Hubcapping
I have started a new sport. Hubcapping. Pretty much you keep your eye peeled while driving, and when you see a hubcap, you pull over, jump out of the car and grab it. I have done it with my friends, and my mom. Both times I have not been driving so I do not feel like I’m being too dangerous. The best part is I get free hubcaps to upcycle and some of the things lying on the side of the road get picked up. Really I am doing the community a service.
I was looking for hubcaps to upcycle them into yard art. I found three to use for this project. They had been lying on the side of the road or in the median for a while and had even been propped up against trees by the gardeners. The hubcaps were VERY dirty. After I hosed each of them off, I used a Clorox wipe to get ALL the dirt and grime off of them. Then I sanded them, focusing more on sanding the places that were scuffed and scratched. These people were not the best drivers. I started painting one of them a bright blue, but I went out and bought some yellow, orange and red spray paint to have bright "flower" colors.
I love that they all have different designs! Here they are after getting a few coats of paint:
I added some embellishments to make the hubcap flowers look more unique. I used extra craft supplies and other fun things we had around the house. The stems are broken shovel handles, and I added some foam leaves and one wood leaf to make the hubcaps look more realistic :).
Love this! I will havet to start watching the roadside!
ReplyDeletehttp://dillondigitaldesigns.blogspot.com/
I found this wonderful idea via Infarrantly Creative's FB page. And I must admit... IM IN LOVE! *sigh* And good for you for picking up abandoned hubcaps that the city was too lazy to pick up. ...Hubcapping... May I join you?!
ReplyDeleteFor sure... join the hubcapping fun! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI love these!! How do you attach the handles and do you have to use outdoor spray paints? Thanks
DeleteI have one of those in the basement. Didn't know what to do with it till now.Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! I love the pop of colors!
ReplyDeleteThese are so cute. How did you attach the leaves and handle? Thanks, Sandy
ReplyDeleteI first drilled halfway through the stem, then I used a screw to attach a paint stick to the back of the stem. I added the leaf to cover the paint stick. The paint sticks not only helped me to attach the leaves, but also keep the leaves propped up so they don't look "droopy" ;) Let me know if you have any other questions or need clarification.
DeleteThese are fabulous!! Love your little assistant too. How do you attach them to the handles and how do you attach the "leaves"?
ReplyDeleteHi Donna!
DeleteTo attach the leaves I took paint sticks and screwed them into the back of the "stem", then attached the leaves to the paint stick (the leaves needed the support). Each of my hubcaps had a wire ring around the back, so I stuck the stem between the wire and the hubcap and used duct tape to keep them in place. I know duct tape is not heavy duty, but I knew mine were just going to be outside for the good summer weather, so duct tape has worked. Just be creative and use what you have. That's what I did and it worked out well.
I have a set of four hubcaps that I replaced with new ones. I'm glad I did not discard them. What paint did you use (brand and color)? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI used Rust-oleum spray paint (specifically gloss protective enamel), but if you do not want a glossy look you could go with a different finish. The colors are Sunrise Red, Orange, Sunburst Yellow, and GLS Fern (for the stems). I also like to use Valspar spray paint (Lowe's brand) since they have a wider variety of colors. Instead of just red, blue orange, etc, they have those, PLUS different shades, like a rust orange or turquoise. It really depends what color you want. Just remember to clean all the grime off the hubcap and sand to the spray paint has something to stick to. Hope this helps!
DeleteGorgeous! Nice fresh idea!
ReplyDeleteAdorable! Next time I see a stray hubcap I'm going to yell, "Honey, quick pull over!" These are great!
ReplyDeleteIt is really amazing. Can you tell me is it better to paint it with brushes or with sprays. And how do you protect other parts of hubcap that you dont want to paint in the same color
ReplyDeleteI would say definitely spray paint for this project. It is more convenient and durable. It also has a finish that other paint will not have, which allows it to hold up to the weather. Painting has its own place (like painting furniture), but I would not recommend it for this.
DeleteThe only hubcap I did that had two colors on it was the orange one. I first sprayed the whole hubcap orange, then took a paper plate, cut a hole it it and places it over each of the "bolts" on the hubcap. Then I just used the blue spray paint. The paper plate protected the rest of the hubcap. The other hubcaps I added pieces like a different colored center just by using things we had around the house.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
thanks for answer. you do it really precisely! and amazing nice! you are an artist!
ReplyDeletebut can you tell how you made those stripes on red hubcap at the top image. did you use some tape?
from what material are leaves made?
do you spend big ammount of spray for one hubcap?
The orange "bursts" on the red hubcap are spray painted tongue depressors. My mom got a huge box from someone who did not want them, and i thought it added some interest to the flower. The leaves on the red flower are made from foam and used spray paint to add the vein look. They are not weather proof, but it worked for summer. The other leaf is wooden. I found it at goodwill and screwed it on.
DeleteThe hubcaps did not take much spray paint. I did 3 coats and that covered. Maybe half the can at most for each one.
What a darling use of hubcaps! They look so fun and happy in the garden. Amazing creativity!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteLove it! What a great idea to give new life to the hubcaps!
ReplyDeleteLove it! Pinning!
ReplyDeleteWow, these flowers are so amazing and creative!! I found you at the 36th Avenue. Your blog is delightful, and I'm a new follower. Thanks for stopping by my place when you have a chance. ~ Blessings, Tracey
ReplyDeletehttp://gracescraps.blogspot.com/
Thanks so much for following along! I will be sure to pay you a visit :)
DeleteCute. My boyfriend works at a car dealership, I'll bet I could get lots of these :)
ReplyDeleteOMG, I love these! I pinned them and am definitely going to make some!
ReplyDeleteTania
Yay! It is a fun project... especially hunting down the hubcaps :)
DeleteWhat a great project! Please share it on a terrific linky – Design Décor Tuesday. www.designdecortuesday.blogspot.com. See you there! ☺
ReplyDeletedone!
DeleteYou are so creative... love your flowers. I'm featuring them in the PoPP Spotlight this week. Thanks for linking up.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with Design Decor Tuesday. Looking forward to seeing what you link up next week!
ReplyDeleteJennifer
http://www.thejennyevolution.com
I work in an auto salvage yard and what a wonderful idea to re-use aftermarket hubcaps that we can't sell anyway. How do you attach the wooden broom handle to the back of the cap? I have several suggestions, no which appealled to me. So I thought it best to ask the expert!
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Kelly
I did not use the right method the first time, but I would recommend using a clamp around the "stem" part of the flower that attaches to the hubcap itself. All of the hubcaps I have had a wire circle going around the back edge, and I put the "stem" in between the wire and the hubcap itself in order for it to attach well. Hope that helps! Good luck!
DeleteThese are so cute! I will not be passing up any hub caps in the road anymore. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteShared!