Recycled Crafts Using Tin Cans
Many food products are available in tin cans that come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Instead of tossing these cans into the trash or recycling them at the curb, use them in a craft projects that are creative and functional. With the number of recycling projects available that use tin cans, it is time to start saving all the sizes and shapes you can find.
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Dough Cutters
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Any baker will appreciate this handy craft project. Use cans in various widths to create a set of dough cutters. Use narrow cans from tomato paste to cut cookie dough, bread for tea sandwiches, appetizer biscuits or ravioli. Larger tomato sauce cans are the right size for buns and tarts. Cut doughnuts, dinner rolls or mini burger buns with vegetable cans. To make dough cutters, clean the cans well, remove the bottoms, sand the rough edges and wash. Many of the sizes will fit inside each other, making storage easy.
Storage Containers
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There are numerous ways to use tin cans for storage. Create craft or desk supply storage by spray painting various sizes of cans and decorating them with ribbons, buttons and other trims. Alternatively, cover the cans with scrapbooking or recycled papers before adding decorative trim. Select cans that will accommodate your supplies. Use tuna cans to hold paper clips or safety pins, vegetable cans for pencils, crayons and art brushes and larger cans for scissors and rulers. Place them on a kitchen shelf to hold all the hand tools that otherwise clutter a drawer and are difficult to locate.
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Luminaries
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Create unique outdoor lighting with luminaries. Choose several different sizes, or several cans of one size, to make a set of luminaries. Leave the cans their original aluminum color or spray with an outdoor paint. Create original designs on paper cut to fit each can. Fill the can with water and freeze. Simple designs like stars, flowers, hearts and borders are easy to punch. Once frozen, place your pattern around the can. Use a hammer and a nail to punch holes in the outline of your pattern. The frozen water will keep the can from denting or collapsing during this process. Small cans can hold tea-lights and votives, and larger cans can hold pillar candles.
Planters
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By punching a few drainage holes in the bottoms of cans and providing a drainage tray, tin cans be become decorative planters. Sand the top edge of the can to remove any rough areas. Paint decorations on the cans with acrylic paints, or spray paint designs using stencils. For an indoor planter remove paper labels and decoupage decorative paper onto the can. Before adding potting soil, place a layer of pebbles in the bottom. Use the planter for seedlings or small plants.
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References
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