Outdoor Patio Table Planter, Vase and Serving Station – a #LowesCreator Idea
Wanted: A better name for this invention I created!
What is it? I consider it a multi-purpose centerpiece for your umbrella-shaded patio table. But, it can also be a serving station for utensils and napkins. Add some water and it becomes a vase for the table. When the flowers wilt, plant some shade loving flowers into it and you have a living centerpiece! So, my working title was: Plant-a-ma-bo-a-ma-holdey-flowers-n-stuffin-vase. But, I don’t think that anyone would be able to pronounce that. (Nor would that be very SEO friendly.)
Whatever the name, I’d love to share how easy it is to make this outdoor living table centerpiece.
Materials:
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- Hacksaw
- Sandpaper
- File (optional)
- 2 – 2″ x 2′ PVC pipes
- 10 – 2″ PVC couplings
- 5 – 2″ PVC test caps
- 2 – 6″ -7″ Hose clamps
- Flat head screw driver
- Outdoor window and door caulk
- Caulk gun
- PVC Primer
- PVC Cement
- Tin snips
- Union Jack radiator screen (found in the hardware section near the flat sheet metal)
Instructions:
1. Measure and cut the 2″ PVC pipes into 7″ tall sections. (side note: It helps to have a stop block set up and a miter box so that all your pipes are the same length.)
2. Stand the pipes side by side and sand down any that are taller.
Sand and file any rough edges around the top and bottom of the pipe.
3. Brush primer around the bottom edge of the pvc pipe. (side note: Try not to let the primer drip if you use the purple colored pvc primer. It will stain the pipe.) Wipe the primer inside the edge of the coupling and around the test cap rim.
Brush the PVC cement onto the primed PVC areas.
4. Immediately press the PVC pipe down onto the coupling (with the test cap facing up). Be sure to face all the writing and bar codes the same direction. You can turn all the tubes toward the umbrella so the writing is hidden.
5. Repeat the same procedure to glue another coupling to the top of the pipe (minus the test cap.)
6. Turn the pvc pipes upside down and run a line of caulk around the bottom of the test caps. This will help create the water tight seal. (Or you could run the caulk on the rim of the test cap before you insert it into the coupling. Let me know if you try this and if it works better to caulk before gluing.)
This is what your tubes should look like:
7. Measure the distance between the couplings.
Mark the distance onto the radiator screen and cut it to size with tin snips.
8. Gather the PVC Pipes, radiator screen, hose clamps and flat head screwdriver. Bring them out to your patio table. Wrap the pipes around the umbrella. Bend the radiator screen around all the pipes and open up the hose clamps. Secure the top and bottom of the screen with the hose clamps. Tighten the hose clamps with the screwdriver.
This is how your centerpiece should look:
Time to decide what to put into the centerpiece! You can place utensils in the pipes for a party. (side note: I stuck some paper towels into the bottom of the pipes to keep the utensils elevated.)
Or, for a fresh floral arrangement fill the tubes with water and place fresh cut flowers inside.
For a more lasting arrangement. Fill the tubes with rocks on the bottom. Then add soil and plant some shade loving flowers.
The flowers make an attractive living centerpiece for your patio table.
So which way would you use this invention:
As a vase?
As a utensil holder?
Or as a planter?
And do you have a better name than Plant-a-ma-bo-a-ma-holdey-flowers-n-stuffin-vase?
Disclosure: I have partnered with Lowe’s as a Lowe’s Creative Influencer. I was provided with a Lowe’s gift card to complete my project. The tutorial, photos and opinions expressed in this post are my own. I was not told what to write. #LowesCreator
Why use chalking, If you have bee primed and glued, they will not leak. The plumbing in your house does not have chalking
The pieces I used on the end were not water tight.
Mark the distance onto the radiator screen and cut it to size with tin snips.
Great post! Have nice day ! 🙂 zhftc
Great Post … Thank You!
Loved it & Shared it 🙂
http://www.pinterest.com/pinaholicmyrie/garden-diy-outdoor-project/
Love it, Brit! You are so creative!
Thanks for linking up to my party. I’m featuring your project in my post today.
xoxo
I would Call it “The 3N1 Picnic Table Accessory”, Love it:)
You should re-name your blog to Pretty Clever Girl!
Oh, I see I get two chances (I don’t Tweet or Pin)! Umbrella Fella for your invention!
I’d call it an umbrella fella! 🙂
I’d love to have the Lowe’s card, as I can no longer do any gardening due to ancient arthritic hands. I want to have a flower bed removed, hang a nice swing on my one big backyard tree, and get a new bench or chair so I can sit and sip something cool while I watch my grandchildren on the swing. Or maybe just hang a porch swing from that tree instead. Sweet summer days ahead! Thank you for this opportunity!
