How to Recycle a Wooden Ice Cream Churn

Have you ever picked up roadside trash? You may luck up and find treasures for recycling, repurposing, or just great junk. Today, I’m sharing about updating a wooden ice cream churn, which is a true trash-to-treasure adventure. I found this wooden ice cream churn by the side of the road on trash day. Home with me, it came! With a little paint and some flowers, it’s a perfect budget-friendly centerpiece option.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get a photo before I decided to give the bucket a whitewash of chalk paint. But before, it was just a plain, aged wooden bucket with some water stains. Once I added the whitewash, I loved the new look so much that I couldn’t wait to fill the bucket with fresh flowers.

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Pinterest Challenge

Each month, Cindy at County Road 407 sponsors a Pinterest Challenge, and it’s always so much fun to see each participant’s version of the inspirational photo. This month, the challenge comes from Anderson and Grant, and here is her repurposed picnic basket.

If you are joining me from my friend Julie at My Wee Abode, here’s a little introduction in case this is your first visit. Although I don’t like to cook, I love to entertain, and my blog is filled with entertaining tips and tablescapes. I love DIY projects, thrifting, vintage, farmhouse-style decor, and trash-to-treasure transformations such as today’s project.

How to add Fresh Flowers to Recycled Decor

To add fresh flowers, I added a combination of containers to hold water inside the recycled churn. First, fill each container 3/4 full of water before adding plants.

Next, begin to add the greenery or herbs to the recycled ice cream churn, spacing evenly around the containers. I used fresh herbs because I have an abundance of sage and rosemary planted around my landscape. You can also read How to Dry Herbs and How to Make Botanical Art with Pressed Herbs for things to do with an abundance of herbs.

Finally, add your fresh flowers by tucking them into the greenery. Be sure that each stem is placed in water.

These photos are from last summer when the Black Eyed Susan’s were showing up in a big way.

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Adding Faux Flowers to Recycled Decor

I’d love to keep the recycled churn filled with fresh flowers and greenery, but it also looks lovely with faux flowers.

Gather a selection of faux flowers that work well with your decor to create a faux flower arrangement. If the stems are longer than necessary, bend the wire stems to the length needed to fill your container. This allows you to use these same stems in a deeper container at a later date.

Once again, begin by adding the greenery stems and then fill in with the floral stems. I like to create a loose, natural arrangement.

The mix of various stems gives the Ice Cream Churn a completely different feel than the Black Eyed Susan arrangement.

These lovely stems will last until the black-eyed susans bloom again. I saw a couple of faces starting to pop out early, so it won’t be long.

Related Articles

I love a trash-to-treasure transformation, and one of my first blog posts shared how to Repurpose an old Silverware Box.

In this previous post, How to Use Chalk Paint, you can learn more about using chalk paint to transform your finds.

These great planters were also roadside finds; they look amazing with a DIY Concrete Planter finish.

If you love creative floral arrangements, check out this wildflower arrangement. With these tips, arranging hydrangeas in a basket is super easy.

Check out more Recycled Decor on the Pinterest Challenge.

Next up on the Pinterest Challenge, Lora at Lora B. Create and Ponder is sharing her Welcoming Guest Room Basket Ideas. Be sure to click on the photos below to follow along on the Challenge.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.