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 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!
http://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?!
For sure… join the hubcapping fun! Thanks for stopping by!
I have one of those in the basement. Didn't know what to do with it till now.Thanks!
Great idea! I love the pop of colors!
These are so cute. How did you attach the leaves and handle? Thanks, Sandy
These are fabulous!! Love your little assistant too. How do you attach them to the handles and how do you attach the "leaves"?
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.
I 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!
I bought one from a lady. After being outside a few months the paint peeled. I don’t know how she painted it. Do you think I could sand it and clean it really good … then spray paint it again ??? Love the flowers !!!
Hi Donna!
To 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 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.
Gorgeous! Nice fresh idea!
Adorable! Next time I see a stray hubcap I'm going to yell, "Honey, quick pull over!" These are great!
It 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
I 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.
The 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!
but 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?
What a darling use of hubcaps! They look so fun and happy in the garden. Amazing creativity!
Love it! What a great idea to give new life to the hubcaps!
Love it! Pinning!
Wow, 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
http://gracescraps.blogspot.com/
Cute. My boyfriend works at a car dealership, I'll bet I could get lots of these 🙂
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.
The hubcaps did not take much spray paint. I did 3 coats and that covered. Maybe half the can at most for each one.
Thanks so much for following along! I will be sure to pay you a visit 🙂
Thanks!
OMG, I love these! I pinned them and am definitely going to make some!
Tania
What a great project! Please share it on a terrific linky – Design Décor Tuesday. http://www.designdecortuesday.blogspot.com. See you there! ☺
You are so creative… love your flowers. I'm featuring them in the PoPP Spotlight this week. Thanks for linking up.
done!
Yay! It is a fun project… especially hunting down the hubcaps 🙂
Thanks for linking up with Design Decor Tuesday. Looking forward to seeing what you link up next week!
Jennifer
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!
Thank 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!
These are so cute! I will not be passing up any hub caps in the road anymore. Thanks for sharing!
Shared!
I love these!! How do you attach the handles and do you have to use outdoor spray paints? Thanks
Oh how super cute!
I would love for you to link up at the Mommy Archive – we're focusing on garage, basement & yard ideas this week, Alice x
Just adorable. Shovels would make good leaves too. I may have to try my hand at this.
So cute and I love that you are doing the community "a service" ~ LOL!! Really, they are awesome!
Cher @ Designs by Studio C
http://designsbystudioc.com
Great idea. I've found many things along the road during my daily walks, but no hubcaps. I'll keep looking with these joyful flowers in mind.
I just made my first 6. They look great. I went to the wreckers and grabbed 20 scrap ones as my friends want me to make some for them also. These are fantastic and the kids love them. Thanks for such a great idea. I live recycling.
Now that's fun! I think I would have a lot of fun hub capping! I've thought of it before, just never followed through. This is motivational! Thanks for the inspiration.
That is awesome! I have never heard of hubcapping, but I love it! Especially since it has such a beautiful, crafty result! Fun! Thanks so much for sharing this at Get Your DIY On! I hope to see you on Sunday to link up your chalkboard projects! Have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
I love this, This is on the top of my spring project list. Can you post or send purpleTNtulip@gmail me a pic of how you attached the stem? I've read the comments, I just don't get that and what kind of clue did you use on the red one to hold the tongue depressors on.
These are amazing! I am so excited to make a couple! Would you mind explaining what exactly you used to make the leaves?
Thank you for sharing!
Susana
I love this idea. What are the leaves made out of?
What a great idea & love your photos …
Really like your ideas…. Great job 🙂
Great idea! I'm guessing I won't be able to kill these flowers!!
I am doing this for spring. I have a fill-spout in my front yard for home heating oil and am always looking for ways to mark it. This will be perfect! The delivery man will love it, too!
Lucky me! My husband saved 4 hubcaps that he has no use for. I'm going to try this, they are just so cute!
I was wondering if the hubcaps you used are plastic or aluminum and also where did you find foam leaves
Thank you
I saw these on ViralNova with your name cropped off and credit to DumpADay. 🙁 I posted them on my Junktion Alley page and ask if anyone knew what the leaves might be made of and one of my fans shared your link. So glad to see how you made them. How fun and colorful.
Please tell us what the leaves are made from and maybe how. 🙂
Would it be possible to show how you connected the stem to the hubcap with pictures? I keep reading the comments, but am not “getting” it……. Thank you!
Do they turn? Will you explan how to attach the hub to the handlem? I didn’t understand the eire circle on the back.
They do not turn, you could probably come up with a way to make them do that. The hubcap I found had the wire circle on the back and so I threaded the handle through that to act as a stem and secured it with tape.
These are awesome! I’m working to add a little color and fun to our school garden and these would be perfect. The students are already challenged to reduce, reuse, recycle… so this would set that example also! Thanks for sharing the idea!
do you have to sand the hub before you paint them can I use spray can’s on them paint that is