I would love a gift card b/c I am working on:
Redoing a guest room into my preteen DD’s room, updating my kitchen, the kids bathroom, the dining room, and my DH’s workshop – which is a HUGE wreck. There are sooo many projects on pinterest that I NEED to do….. shall I go on?
You are a DIY genius! This is so creative, dear!
How about the Handy Holder?
Pinned it!
Pinned it!
Ummmm umbrella helper? Patio buddy?
I’m really, really bad at naming things but I could really, really use that gift card. 🙂
Ok, I even made a twitter account @bobbiesumpter so I could get my other entry and did my first tweet! 🙂
The versatile umbrella huger or The versatile umbrella huger centerpiece 🙂 This is a great idea, and it will be one that I am going to use. I don’t have an umbrella, but I do have the hole for one, so I will just add a middle one and have a little taller flower in the center 🙂 I love the living plant one, GREAT job!
I spend so much time and money at Lowe”s, I am never at a loss as to what to buy. But, I would have to say I would start with the miter box, I don’t have that yet and looks like something I would really like to have!
pined to pinterest, but can not get url right now because it is down 🙁
Posted on facebook http://www.facebook.com/bobbiesumpter
I sure could use the Lowe’s giftcard. My daughter wants to repaint her bedroom and she has all kinds of ideas about decorating it.
I think I would use it towards new outdoor lights. They are a contractor’s special, much to small.
That is so pretty – I love the screen. Patio Table Bling!
We have a 100+ year old house and can always use a Lowe’s card for all the work we do on it LOL!
We just bought our first home and are so excited to make it our own! We are painting, decorating, fixing, and playing and could definitely use the gift card for our next project! 🙂 love your blog!
I could really use a Lowe’s gift card because we are trying to renovate the foreclosed house we bought.
How about Multipurpose Caddy?
The Daddy of all caddys. Ha that ones bad. Ahhhh well. I need to spruce up my kitchen!
I would use the Lowes gift card for paint. We’ve been doing lots of room re-do’s.
Name suggestions (if they’ve not already been suggested) would be “Pretty Handy Caddy”, or the
“PVC Pretty Versatile Caddy”
What a cute accessory!
Thanks for the idea Britanny. I recently bought a little votice candle set for around my umbrella, but will definitely mix it up with something like this too!
I would call it itty-bitty planters. I would use lowes gift card to buy paint for Nursery makeover.
I would love the Lowes gift card to go and stock up on things like household cleaners, light bulbs, and get some new hangars. Being one of the bazillion people who are financially strapped nowadays… being able to get the basics would be a blessing.
Thanks.
http://twitter.com/won2x/status/218379978025353217
Pinned:
http://pinterest.com/pin/273453008594992571/
I’ve been thinking about this all morning….and I think I have it!
*Pretty Versatile Centerpiece” or PVC for short 🙂
Umbrella Accessory Extravaganza
I am in desperate need of a Lowes Gift card. We just purchased a new house and there are boob lights everywhere. I must get them out of my house before I can call it my home. Please, please help me get them away. 🙂
How about The Caddio – a handy caddy for your patio table. I pinned this nifty project on my That’s a Great Idea! board. I love the idea especially for holding silverware at an outdoor gathering. I might even use it indoors for silverware! We could put a Lowes gift card to good use for the supplies to make this caddy 🙂 and some plants to spruce up the sad looking beds in front of our house.
This is such an awesome idea! Thanks for sharing this with us! How long did this project take you to complete? What are the alternatives for the metal sheets if I can find those in a hardware store?
Also — i pinned: http://pinterest.com/pin/153192824795356848/
How about alternating flowers and silverware? Or two PVCs of flowers in the back, and the front three for the silverware? Cool cool 🙂
I’d love a Lowe’s gift card! I am just now getting into gardening, at the fresh young age of 21, and would love to get supplies to make my own raised-bed garden and/or a compost pile.
I’d love love love to win because I have some small home improvement jobs I’d like to tackle…..FINALLY
I tweeted about the giveaway https://twitter.com/Monnie311/status/217700226830565378
I repinned on Pinterest http://pinterest.com/pin/184647653442830803/
I think you should call it picnic utensil holder, I like the utensil holder idea great job by the way!
What a nice thing for you and Lowe’s to do to help with so many of our projects! How about “UmbrellaVase” for the name? Because it goes around the umbrella and as we all know we use vases for all sorts of items. Thank you for the great ideal!!
I love this invention. Very good names have been given before me. How about Post Hugger?
I really need a Lowes card as I’m remodeling the “mud room” off my kitchen.
Pinning this. I just need to get a patio table with umbrella to use it with. 🙂
I love this project!
I could use a Lowes gift card to add some small touches to our back deck. We recently had to get rid of some things that had seen better days and would love to add some new things from Lowes! Love the great outdoors and my backyard is my happy place.
