Open Your Mind to These 11 Cool Tin Can Projects
Take a dive into the recycling bin to come up with the supplies for a stylishly upcycled tin can project for your nest. The metal cans housing your chickpeas, tuna and crushed tomatoes are simply waiting to become the vessels for trendy succulent planters and votive holders, or the molds for homemade soap and mini cakes.
Before your soup cans and coffee containers can transform into handmade household beautifiers, give them a solid rinse in warm water to remove labels and glue. (Tip: a little cooking oil or Goo Gone will help remove stubborn glue spots.) If you’re going to be painting the can, scratch up its smooth surfaces with steel wool so it will hold the paint better. You’ll also want to rub down any sharp edges left from using a can opener with sandpaper or a steel file.
With your tin can looking like a blank canvas, you’re now ready to take a peek at the creative tutorials below. Spare your cans the curbside drop-off with one of the genius ideas linked below.
Tin Can Cake Stand
via Sweet Paul
Stack painted tin cans and plates to create this pedestal cake stand fit for birthday treats or your everyday fruit still life.
Coffee Can Wine Rack
via Brit + Co.
After spray painting both sides of several coffee cans, use craft adhesive to glue them together. Hold the arrangement in place with binder clips until set.
Painted Tin Can Desk Organizer
Pick your favorite color combo and put your recyclables to work! Tape off a design on the cans and either spray or use a foam brush to apply paint. Then hot glue the cans to a piece of scrap wood for a sturdy and cute place to store your desk’s odds and ends.
Gold Leaf Cactus Planter
Reuse a tea or candle tin to make luxe gold leaf planters. Once the primer and paint on the outside of the container is dry, apply gold leaf glue and gold leaf in random spots to achieve a worn vintage look. Tip: Drill a few holes in the bottom of the tin and line the inside with pebbles to create a healthy drainage system for your plant.
DIY Tin Can Soap on a Rope
via A Beautiful Mess
Melt together glycerine, soap base and your favorite essential oils, then pour into a tin can. Dangle the knotted end of a rope into the melted soap mixture and let sit overnight to set. To remove, place in boiling water util just warm, then pop out carefully.
Birthday Surprise in a Can
via Oh Happy Day
Empty out a can with a pull tab top by removing the bottom with a can opener. Clean the insides then fill with small favors. Tape the bottom back onto the can, then create a custom label to cover the tape. The lucky recipients can then use the pull tab tops to open their surprise.
Chocolate Soup Can Cakes
via Host the Toast
Bake a mini cake for each and every partygoer! Just grease the inside of clean tin cans, fill with cake batter, and slice into delicious layers.
Soup Can Citronella Candles
via Garden Therapy
Make your own bug-busting candles by melting down bits of old candles, adding citronella oil and pouring into clean tin cans. Wrap twine around the tops of the candles and group together in a vintage beverage container for style points!
Magnet Tin Can Planters
via Ruffled
Showcase a container garden by gluing magnets down the side of tin can planters. Group the herb planters on your fridge to keep them handy for cooking, or use the same idea at a summer party or wedding to display eco-friendly favors.
Punched Can Votives
via Camille Styles
Apply this punch method to make a heart votive for Valentine’s Day or to spell out the saying of your choice in a tin can votive centerpiece (like this one that says “Thanks”). Once you paint the design on the can, use a hammer and nail to punch out an outline. Tip: freeze a mixture of rice and water inside each can to maintain the metal’s shape while you punch.
Faux Wood Can Planters
Skip the paint and simply cover the outside of a can in double sided tape and heavy paper (you could also use patterned contact paper!) to create this set of succulent planters.
What Next?
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