How to Easily Make a Tole Planter

Tole planters are a fancy way of displaying plants. Follow these easy step-by-step instructions to make your own planter

Decorative painter Marie McGehee demonstrates how to make a rich-looking tole planter for very little money.

Steps:

On a raw tin surface, seal by applying latex urethane.
Choose two colors of latex paint to use (red and yellow work well).
Paint red and yellow sections, alternating to create wide stripes. Allow to dry.
Apply gold-leaf adhesive to painted yellow stripes. Let dry about five minutes, until tacky.
Using a natural-bristle brush, gently tap down gold leaf onto the adhesive.
For an aged appearance, mix together brown and black latex paint.
Tip the end of the brush into this mixture and swish back and forth on a plastic foam plate to thin out the paint on the brush. Make sure to get some paint on the sides of the brush.
Gently and lightly brush across the top of the surface.
Use the side of the brush to "carve," or outline, the corners by applying paint and then releasing pressure.
For the finishing stain, use wood stain (Benjamin Moore's Fruitwood is recommended) to gently paint over the surface.
Rag off, or gently apply and release pressure using a crumpled soft paper towel against the surface.