A lowe’s gift card would come in handy to spruce up my yard. And replace part of my covered patio thats seen better days.
Pinned this on my to do board.
http://pinterest.com/eweza1/to-do-list/
What about Versa-caddy? It’s simple, easy to say and remember.
No matter what you name it, it’s a great idea. I love the potted plant idea…gives a pop of color to your table.
How about “Handy Hardware Hugs”? 🙂
I like this idea! Great way to spiffy up the patio table!
I think a great name for this would “PRETTY (Handy) Patio Caddy”
You created something beautiful out of very mundane materials. Love it.!
How about “Vasetensilpiece”?
I love this! Would be great for my granddaughter art station for her paint brushes! I would call it “Pretty Handy Organizer”!
I could use a Lowe’s Gift Card because we are still working to restore our yard back into usable living space. Our back deck was damaged and we lost our outdoor building as well as numerous trees in the tornadoes last year. It seems like it will take forever for it to look right again.
You could call it the Pretty Handy Planter Caddy
I pinned it. Here’s my link:
http://pinterest.com/pin/269441990176802244/
I tweeted the posting. Here’s my link:
https://twitter.com/jigsawink/status/217422181167149057
I sure could use that Lowe’s gift card. Here’s my tweet.
CottageatCrossroads @leowindham
Great give away at Pretty Handy Girl https://prettyhandygirl.com/2012/06/outdoor-patio-table-planter-vase-and-serving-station-a-lowescreator-idea.html
How about Patio Vase Container. (PVC) ? Not that good, but I really enjoyed reading your blog.
Don’t have twitter – dunno how to use one, but I sure did pin this great invention and am spreading the word with friends and relatives. Thanks for being so creative Brittany!!!
I’m so impressed I started a special “garden/yard” Pinterest board to pin this one! Love it.
If I win the Lowe’s gift card it would certainly go towards ‘things’ to make for my garden and yard which is actually being overhauled as often as extra money comes in.
An idea for a name for your great invention? How about “Patio Quintable Vase”? Got my mind spinning and thinking of more ideas. *smile*
Great job no matter what the name is!
Pinned it, thanks for the idea!
Here’s my submittal for a new name. How about the “Patio Table Susan”. It’s like a Lazy Susan except more versatile. You get a multi-purpose Susan–flowers, plants, silverware/napkins, other decor depending on your outdoor party.
And finally, I would LOVE to win the Lowe’s gift card and would put it towards are ongoing backyard renovation. My husband and I just finished making our new – and much larger – vegetable bed using some awesome cobbled pavers from Lowe’s… but we still want to make more beds….so several more trips to Lowe’s are in our future! 🙂 Thanks again!
…And I just added this post to my DIY Crafts and Design Projects board on Pinterest. Here’s the link:
http://pinterest.com/pin/185984659582158525/
Thanks!
Just tweeted about your project here:
https://twitter.com/petscribbles/status/217329483148046336
Thanks for the chances to win!
What a neat project! I think you already DID name it: 3-in-1 Patio Table Centerpiece, as in that top group of photos in your post. 🙂 I really like the idea of putting the utensils and napkins in there, as it makes everything nice and neat!
I love this idea and am thinking of one bigger in size to hold a chilling bottle of bubbly in ice. How about a much bigger one to hold soda cans in ice. They make some pretty big pvc pipe out there. Then it could be Pipe Medley or Pretty Handy Tubes is my suggestion for the contest. Thanks
I would love the Lowe’s card to upcycle a Buffet Table for my bedroom and build a custom shelf for over my headboard.
Thank you again,
KV
I shared this post on Twitter and tagged @PrettyHandyGirl AND #LowesCreator
Thank you again,
KV
I Pinned this post on Pinterest to my Inspired! board
Thank you again for the opportunity to win!
Kathryn
I’d name it Cr8tive Patio Table Caddy! It’ is Awesome!!
Thank you for the opportunity to win!
Artful Blessings,
Kathryn
Love it as a utensil caddy, but I my fav is for the flowers or plants as it does soften the look as somebody else mentioned. $100 gift card? Yikes, that would be fab as I have an ongoing project list! Sorry I can’t think of a name at all. 🙁 Wonderful idea. You are so creative!
Great Idea, Brittany! I suggest the name Ring around the Roses Centerpiece. I know you used hydrangeas and a few other types of flora, but it’s a play on the fact you have rings within a ring. Plus, there are flowers! 🙂 I could use the Lowe’s card because I am getting ready to install crown molding and could use the funds!! Thanks. Have fun naming your great invention!!
What a great idea! …And it has such fresh, clean lines!
That Lowe’s card would sure help me finish off my library book cases!
