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Trashy Graffiti Stenciling

Spray painting a trash can with chalk paint and stencils with Carolyn Dube

“You’d be so good at vandalism Mom!”  Hmm…maybe I need to rethink the example I am setting for my children….nah!  Everyone should grab a can of spray paints and let loose occasionally!  Nothing seems to be safe here from the paint lately at our house. The neighbors haven’t rioted yet with all the color.  As a bonus, when the wind blows the trash cans down the street everyone now knows who they belong too.

Watch Spray painting with stencil on a curbside trash can! on YouTube.

Spray painting a trash can with chalk paint and stencils with Carolyn DubeThe Chalk Spray Paints are at Amazon and at Dick Blick.  These aren’t traditional spray paints, they are temporary chalk ones.  This may take quite a while to wear off since it only goes outside once a week….I put it on a concrete wall a couple of months ago and it is still bright and vibrant!

What stencils did I use? More like which did I not…here are just some of the ones I used.  All can be found at StencilGirl.

Spray painting a trash can with chalk paint and stencils with Carolyn Dube

Who did that 2nd can? My daughter….so proud that I’ve infected her…I mean encouraged her creativity!

Spray painting a trash can with chalk paint and stencils with Carolyn DubeSpray painting a trash can with chalk paint and stencils with Carolyn Dube Spray painting a trash can with chalk paint and stencils with Carolyn DubeSpray painting a trash can with chalk paint and stencils with Carolyn Dube
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  • Maria McGuire May 6, 2015, 12:36 am

    You and your CRAZY ideas!!!! LOVE that I get to be a part of them–NO one and I mean NO one has garbage cans like you!!! Will never forget this day!

  • Michele May 6, 2015, 7:33 am

    OH CAROLYN!!!! I absolutely in love with your cans!! LOL…I live in an apartment and our wonderful staff takes care of our trash, BUT….I want to set up my recyclables..one bin for paper, one for cans….Now I know how to decorate them!!! Thanks so much…you are awesome!

  • Sandy :) May 6, 2015, 7:37 am

    Awesome so need to do this to my boring rubbish bins.. 🙂

  • Julie G. May 6, 2015, 8:22 am

    Seriously COOL! As I was watching it, it gave me an idea on how to rejuvenate something I was going to toss in the trash…I’ll share if it works out!

    • Carolyn Dube May 6, 2015, 9:19 am

      Looking forward to seeing it Julie!

  • Linda May 6, 2015, 9:08 am

    Love them. I need new cans but I’m afraid they’d disappear. Either a neighbor would confiscate and hide them or a passer-by would commandeer there. Either way, I’ll have to stick with the boring plastic ones.
    PS…what’s with the clean white shoes? Those look like crocs and I’m sure they take paint real well.

    Keep playing. You make me smile.

    • Carolyn Dube May 6, 2015, 9:18 am

      Stinks that people would steal – sorry you can’t brighten up your trash!

      Oh…those shoes only look clean and white thanks to no close ups…they are splattered and dirty in person.

  • Peg R May 6, 2015, 11:10 am

    I totally dig this.

  • Win Dinn May 6, 2015, 2:50 pm

    Oh, you’re having WAY too much fun. This is just fabulous! I’ll be grinning all day, thank you.

  • Judy Shea May 6, 2015, 2:56 pm

    Are you kidding me? Wow.. that was great. Will the town let you keep it like that? I hope so. Thanks for the trashy talk.

    • Carolyn Dube May 6, 2015, 7:43 pm

      They haven’t said a thing yet so I bet I can keep them Judy!

  • Sharon May 6, 2015, 3:20 pm

    This would be great for my composting can. great idea

  • Laura Ambrose May 6, 2015, 4:04 pm

    Fantastic idea! Your can is wonderful, but I really love your daughter’s can. The faces and the yellow areas pop – and I’m a sucker for bright circles like the pink ones. She’s got a great sense of style!

  • Genevieve May 6, 2015, 6:31 pm

    Absolutely awesome! Although I would worry that someone might steal them.

  • Cathy May 6, 2015, 6:45 pm

    If I did that to my trash cans they would refuse to take them. LOL Good Luck.

    • Carolyn Dube May 6, 2015, 7:44 pm

      The collectors have been really cool about them too Cathy!

  • Jean Marmo May 6, 2015, 7:16 pm

    This is just the coolest!

  • Sylvia Tabor May 6, 2015, 7:57 pm

    Best ever use of spray paint! ! You crack me up lady! ! You have put a smile of the faces of your city/county employee! ! Excellent

  • Lynda Shoup May 6, 2015, 8:28 pm

    Thanks so much for posting this video. It made me smile from ear to ear. It looks like you had a lot of fun with those trash cans. They are a beautiful sight to behold.

    I’m starting to think of what items I can jazz up.

  • Jane Christensen May 6, 2015, 9:17 pm

    Love it, love it, love it. It’s like you are spreading colour love all over!!!!! Thanks for the idea and the smiles.

  • Stephanie May 7, 2015, 5:29 pm

    Those cans ROCK!

  • Miss Iowa May 7, 2015, 7:50 pm

    I am laughing, thinking what my neighbors would say if I gave our garbage can “the treatment.” Unfortunately, our garbage tote is issued by the city. They might frown upon me painting it. lol

  • Ana Maria May 7, 2015, 8:35 pm

    What a great idea! You have so tempted me to do the same!!
    Thanks!

  • Vicki Romaine May 9, 2015, 9:53 pm

    So proud of your daughter! Mine would have sent me to a “home for the–” if I had painted a trash can. They are just not into it! Your daughter is talented and the enthusiasm shows in her face.

    Btw I may see you at Stampsway. I won’t know until right before. Hope the Paintimg with Stamps won’t fill up.

    • Carolyn Dube May 10, 2015, 10:04 am

      Fingers crossed we get to play together and be sure to have your hubby stop in and say hi too! He was such fun last year!

  • Nancy Pietras May 10, 2015, 5:17 pm

    Loved this idea. Can not wait to do my cans and watch the garbage guys reaction!!!

  • LynneP May 17, 2015, 5:51 pm

    LOVE LOVE LOVE these cans. Such FUN!!!!

  • Cheryl K. Johnson May 18, 2015, 6:42 pm

    You are such a “kick ‘n the pants,” Carolyn! I love your trash can, and I like the idea of using a spray paint that wears off over time, for mine belong to Waste Management, and if I move one of these days, it will have to go back to looking that boring- just like everyone else’s greenish-gray ones. Now, if I ever see one all gussied up, I’ll know, they watch your videos and most likely have a subscription. You go, Gurl!

  • Lona November 25, 2017, 9:01 am

    I love this idea!! As soon as the weather is right here in Indiana I’m painting mine! Who knows maybe it will catch on!

  • Carol Baxter April 3, 2018, 6:54 pm

    OMG. The perfect practical joke to play on my hubby!