Kilz keeps everything from creeping through, including rust stains. The rust problem needs to be sanded first. Kilz is a pretty good sealer.

nothing bleeds though kilz.. we love it too

I plan on lightly sanding it first, then I will use the kilz before applying the top coat. I find that the Krylon spray paint that doesn't need an undercoat works very well.

Very inspiring article. Can't wait to see how you fixed them up. I think I will buy a masonry bit. Do they fit with regular drills...any special instructions to use?

You can get all kinds of bits for your power drill. : )
Depending on what you are going to drill, you may have to have a little water on the part you are drilling. DH has a bit for metal also that I use. Also a diamond tipped bit. Most things drill easily. I am however having trouble drilling a few items that are made of ironstone. : (
I will have to go talk to someone at Home Depot to see if there is a special bit for that.
The brass items I've done drill pretty easy and don't seem to take very long. I was surprised at that.
I do have a few of the porcelain type pieces that have proven difficult to drill, again they are amazingly hard. More research needed.
Anyone have experience with the above two types of material?

Fantastic article, Lynn, and it is right up my alley. Thanks for giving me some great new ideas. One of the containers I have used are the top and the bottom of an outdoor grill. They are really large and give me a huge amount of room for all sorts of plants. We fixed a really nice one for my daughter using the small variegated bamboo and another one filled with lamb's ear and seasonal blooming annuals.

Personally, I like rust - I throw things on the bonfire to burn off any paint, but to each their own.

Great article Lynn - the more the merrier!

Elena do you have any photos of what you did with the outdoor grill? I am such a visual person and have trouble picturing what your talking about. Sounds like a new idea for me to use.

Jacki I love both ways depending on where I will be putting the new container. I have seen many of yours and love every one of them.

Such great containers for plants. I decided I should look up some old things to use, I sure do have a lot of "old" things. I'm a thrift store junkie and I'm always looking for the unusual things to use. I do have a habit of looking into some dumpsters just in case someone threw away some great treasure. My siblings would be shocked at some of the things I do.

I went yard sailing today with my daughter. Was so thrilled with my free find. Styrofoam boxes (Omaha Meats). Go to the below link to see the amazing things you can do in your garden using styrofoam.
The thread "Styrofoam Troughs" in Containers forum

I love those containers, I've made one styrofoam container for plants and plan on doing more. They are in such great shape too!

Saw a couple yard sales today, but of course DH wouldn't think of stopping. Well, we came from one doctor to go to the hospital to set up surgery date for DH so really didn't have any time to look.

Hope DH is going to be okay Pegi?
I loved what you did with the one styrofoam container your finished. It's wonderful. : )

DH is having gall bladder surgery on the 12th. He has a lot of scaring (his body is like a road map) so just don't know how they will proceed. They tell you all the bad things that can go wrong, but they have to according to state law. He will do OK, always joking around with the doctors. He doesn't know when to stop!

The sticker leaves I put on styrofoam container aren't sticking so guess I will stencil them when I find tme. One on the side I used mod podge and it works, but it has a glossy finish and not too thrilled about that. I put it on the side that I only can see. Love those that you got. Be sure to let us see what you do with them, pics of course.

best wishes to DH!

I hope to start on them this coming week. DD is moving this weekend.
Pegi prayers and good thoughts for you and hubby on the 12th.

I also got this chair for .50¢. I can't believe I got it for that price. It is solid as a rock. I am going to paint it and plant the seat.

how fun!!

The hard part is deciding how to paint it.

Thank you for the prayers and good wishes. I'm hoping once the gall bladder is gone so will the pains.

Wat a deal on that chair Lynn, wonderng if I'll ever get around to the two metal chairs I have waiting to be made into planters. Just sprayed a plastic pot blue to put a pretty yellow mini rose bush in that I got at our 99 cent store. Too bad you can't use the spray paint on styrofoam, would make it easier. Of course, you don't have to paint it, just was my chose. Going to paint the others too just don't know when or how.

Good luck to your DH, that surgery was a piece of cake when I had it done a few years backs.

Great score on the chair. I need to get a pic of my 2 chairs.