10 Ways to Use Tin Cans

We always forget what a nice, industrial look tin cans have when they're stripped of their labels. Before tossing them into the recycling bin, think about repurposing a few of them for a project...

FIRST ROW

1 Laure used tin cans to make planters for her succulents.
2 Susy and Dale keep a set of painted coffee cans for storage on their shelf.
3 Beth made outdoor lanterns from coffee cans and white paint.
4 Jack Bresnahan designed a set of stylish and useful lids to fit over used tin cans.
5 Martha Stewart uses sets of white painted tin cans as vases.

SECOND ROW

6 HGTV shows us how to use pie-filling cans to hold kitchen tools.
7 Also from HGTV: a soup can pencil organizer.
8 Country Living shows you how to make candles in tin cans.
9 Design*Sponge's Derek and Lauren explain how to make a tin can pincushion.
10 Better Homes & Gardens has a how-to for making a tiered tin can organizer.

Photos: Susy Hammermeister, Beth Zeigler, Laure Joliet, Dezeen, Martha Stewart, HGTV, HGTV, Keith Scott Morton / Country Living, Derek & Lauren / Design*Sponge, Better Homes & Garden

Comments (5)

Love the candle idea, and the tiered can organizer....I absolutely love the planter thats painted like a tree stump but I would line the inside with maybe a plastic bag or something because it will eventually start to rust with watering and then it's by by plants.

posted by boxerchick on September 29th 2009 at 9:13pm
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the range of styles here is interesting... very few actually look industrial!

posted by yiyehtov on September 30th 2009 at 3:27am
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Great ideas here, including a whole new intrepretation of the *tea light* candle! And I am SO going to be making one of those tin can tiered organizers...

posted by mirandabee on September 30th 2009 at 9:47am
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I did the tin cans as planters thing and had mixed results.

They were OK if I didn't punch drainage holes in the bottom (I added a layer of gravel though) and just potted succulents. Even after several months the insides never rusted. Maybe they have a special coating on the inside so the food doesn't damage the steel?

But when I did poke holes and even coated them in 3 layers of shellac, but planted "normal" houseplants and watered them through, they rusted. Badly :(

posted by erinpeace on September 30th 2009 at 9:53am
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Forgot I was going to post another idea:

Find small tins (like for tomato paste) that have attractive colors/graphics printed right onto the tin. Open tin using one of those openers that do not leave a jagged sharp edge. After consuming contents, remove the other end w/the same type of opener, so that you have a cylinder. Use these for napkin rings, especially when serving up an Italian dinner!

posted by mirandabee on September 30th 2009 at 9:57am
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