I love my home, but I have always thought the front yard was pretty dull. We basically have all grass in the front yard, and a little planter area right next to the walkway. We have lived here for 10 years and in that time have never done anything with the little planter area. It has always had a pine tree and some scraggly bushes. So I thought “this is the year!!” and decided to add a little color to this front area of our home. Plus, I love the sound of fountains and I have wanted to add a fountain for a really long time. The problem with fountains is that they are really expensive.
UPDATE — GIVEAWAY CLOSED
The winner is: Stacie from Stacie’s Place.
Congratulations!!
Winner chosen via Random.org
So when I saw a great tutorial on The Hip House Girl — with a DIY fountain you can make with a pot, I wanted to give it a try! And it took a few revisions but I love the new look to our front yard!!
Recirculating Ceramic Pot Fountain
Plus – there’s a $100 Lowe’s Gift Card giveaway at the bottom of the post – make something for YOUR home this Summer!!
Here’s what you need:
- Ceramic pot.
- 5-gallon bucket.
- Aluminum L-brackets
- Screen material.
- Submersible pump, hose and if you want — an attachment for fountain spray.
- outdoor plug with GFCI
Here’s a printable sketch and description of what I did (click on the link for more information):
Here’s what you do:
- Dig a hole to bury a 5-gallon bucket in your yard.
- Cut aluminum L-brackets to fit over the bucket (these will carry the weight of your pot and water for the fountain).
- Use wire cutters to make a square of wire mesh material to fit over the pot with a hole in the middle for the pump hose to go through. I also covered the mesh with some smaller window screen material to keep debris from falling inside of the bucket.
- Put the pump on the bottom of the bucket. I rested the pump on a plastic tupperware container filled with rocks. This keeps the debris that is collected at the bottom of the pot from getting in the pump.
- Run the tubing up through the mesh and through the ceramic pot above and attach it to the Nozzle kit to the top. I used rocks to hold the tubing in place at the bottom of the pot. I also ran the tubing through a length of PVC pipe to keep it straight. I painted the PVC pipe black to match the tubing. More details on this in the printable sketch.
- I had to experiment to find the right kind of caulk to use for this project. You need silicone caulk that is made to withstand water. Apply the caulk and allow it to dry according to the directions before you get it wet.
- Then add water, add power and you are ready to go!!
Be sure to see The Hip House Girl for her tutorial. And, Lowe’s also has a great tutorial on how to make a fountain with a pot on their Creative ideas website. This is a quick, weekend project that can bring you so much satisfaction! It’s perfect for a backyard project too!
Thanks Lowe’s for the gift card to purchase the DIY supplies for this project! And you can sign up to get a FREE Lowe’s Creative Ideas Magazine:
xox
Love your blog! Here is my favorite project on Lowes website, http://www.lowescreativeideas.com/idea-library/projects/install-kitchen-cabinet-crown-moulding . And I’m sharing this post via Facebook!
The dwarf fruit trees are perfect for the size ‘yard’ I have, if you can ever call it that. Basically a strip of dirt under our downstairs window where I’m able to plant a few things.
I shared on my Google +
I tweeted about the giveaway @staciefacevlogs
I think I would make the colorful wooden outdoor mat.
What a nice fountain.
I have been wanting to make some Hypertufa Pots like shown
Love this idea, and love Lowe’s! If I get the gift card, I’m building one, too.
Shared on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/About.comBudgetDecorating
My favorite is the video tutorial on decorating with magnetic paint. I have a feeling I might go a little crazy in my house now making everything magnetic.
My sons would love the build-a-tent.
I love the building a garden arch. I am going to build one before fall. (Fingers Crossed)
I loved the how to build a tent. I need to make something like that for my little bambino. Thanks for the giveaway!
Loved the deck update ideas on Lowe’s website. I shared on facebook!
shared on facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=614020140
tweeted https://twitter.com/juliannerosenau/status/207287477378101249
I liked the build a tent my daughter would love that!
I love the ladder shelf.
As someone with a teeny balcony mostly taken up by a BBQ (I love grilling year-round, even in snow!), I checked out the Lowe’s indoor ideas, and I really like their “geranium stencils”. It hadn’t occurred to me to add some colour to the canvas boxes on my bookshelf like that!
Thanks for the tute! My husband wants to add a fountain to our flower bed and this is perfect. I visit the Lowe’s Creative Ideas site often. The inspiration is outstanding! My current fav idea is the Cinch bench. I’ve been jonesing for an outdoor bench for a while now. Thanks!
We love fountains! Checked out the do it yourself tents on the Lowe’s website. Pretty cool.
Mary M.
I love the landscaping ideas.
I love their weekend project ideas – like “Build a Child’s Kitchen Playset”
the build-a-tent project looks fun!
Wow, I had no idea Lowes had so many neat projects posted online! I looked only quickly but one project that caught my eye was the geranium-stencilled storage boxes. I love geraniums and this project looks so bright and cheerful — and easy!
I like the lawn orbs on the site.
Love this fountain idea! I’m headed to Lowes!
Pinned this!
Would love the chance to be able to make the tiki torch planter! Great ideas!
