DIY Lid for a Vase or Planter

I found this small, pink, ribbed planter at a thrift store for 50ยข down from $8.00. It was before Halloween and I was walking around sizing everything up and planning their futures as pumpkins. It didn’t matter what it was; that was my thought process. Which really does help when you’re looking for inspiration.

Sometimes I walk in to a store and wait for a project to jump out at me. Other times, I go in with a mission, look at each item in a specific way fully expecting it to transform in front of my eyes. This time, everything I looked at was morphing into a pumpkin. Including this little planter.

Turns out it’s a Haeger planter which to me, really doesn’t mean anything. Especially value wise. I guess it does explain why the store had it at $8.00. Regardless, this idea doesn’t effect the vase at all. It only adds to it.


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Materials used:

 

Haeger Planter

Measurements


The top is about 3 1/2″ in diameter and we measured beyond the actual opening. The piece we make will rest on the top and hopefully look “natural”. Measuring opening of the planter so a lid can be madeOn a piece of scrap wood, we measured out 3 1/2″ and marked the center.Measuring the wood that will become the planter's lidMarking the 3 1/2" diameter and the center lineThen, using a compass, drew a circle.

Using a compass to make a circle for the planter lid

Circle used to make lid

I realized the single lid alone would’t work. I’d also need a second piece to act as a lip. It would rest within the opening preventing the lid from sliding off. For that piece, I used a tin can to trace. The tin can fit through the opening on the planter perfectly.

Using a tin can as a stencil for the inner part of the lid

Cuts


The 2 circles were cut using our band saw. If interested, here’s some info on band saw safety. We’re showing you how not to do it. We didn’t adjust the saw guide to a lower level prior to cutting. That’s a no no.Using the bandsaw to cut circles

We also attempted to use our “new to us” router on the top piece and it proved we need a little more practice.

Using the router to round the edge of the circle

After both circles were cut, they were sanded.

Sanded circles which will be glued together to make a lid

For the handle, I used an unfinished wooden finial from our stash. I think finials are great items to have on hand. I used a metal one for this pumpkin.

It needed to be cut down and I wasn’t sure how long the screw was so I removed it before cutting. The only thing I found that worked on removing it was our vise grip.

Woode finial we'll use as a handle for the handmade lidIrwin GV8 Vise Grips

I would have been fine cutting it where I did but, I wasn’t taking any chances.

Removed the screw from the finial using vise gripsSawed the wooden finial in half

Drilling & Securing


We found the center of each circle and drilled a pilot hole all the way through.

Drilling a hole in the center of the handmade lid

We then took a wood screw and drilled it down just enough into the smaller piece to where the tip was barely showing on the other side.

Drilling the screw into the center of the lid

Tip of the screw sticking out to help sandwich the pieces together

We smothered wood glue on the larger round piece, flipped the smaller circle over and moved it around until you could feel the screw had found the other hole.

Gluing on of the lid pieces before screwing them together

Two lid pieces being glued together

We then tightened it down a little more until the tip was coming out of the larger circle. The glue was wiped up with a damp cloth.As the screw is tightened the glue is pushed out

It might be hard to tell below but, you can see the screw top at the bottom, then the small circle (lip), then the larger circle with the tip of the screw barely showing. This is where the finial will attach.Showing the screw tip where the finial will attach

New lid for the planter is glued and screwed together

Painting


I primed the finial first and followed up with hammered bronze. This one can has lasted through the potting bench, the beverage station, and countless other small things I never wrote about but, it decided to give up just after finishing this little lid.

RUST-OLEUM paints used rusty primer & hammered bronzeFinished lid for the planter

Do you have anything you’d like to spruce up but, not physically change? Put a lid on it!

Finished handmade lid for a vintage Haeger planter

My Amazon Picks…

 


PINNY PLEASE!

A simple and easy DIY to change something without actually changing it! Make a lid for it!

7 thoughts on “DIY Lid for a Vase or Planter

  1. Super cool! I’ve never thought to make a lid with wood like this, but I love my band saw. =)

    1. Thank you so much Natasha! Oh, the band saw was the best purchase I’d made in a while. Got it at a garage sale for $60!

  2. Now that just blew my mind Angie. Such a simple solution, but wow, what a difference. That’s really, really cool. No planter or vase will ever be safe again, brilliant and your tut was super descriptive and so easy to follow. Pinning

    1. Hi Michelle! I love that I can change something up without actually changing it ๐Ÿ™‚

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