I am a believer in cheap gifts. Does that sound bad? Not so cheap that your friends and family dread receiving presents from you, and have secretly brandished you as a penny pincher. More like waiting to buy a really nice item once it goes on sale, or making something really beautiful for that special someone that will totally be used on a daily basis. I have also been known to regift. It’s something that I secretly take great pride in performing.

I think that my frugal attitude towards gift-giving stems from the fact that my family is just so damn big. I have immediate family members, step family, in-laws, a nephew and nieces galore, not to mention friends and random workers that I guiltily feel as if I must splurge on. That being said, making presents is something that I whole-heartily believe in.

I began this month with this Christmas DIY. Now, I’m here to show you an even simpler, and better yet, free DIY that is perfect for any plant lovers in your circles. I would personally love to receive this gift. So I made it for myself, in anticipation of showing all of you.

Even though I’m Canadian, I’ve had a mild obsession for American Flags lately. I chose to make our bedroom an American-themed room, and made an American-themed Valentine’s Day DIY for HaveHeart Magazine coming in February. Crazy, right? Anyway, I decided to take my obsession to a plant-based level as well. The lines in the can were reminiscent of the stripes in the flags, so really I had no other choice but to turn it into the American flag. However, you can make any motif that you, or your recipient, would like.

This is what you’ll need to make a Motif Plant Holder:

Tin Can

Acrylic Paint

Paint Brushes

Drill

It’s honestly such a straightforward project. To begin, simply drill a hole into the bottom of the tin can for drainage. I kept the lid to use as a plant dish.

Next, you’re ready to begin painting. Go wild. Cover half of the can, or the whole can, in whatever designs and colours that you would like.

I obviously chose the American Flag.

Once you’re done that, fill the can with a plant or succulent. Note, if this is a gift, and you’d like to minimize the chance of the plant dying on them, it’s best to stick to something a little tougher, like from the plant family Cactaceae​. I chose to use this Aloe Vera plant, since it seems to have been planted in magic fairy dust and will not stop growing!

The last step is to carefully wrap it. Obviously, the longer that you wait to do this, the better. But hey, if you’re the gambling type, then why not wrap it now?

See you tomorrow!

<3

Emory