I wanted a planter that didn’t require watering and my dogs couldn’t wreck, so I made this Upcycled Chocolate Tin Handbag Planter with Secret Storage. It hangs like a handbag, looks chic with embossed faux leather and steampunk details, and hides a secret compartment inside. I used recycled materials wherever possible, artificial succulents for zero maintenance, and quick-drying UV resin so the whole project stays fast and fun.

This post is part of the IBC Blogger Challenge — this month’s theme is Funtabulous Planters. More about IBC at the end of this post.

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Upcycled Chocolate Tin Handbag Planter (With Secret Storage)

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Materials Needed

• Recycled chocolate tin (I used a Quality Street tin)
• Craft knife and tin snips/metal shears
• Pliers (for folding sharp edges)
• Cardboard sheets (to smooth the tin’s sides)
• Strong craft glue (I use “The Ultimate”)
• Faux leather sheets
• Embossing machine and embossing folders (brick, cobblestone, steampunk designs)
• Split conduit or flexible tubing (for rim edging)
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Silicone moulds (steampunk set; I love Stamperia)
• UV resin and UV lamp (or standard 2-part resin)
• Black gesso or black acrylic paint
• Copper wax paste
• Acrylics: emerald green and deep waters (blue)
• Old handbag straps and hardware (studs/screws)
• Artificial succulents
• Floral foam or recycled styrofoam packaging
• Fabric or decorative paper (to line the compartment)

Safety First

You’ll cut metal and smooth sharp edges, so wear gloves and eye protection. If you heat a butter knife to cut foam, work with care, ventilate well, and keep children and pets away.

Cut the Opening and Prep the Tin

Choose a tin with a shape you like. Mark a neat opening around the top lip so the planter reads like a handbag. Pierce a starter hole with a craft knife, then cut the opening with tin snips.

Fold any sharp edges inward with pliers. Dry-fit the lid and opening to make sure the “handbag” silhouette works.

Smooth and Shape for a Clean Wrap

Decorate the tin to suit your décor. If you want to duplicate mine, this is how I did it. I recently embossed aluminium soda cans for wall art and loved the effect, so I tried embossing faux leather to cover this planter. I first glued cardboard to both sides of the tin to smooth the surface.

Emboss the Faux Leather and Paper

Run faux leather through the embossing machine with a brick folder for the back panel. Use a cobblestone folder on thick brown paper for the sides. For the front panel, go full steampunk with gears and cogs. Test placements before glueing so the patterns flow nicely.

Wrap and Edge the Body

I embossed enough leather to cover the back in a brick design and glued it to the cardboard with the crafters’ pick, “The Ultimate” glue.

I embossed thick brown paper with a cobblestone design for the sides.

Anyone who follows my blog knows steampunk is my weakness. This time the aim was to steer clear, yet a few subtle touches still slipped in. The front faux leather features embossed steampunk motifs, and the edges are neatly finished with split conduit borrowed from my husband’s toolbox.

I cut it in half again and hot-glued it around the rim.

Cast and Add Steampunk Embellishments

Pour UV resin into steampunk silicone moulds (gears, gauges, plates). Cure under the UV lamp for fast results. Arrange pieces on the front and back like hardware on a handbag.

I used hot glue to attach the resin mould.

If any gaps remain, you can fill or paint over them. It looks like a mess now, but with mixed media assemblage, you have to trust the process.

Painting the planter

I painted everything black with gesso (black acrylic works too). To bring out the detail, I rubbed on copper wax paste with my fingertip, skimming the raised areas. If you don’t have copper wax paste, you likely already have the ingredients to make some at home. This post shows you how.

I wasn’t happy with the look yet, so I added a few more embellishments to the front and back. The beauty of mixed media assemblage is that you can keep building layers.

If you’re not happy, paint it black again and start fresh. My original plan was a copper-only finish, but it felt a bit flat, so I added colour. If you want more tips and tricks for adding embellishments to assemblage art, this post has it all.

To add colour, I used a small make-up sponge, dipped just the tip into paint, and dabbed colour randomly over the surface.

I used Art Alchemy Emerald Green and Deep Waters (blue).

Fit the Handbag Straps

Raid an old handbag for straps and hardware. Screw or stud the strap ends into the top, then secure the rest with hot glue. Soften the strap colour with a touch of copper wax so it blends with the body.

Create the Secret Storage Insert

Cut floral foam or recycled styrofoam to form a snug “plug” under the open top edge — just thick enough to anchor the faux succulents while leaving the tin hollow below.

Carefully heat a butter knife on the stove and slice the foam to shape; it cuts like butter.

You can paint the styrofoam black for a better cosmetic look.  Once the paint is dry, you glue the styrofoam inside the tin and put the planter back together. The rest of the gap will become the secret compartment.

Adding the succulents

I used fake succulents so I wouldn’t have to look after the planter. Arrange them by pushing the stems into the foam. Add a dot of hot glue if needed.

Lining the tin

Line the interior with fabric or decorative paper so the secret compartment looks more appealing.

Completed planter with secret storage

The finished piece looks like a handbag planter bursting with succulents — and it hides a discreet storage space for little keepsakes.

More planter project ideas for you

 These super-cute PVC pipe photo planters make a perfect gift.

Create a low-maintenance garden with round bicycle tyre planters you can reposition throughout the seasons to protect plants from heat, frost and wind.

More about IBC

If you follow my blog, you will know that I am part of the IBC (International Bloggers Club), a group of talented bloggers from around the world. We have members from Spain, South Africa, Australia, the United States, and Canada. Each month, we come together and create a project with a common theme.

If you missed last month’s “I can upcycle ” theme, here is the link to my Aluminium can wall hanging. The “Funtabulous planter” contributions from my fellow bloggers for this month’s challenge are listed below. Please feel free to jump over and give them some love.

A Crafty Mix|Oversized Teacup

Birdz of a feather |Basketball Planter

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