I love a good upcycle. It’s satisfying in so many ways; upcycling is inexpensive, it’s eco-friendly, and you use your imagination to envision something in a different way.
And tin cans are such a multi-purpose item. I thought it was fitting that they be repurposed into tin can crafts: DIY luminaries for Earth Day.
Patio season is just around the corner. What better way to dress up your outdoor space than with these incredibly easy and inexpensive luminaries?
Supplies needed to make your own tin can crafts:
- An assortment of empty tin cans, clean and dried
- Acrylic Craft Paint (I used turquoise, pink, purple, and blue)
- Mod Podge Outdoor
- Crop-A-Dile Punches in 1/16th and 1/4 inch widths
- 18 Gauge Silver Wire
- Flat Nosed Pliers
- Wire Cutters
I had a lot of fun playing with paints on these tin can crafts. I tried an ombre look, and some solid colours. I found that I needed at least two coats of paint to cover the tins. But I didn’t get TOO fussy, knowing that they were going to be outdoor lighting. I like things to be a little bit imperfect when they’re outdoor decor.
In order to preserve the paint, I coated every tin with Mod Podge Outdoor. I love this stuff! It’s so handy for quickly water-proofing a surface – especially if you can’t break out the spray paint sealants.
Once the Mod Podge has dried, you need to break out these babies.
These are my new favourite craft gadgets. They are Crop-A-Dile power punches and they are wonderful. They will punch through paper, fabric, leather, and metal – and they do it like it’s no big thing. They transformed these tins into luminaries in mere minutes.
The 1/4″ inch punch makes a nice fat little polka dot. It’s a great size for letting a lot of light out of the tin can crafts.
The 1/16th inch punch makes the smaller holes, as seen on the luminary to the left hand side. Both punches are easy to work with on the tin can crafts. They quickly swiss-cheese the can into a gorgeous light show.
And if you’d like to make these luminaries a light in the air, you can add a wire handle to them. Using a length of metal craft wire, create a handle by slipping each end through holes on the sides of the can. Use your flat nosed pliers to wrap the wire around itself for a clean look.
These hanging lanterns can be placed in trees or carried around. How cute would these be as a camping craft for the kidlets? Pop in a battery operated tea-light, and you’ve got a safe and beautiful “glamping” project!
Don’t let those tin cans sit unloved in the recycling bin. Turn them into tin can crafts patio decor! And when you get your own set of Crop-A-Diles, tell me about it. We could start a fan club together!
More Project Ideas
DIY Paper Butterfly Tree for Earth Day
How to Turn a Clock into a Retro DIY Purse
Recycled Cup & Saucer Bird Feeder
Recycled Egg Carton Craft Flower Box
Felt Earth Day DIY Bookmark
Repurposed Foreign Coin DIY Charm Bracelet
Earth Day Craft: Upcycled Hanging Vases
Toilet Paper Roll Crafts: Recycled Monster Treat Holders
Earth Day Upcycle: How to Turn Anything Into A Lamp
Just in Time For Earth Day: 15 Recycled Crafts to Try
Tara is the creator, writer, and flurry of chaos behind her blog, Suburble. Her blog focuses on making a home (emphasis on “making!”), but not forgetting to have a laugh in the process. Her partners-in-crime, her two little girls, are often beside her when it’s time to get creative. A mug of tea, good friends, and a project (or three) are all this girl needs. Join the gang at Suburble and see what we’re up to!
What did you use for the light in the cans?
Battery operated tea lights!
Where do you get the hand tool for the holes from ?do you put any thing in the bottom of the cans ?
So creative! I was wondering… could you could use spray paint instead of acrylic paint? (I already have some spray paint in my favorite color).
Thank you 🙂
Hi Izzy, yes, you will just get a different look with spray paint.
Okay. Thank you so much! 🙂
I love this idea, and have the cans all painted, but in searching for the Crop a Diles, I see the reach is only 2″ in. How did you get the holes from bottom to top of the can, or did you cut off the top of the cans? And if you did, what did you use to do that?
Hi Dave, It looks like Tara may have cut here cans down a little. You can carefully do this with a pair of tin snips. Sand the sharp edge and you could even apply some clear glue around the cut edge to protect yourself. Here is a link to a tutorial about cutting tin cans: http://www.ehow.com/how_5541374_cut-tin-cans.html.
Tin cans are so versatile!!! I love what you made here! I’m asking bloggers to share their tin can projects this month, and I would love for you to stop by and share these!! And other great new projects 🙂
Hi Lindi, You are welcome to share a link to our post on Tin Can Luminaries.
Such an cute idea! Thanks for sharing at Fridays Unfolded! Featuring you this week 🙂
Tara, I love this!
I’m starting to colllect my cans, to create my Fall luminaries. I already picked my colors: Plum, Black, Burnt Orange, Cranberry red, Mustard Yellow, and Brown.
Thanks for sharing!
Blessings!
These are wonderful! I am featuring them tonight at Treasure Box Tuesday- thank you for linking up with us! 🙂
his looks so amazing! I can’t wait to try it. Pinned and tweeted! Thanks for being a part of our party. I hope to see you, tonight at 7 pm. Lou Lou Girls
I have access to so many of these cans and should totally do this! Too cute! Thank you for linking up with #SmallVictoriesSundayLinkup 6/21/15
These are TOO cute! I love them and I can get quite some Tin Cans around here to make some! Thanks for the awesome inspiration!
XOXO
These are so cute and I love that they seem so easy to make and inexpensive! Thanks so much for linking up with Share The Wealth Sunday!
xoxo
Lisa
Great way to reuse tin cans. They turned out really great! Perfect for those evening summer socials.
These are precious! Thanks for the idea.
By the way, I would love to have you post on my new blog hop—the Weekend Blog Hop at My Flagstaff Home (www.myflagstaffhome.com). It begins on Thursday evenings and lasts through the weekend, if you’re interested.
Jennifer
They had some star decorated ones that looked very much like this at Target. Way better/cheaper to DIY!
super cute ideas! I need to make these for my balcony 🙂
WOW! I need one of those power punches! I have so many cans like this laying around; what a great idea!
Love this idea…. great way to recycle cans and put them to a practical and beautiful use!
Thanks for sharing, and great to connect with you through Share the Wealth Party!
Best!
Thanks for the idea. I love this and will be making some! I would just like to add, I’ll be putting something (not sure what, yet – a strip of glue?) around the top cut edge of the can for protection from the sharp edge – especially around children!
Tara-
How did you get the ombre look? Did you use a little white paint mixed with water over the solid colors? I love these! And I bought the Crop-A-Diles yesterday, so I’m set. I was so excited to start using them that I made a batch of chili for dinner last night, just so I could have the empty cans for luminaries! hee hee
Okay, you talked me into it! I bought the Crop-a-dile punches!! 🙂 Love this idea. SO simple but still so cute!
As soon as I finished reading your post I had to go raid the recycle bag for couple of soup cans, perfect size for a luminaria. I don’t have cropodiles but can get hubs to drill some holes for me in them using different sized drill bits. Hmmm what colors shall I use?. Love idea of doing ombre colors. Think I’ll hang them from our front porch railings. Will have to watch for more cans I can use.
Love your luminarias, great colors and cheerful addition to a porch or hang on a tree and recycle also.
I’m so glad that you saved those tin cans from the recycling bin! I, too, am starting a little hoard of cans now – I can imagine how fabulous a whole collection of these would be – perhaps lining porch stairs, or along a fence rail?
I love funky lighting! So glad you do too, JaneEllen!