering cans I have don’t hold water anymore and this one did.  Plus it had that nice big spout.  I mainly wanted to use it for fertilizing my annual pots with a water soluble fertilizer like Miracle Grow.

It did work quite well for all of gardening season 2022, but when I pulled it out last summer I found that it had sprung a leak.  Drat!

Since it’s now suitable as decor only, I decided to go ahead and give it a makeover and then add it to the growing pile of stuff for my occasional sale.  But that was just the beginning of the decision making process.  Next I had to decide what treatment to give it.

As you probably know, I’ve painted quite a few watering cans in my day.

My all-time favorite painted watering can is this one …

But technically I didn’t paint it.  It already had chippy white paint when I bought it, but I added the smaller version of the IOD Petit Rosier transfer to it.  I’ve hung onto this one because I love it so much.  I would have loved to do this same look on today’s watering can project, but I don’t have another of those transfers.  Although it is a retired design, you can still find them online with prices ranging from $17 (plus shipping) to as high as $30 (with ‘free’ shipping), but I just didn’t think I could sell the watering can for enough to make that purchase worthwhile.  Plus, I have so many other options on hand, I really need to use what I have first.

So I next considered adding a more simple transfer to the watering can, like this one …

That’s one of the Classic Vintage Labels from re.design with prima, and I do have one of them left in my stash.

That would have been lovely for sure, but then the watering can that I added the I.O.D. Rose Chintz paint inlay to caught my eye.

That’s another one that I’ve kept for myself.  It lives in my pantry along with some of my other favorites.

I pulled out my Rose Chintz inlay to make sure I had enough left to do both sides of the watering can, and sure enough I did.

But that led me to another decision to make, what color to paint the can?  I did consider Dixie Belle’s Sea Glass, which is the color on the watering can that I kept.  But I wanted to do something different.

I’ve used the Rose Chintz paint inlay over a number of colors, naturally including Dixie Belle’s Drop Cloth.

I also loved it over Dixie Belle’s English Ivy.

It also worked well over their lighter green shade called Kudzu.

I even used it over their Cobalt Blue, which was lovely.

And I loved it over the Cottage Door color too …

But then I remembered the black toolbox that I used it on way back in October 2022.

Now that was gorgeous!  It really pops over black.

So, black it is.

After giving the watering can a good cleaning, I gave it two coats of Dixie Belle’s Caviar.  Then I applied the paint inlay into a fresh 3rd coat of paint (for full instructions on applying a paint inlay click here).

I absolutely love how the inlays have a distressed sort of look, they aren’t perfect … and they aren’t meant to be.

I’d be tempted to add this one to my own non-collection of watering cans, except I already have one with the Rose Chintz paint inlay on it.  So this will be making its way into the pile of stuff for my upcoming sale.

What do you think?  Would you have gone with black, or would you have chosen a different color?  Leave a comment and let me know!

29 thoughts on “decisions, decisions.”

  1. I do love them all, but my favorites are the white, green, and black. I know it is not weather condusive (is that a word lol?) but I can’t wait until you get back to your furniture posts, and maybe a bit of a break from the transfers? Spring has kind of finally sprung here in NW Indiana, so hoping it makes it’s way to you too!! 

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    1. Well, I hate to say it, but don’t hold your breath. That being said, once I can paint out in my workshop (still not warm enough for that here), I do have a couple of pieces to paint. And maybe I’ll find more while garage saling!

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  2. i love the black. Your whole collection of watering cans are drool worthy! Wish I was closer, your sale will be fantastic! smiles, alice

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  6. i think Black was perfect. I would keep the black and sell the sea glass. That’s just me though. I have yet to try the inlays and I want to so badly. All of your projects are amazing.

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    1. Funny, I have to admit I hadn’t thought of that option … keeping the black and selling the sea glass. I may have to consider that!

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  8. When using the inlays for a second time, are you limited to using the same paint color you used the first time? I am still not sold on trying the inlays, I really like the transfers….I am such a chicken (a cheap chicken) they are a bit pricey.

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    1. I wouldn’t say you are ‘limited’ to that, but you will find that the inlay pulls off paint from your first project, which will end up on your 2nd project. So in this case, there was plenty of black left behind on that inlay so you may not want to then use it over a lighter color (although you could try it to see what you get). I have had a lot of fun experimenting with the inlays, and I have especially loved the Rose Chintz one. But I agree, they are a bit pricey!

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  13. Very pretty. I kept thinking a light green or pale yellow would also be gorgeous. Good luck with your sale!

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  15. I must be getting to read you mind as I had a feeling you were going to paint it black.

    Beautiful! I enjoy your work and blog so much. Thank you.

    Christine

    New Hampshire

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