Every clever name I thought of, someone else has already posted..drat! Think I’d just call it “Brittany’s Versatile Patio Table Caddy”. Not very catchy or clever, but it’s the best I can come up with. :>)
My suggested name – Pretty Handy Patio Table BRILLIANCE! 😉
I would use the Lowes card for lumber to build my daughter’s new bed. 🙂
PINNED TO MY BOARD!
http://pinterest.com/msstitcher/fqs-bella-parade-season-2/settings/
‘pinned’ to my Outside board
Seriously – BRILLIANT! You are so clever! 🙂
I love this! You are so stinkin’ creative it’s not even funny!
HELLO! I’D USE THE LOWE’S GIFT CARD FOR SOME WOOD DETAIL TRIM.
THANKS FOR SHARING!
Just call it: “Faux Silver Centerpiece
What CAN’T I use a Lowe’s gift card for? Lowe’s has become my latest addiction, as I’ve taken the summer off from working and started redoing everything in my whole house, it seems! Paint probably… hmmm.
I tweeted about the post at : https://twitter.com/edubz96/status/217292854693867520
PVC R
Rustic Patio Pipe Container
Tried to come up with something for the V of PVC but all I was thinking was volume, value, venue, etc…..
But this is such a great idea! Love it! We “REALLY” need to get to our patio this summer, it is a shame to have it and not use it just because it isn’t spruced up.
ahhhh Amy on FB put down VERSATILE what a great word to describe this container. kudos to AMY!!!
I think you should call it your “Tube Tool” since it can be used for so many things!
What a great idea. I may have some of these pieces laying around too. The radiator screen gives the whole item a finished piece. P.S. Like your table cloth too.
Also, A Lowe’s gift card would be BOSS!
Just pinned it!
How about the Patio Caddy?
I would call it the “The All Around Outdoor Centerpiece” or the “Pretty Handy Patio Centerpiece” .
How bout Pole station?
Oh, and Tweeted! 🙂
How about the “Pretty Handy Pipe Dream Holder”?
Actually “Pretty Handy Pipe Dream Planter” sounds better.
I need a $100 Lowes card to buy power tools for all of the ideas I learned at Haven!!
Love this!! Pinned in my “Projects” board
This might not be what you are looking for in a name, but I’d call it “Quintus”
Trek, okay that is too unusual for no explanation! So, why “quintus”? You have my curiosity peaked!
Here’s a thought: Table Buddy. I know it’s not really original or catchy, but my creative, name inventing juices aren’t flowing very well right now. 🙂
You know, you can bring it inside during the colder weather months and use it on the kitchen table/counter if the base is stable enough. And, if you attach a couple of eye hooks or cup hooks to the side and make a removable handle, you can use it for picnics or potlucks. This is a great piece you made!
The Serve-Display-Grow 3 in 1 (?)
Why do I want the Lowe’s Gift Card? It’s one of my favorite places to shop- I can always find something to drool over or inspire me at Lowe’s! 🙂
I pinned it to my Clever! board. 🙂
Our yard is a wreck and so we would use the Lowe’s gift card to bring it back to life. =)
Love your invention! I’m racking my brains for a name for it…..not that easy! =)
I tweeted! =)
https://twitter.com/luv2luv226bride/status/217267028447330304
I really need to re-do my deck….. I’ve been trying to come up with a name…..
The PHG (Pretty Handy Girl) Plantainer … LOL … not too good!
I pinned it on my “DIY-I’ll Try It!” board
http://pinterest.com/pin/197947346092370103/
I’m in the middle of a bathroom redo right now and I’d love to have a $100 Lowe’s gift card.
I don’t know how you come up with these things, but I love it! Hmm, name…. Pretty Handy Patio Caddy?
Sheila, did you get your signed tape measure? So sad I missed you at Haven!
I pinned this on my For The Home board (mrshud1). Great idea!
Pinned this post on my outdoor living board. Thanks Brittany!
I love this idea for table flowers. I usually have them out on the table taking up space. This project would maximize space and leave more room for refreshing beverages!
The Lowe’s gift card would come in so handy, as returning from the Haven Conference, I am so full of DIY inspiration! It was great to meet you!
When is there a reason NOT to need a Lowes gift card?
Cute idea – pinned it to my outdoor board. I like the living centerpiece option the most!
Just tweeted you too :~) https://twitter.com/jenifercotter/status/217227406254145536
This is such a cool idea Brittany … love the look of the radiator screen! My favorite is the planted flowers…it’s an unexpected spot to have live plants and really softens the tablescape.
I’d be thrilled to win the Lowe’s gift card! I need supplies to finish a garden bench makeover and to start a chalkboard piece and am also trying to get started on repainting some rooms – so I am becoming a regular at Lowe’s and could really use the gift card to supplement my low-low budget :~) Thanks for such great inspiration & the chance to win!