Tin Can Crafts

Sorry for not posting this on Thursday like I promised. It's been a very busy last couple of days with helping my friend Brooke strip wallpaper at her new house, a trip to Nashville and going to my cousins baby shower today.

So what do you do with your tin cans? Do you throw them in the trash? Recycle? I found a couple of cute uses for them and I'm looking for more!


I made these adorable tin can candles and a pen/pencil holder. They are so cute and easy and reusable! You can see my first candle-making post here. The addiction has only grown since starting to make my own candles.
Hint: I have found that old crayons are great for coloring candles. Just choose your color, toss them in with your melting wax and stir well.
Update: goatmilker had mentioned that crayons should not be used because they clog up the wick and the candle doesn't burn as well. I did some reading and this does seem to be the case. I'm still going to use them for my experimental candles that I will be using here at home but if you make candles to sell you might want to use the dyes made just for candle-making.

I use one of those Pampered Chef can openers for opening my cans and leaving a smooth edge. Then I peeled the labels, washed the cans well and decided on the color paint I wanted to use for the trim on my can. I like the rusted look so I went with an orange-brown color but any color that matches your decor will work. I was wanting a little texture so I searched my kitchen for ideas. I thought of sand but I don't have sand in my kitchen, then I thought of SUGAR!


You can see the texture at the top and bottom of this tin can candle above. All you have to do is spray a layer of paint, sprinkle with sugar and spray a layer over the top. Let dry.


Add the wick. I hot glue mine in the bottom of the can. Fill with melted candle wax, add color and fragrance if you want to) and let harden. Once the candle has hardened, top it off with a little more melted wax if you need to to get a flat candle surface. Find a cute graphic. I use PCCrafter.com for almost all my crafting graphics.


Print on full label sticky paper, peel and apply (or you can Mod Podge to apply the graphic to your can). Rub down well. I spray mine with a couple layers of Krylon Crystal clear acrylic spray and let dry. Tie on a bow, string, raffia, etc. and enjoy your new primitive country tin can candle!

I have the "Welcome Friends" one on my desk holding my pens and pencils. What other crafts could I use tin cans for? I've been collecting them to the point that I can't open the door under my sink without them rolling out! I need more ideas! I think they would make cute planters for herbs in my kitchen window.....to be continued.....