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54 Empty Tin Can Crafts: Ingenious DIY Ideas for Home and Garden

Inside: Embrace eco-friendly crafting with tin can crafts. Our guide shows you ingenious ways to upcycle empty tin cans into stunning home and garden creations.

Those humble tin cans you’d normally toss into the recycling bin are about to become your new favourite crafting material!

Picture this: your kitchen is full of empty tin cans, and instead of throwing them away, you give them a glorious second life. The possibilities are endless, from chic planters and luminaries to quirky storage solutions and garden décor. The best part? It’s an incredibly sustainable way to craft!

In this guide, we’ll explore a plethora of tin can craft ideas that will surely tickle your creative fancy. Whether you’re an experienced crafter or just looking for a fun weekend project, there’s something here for everyone. It’s a great way to get the kids involved in crafting and teach them about recycling.

So, gather your tin cans, grab your crafting tools, and let’s get started on this eco-friendly crafting journey! Trust me, once you start, you’ll look at tin cans in a new light. Happy crafting!

Why Craft With Empty Tin Cans

Upcycling empty tin cans can be fun and rewarding for many reasons:

  1. Sustainability: Tin cans are part of everyday household waste. Recycling them into projects is a great way to reuse materials and reduce waste.
  2. Affordability: Tin cans are readily available and often free.
  3. Versatility: Use them for various craft projects, from simple storage solutions to more complex decorative items.
  4. Durability: They are sturdy and robust.
  5. Creativity: Crafting with tin cans allows for endless possibilities and encourages creativity and imagination.

What Can You Do With Tin Cans

Make fun and helpful home crafts by transforming tin cans! Here are a few examples.

  1. Lanterns and candle holders: Punch holes in the sides of a clean tin can, add a handle made of wire, and place a small candle inside for a pretty lantern.
  2. Tin can planters: Food cans have a protective coating that makes them waterproof and suitable for use as planters.
  3. Garden decor from wind chimes to bird feeders and plant labels.
  4. Organizers: Form art caddies to cutlery carriers and even wine racks.
  5. Vases: Decorate food cans to make upcycled vases for the table or mantle.

Before repurposing tin cans, wash them in hot soapy water to remove any labels and clean the inside.

Tin Can Crafts: An Eco-friendly Approach to Crafting with Style

Get crafty with tin cans! Our tin can crafts guide offers step-by-step tutorials to help you create amazing home decor and garden projects.

If you want more household waste ideas to craft with, check out my list of easy upcycling ideas. And cool upcycling ideas for the garden. You may also love these plastic bottle crafts.

Pin for later!

52 tin can crafts pin

Natasha Mairs - Serenity You

Monday 13th of March 2023

I love all these ideas. But my favourites are numbers 3, 21 and 3o.

Claire Armstrong

Tuesday 14th of March 2023

Thank you, I have No. 3 outside the front of my house! I agree on the candle lanterns, you could make one for each season. And I think I'll try to make one of those tin can birdfeeders.

Michelle

Saturday 11th of March 2023

I thought I'd seen just about every tin can upcycle imaginable, but there are a few ideas here I can't wait to try out.

Claire Armstrong

Saturday 11th of March 2023

Thank you, Michelle. I’m sure you can think of a few more, your so creative when it comes to repurposing junk.

Cara ~ Vintage Style Gal

Thursday 9th of March 2023

Oh my Claire! I bookmarked this one too, there are so many wonderful ideas here, I even went and dug out my cans out of the trash. I had been saving them, but today I through them in the trash bin. I was uninspired, but now? Oh, I have a million ideas running through my head! I cannot wait to get started, thank you for sharing your inspiration with Whimsy Home Wednesday once again!

Claire Armstrong

Friday 10th of March 2023

There are so many wonderful things you can make from empty tin cans and they come in many sizes, great for upcycling. Thank you 😊

Darlene

Wednesday 8th of March 2023

Do you have a blog I can follow with my email ?

Claire Armstrong

Wednesday 8th of March 2023

Yes of course you can I'll add you to my subscriber list.