How to Make Things Out of Metal Tins & Boxes
When it comes to crafts, there are few craft supplies more versatile than metal tins and boxes. You can make hundreds of different things from these items, and enjoy hours of creative diversion. Of course, if you are working with old metal tins and boxes, you will need to keep some basic safety precautions in mind, but with care and imagination there is no limit to what you can build and do.
Things You'll Need
- Sandpaper
- White vinegar
- Abrasive sponge
- Paint pens
- Cloth
- Sewing machine
- Glue gun
- Paper towels
- Spray cleaner
- Leather gloves
- Cotton batting
Instructions
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Clean all of your metal tins and boxes. If they are dusty or dirty, then you can just wipe them down with paper towels and spray cleaner. On the other hand, if they have rust on them, then you will need to remove it by scrubbing them with white vinegar and an abrasive sponge before wiping them down.
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Sand down all rough edges. You do not want your craft pieces to hurt someone. Rough metal edges can cause serious cuts and scrapes that require tetanus shots. Use the sandpaper to smooth down the rough edges. Wear your leather gloves while you are doing this to protect your hands.
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Make a jewelry box. For this project, you need a metal box with a lid that either snaps on or hinges. By sewing together two pieces of cloth in the dimensions of the bottom of the box and stuffing them with a little bit of cotton batting, you can create a soft pillow for your treasured jewels. Once you have inserted the pillow in the metal box, you can decorate the outside of the box with your paint pens to make it a highly personal gift. As soon as the paint dries, you are ready to start storing your jewelry in style.
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Create a sculpture. Use multiple metal boxes to create an abstract sculpture or a realistic one. You might use different sizes to create a robot or other boxy image. You should glue the metal boxes together using liberal amounts of hot glue. Then, once the glue has set (about a minute at most), you can use your paint pens to add details to the sculpture. Once everything has dried, you can set the sculpture anywhere you like, although if you plan to place it outside, you will need to spray it with weatherproofing spray to prevent the paint from washing off and the metal from rusting.
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Assemble a set of pigeon holes. You can use metal tins and boxes of various sizes (with and without lids) to make a handy set of pigeonholes for a garage office or tool shed. Line up a row of metal tins and boxes that all fit together closely so that you have a sturdy bottom. You can glue them together using liberal amounts of glue from the hot glue gun. Once your base is complete, add more boxes and tins using more glue. You can line them up in neat rows or use different sizes to build different types of pigeon holes. Write the names of the things inside them on the lids of the boxes with lids and on the inside lip of the ones without lids using the paint pens. These are perfect for storing different types of screws, nuts and bolts or for keeping papers in order.
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Tips & Warnings
Be careful with the hot glue gun so that you do not get a severe burn.