I learned how to make wired trellis towers. This will come in so handy with my “up and coming” garden. I can really use this gift card. We need a front door so bad, but can’t afford it. Thanks for the opportunity!!
We need fencing, and there is so much to choose from!
I shared on facebook!
I really love the ladder shelf. That is definitely a project that we want to try this summer! Great ideas.
I liked the How to use a Circular Saw.
The kids would have so much fun with the carwash!
I love the deck privacy screens but this weekend I plan to make a fountain.
I like the wire trellis tower.
I liked the video on how to install a ceiling fan, since that is our current memorial day weekend project.
Thanks for the opportunity to win! I like your fountain… and like everyone else, I like the hypertufa pots on the lowe’s website. Though I wish they had a video tutorial on how to wash and scrape a porch ceiling without covering yourself in toxic chemicals, i.e., TSP and bleach.
I tweeted https://twitter.com/reneacarlypike/status/205889421738901504
I love the vertical garden planter for the deck! Very cool!
I love the build it yourself tent…my boys would love it!
I shared with my fb
The car wash for kids is really neat! I bet my nieces would love it!
I pinned this on Pinterest!
I shared this on FaceBook.
I thought the deck-top pond was pretty cool on the Lowes site!
I shared on my Facebook.
I love the deck update with the trellis above it- so romantic!
I tweeted this: https://twitter.com/jengd1/status/205807674712014848
I’d like to make the kid’s carwash from PVC piping for my son.
I shared the giveaway on Twitter.
I love Lowe’s Creative Ideas! Just watched a video for how to change out a kitchen faucet. Much easier than I thought it would be.
I have been looking at ladder shelves for a while now and found them rather expensive. Now I know I can make my own thanks to Lowe’s creative ideas site!
I shared on FB!
Oh, I love Lowes creative ideas! I would make first the DIY Lemonade Stand! My kids would love it!!!
I like the metal yard orbs.
I posted on facebook.
Posted on twitter. https://twitter.com/MsJennieBobbins/status/205733103048724481
I just love the Stack-It-Up Table in the beginners section. So cute!
I shared on Facebook
I LOVE Lowe’s
The School desk is what I would like, I just had a little boy and he’ll need something soon enough!
I am soooo doing this this weekend! Sounds like you’ve covered all the bases on this DIY fountain. I posted this link on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, and G+.
I pinned this tutorial!
I LOVE the deck update on the Lowes site, I receive their Creative Ideas catalog and have been thinking how to implement it into my yard, this gift card would help!!
I love this tutorial!! Great idea, and so easy. Thanks for sharing. I like the build it yourself tent on the Lowes Creative Idea Site.
Also, I pinned it, and posted it on FB.
So that’s 3 entries?
I would love love LOVE a Lowe’s gift card to help get the yard ready for summer!!!
Love your project, thanks for the tute (and the giveaway)! I really like the “build a decktop pond”….I think that is a very doable project!
Love, love, love this!! Can’t wait to try!! Shared on facebook! Gotta try the hypertufa pots on Lowe’s website!! My poor hubby…
I like the trellis towers.
I tweeted. @CathMarissa on morning of 5/24
I love the Tiki Torch planter idea! I think I will be trying yours too!
My son would love the play houses and trees, we are going to make them for his birthday gift next month. I shared this on pinterest.
my kids would LOVE the diy tent! thanks for the giveaway!!
I love this, and it looks so easy.
I really like the hypertufa pots on the Lowes site and am going to give them a try! I shared on Facebook.
I am interested in upgrading my patio with pavers. Thanks for the giveaway!
Thank you for the chance to win this giveaway! I added the bright school desk to my TODO list for the summer. My son is starting preschool in the fall so he “needs” it right?
I checked out the creative ideas…just what the motivation I needed! My son has been begging for a “new room” and the kids room ideas gave me some simple ideas to get started on…maybe an art station will keep him from coloring with crayons on his wall!
Wow!! This looks like I could do this alone!! Yippee!! I loved loved loved the drop cloth tent! Looks like lots of fun for grandchildren. I shared on Facebook
I shared on facebook!
I think the Color Block wall art is so simple yet perfect for a blank wall in my house!!
I love the build it yourself tent. Too cute!
I really like the Wire Trellis Towers
I tweeted about the giveaway @ShawnaLeeG
I checked out the Lowe’s site. I like that they give garden tips for each region.
Tweeted to share https://twitter.com/StaceyRenee711/status/205413892736819200
I love the lawn orbes idea. They look cute, easy and inexpensive
Love it – I’ve been wanting a fountain like this for years!
I love the ladder shelf!
I shared on facebook too
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=391147944260087&id=71005186
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/jrwarfield/status/205378802384244736
I really like the leaning shelf tutorial, it would look great in a nursery
I really like the ladder shelf idea they have on their website! I LOVE what you did with your yard, the fountain adds so much!!! I’d love to put a fountain in our back yard!
tweeted https://twitter.com/thepryfamily2/status/205357867442769920
thepryfamily@gmail.com
my kids would enjoy the build-it-yourself tent
thepryfamily@gmail.com