It seems such a waste to put tin cans in the recycling bin. I remember when I was a child we used to decorate them, play with them in the sandpit or use them as phones. I have found a wonderful collection of images that will inspire you to create something wonderful with your next soup, spaghetti and formula cans. These are also some great school holiday project ideas for the kids!
SILVERWARE TIN CAN CADDY – These tin cans are so nicely jazzed up that I feel they are a fantastic addition to the table! A simple 5-minute task for a lovely table decoration or an easy way to transport silverware for meal times.
Learn how to make this here
TIN CAN WINDCHIMES – These windchimes would be a perfect craft for the kids to make these school holidays and are a creative use for tin cans that you may not have thought of.
Find the tutorial here
TIN CAN PLANTERS – Ooh I really like this one, these copper tin can planters are so lovely and would be the perfect compliment to your outdoor area – or even the kitchen! I love the labels, you can find similar ones in my shop.
DIY TIN CAN CANISTERS– These are as simple as adding some wrapping paper to the outside of the tin can and making a lid to fit. They are so lovely and a great way to add some colour to your kitchen!
Learn how to make these here
ROOM DECOR – Spray paint some recycled cans to coordinate with the room to create an inexpensive storage solution. These could be used for anthing, from stationary to makeup brushes!
TIN CAN OWLS – aren’t these adorable… These tin can owls would make a great craft project for your older kids, using just wool, felt, googly eyes and milk lids!
Find a tutorial here
MAKESHIFT MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS – These tin can shakers are so quick to make and will entertain your little one for hours while also helping their motor skills and developing their interest and understanding of music and rhythm!
FORMULA TIN PLANTERS – for those Mums who go through so many tins of formula, here is a great way to re-use them! Make some formula tin planters for your flowers and add some wire so you can hang them up.
Image credit – Choose To Thrive
TIN CAN BAG HOLDER– This is such a great way to store any plastic bags you may have! You could use a large formula tin with the lid already fitting to make this project easier.
Image Via House of Grace
FABRIC WRAPPED TIN CAN CANDLES – How gorgeous are these? Using tin cans for your candles would make a great gift or decoration for your office.
TIN CAN BOWLING– I really love this idea! You can even get your little ones involved in painting the tin cans, and then they get to stack them and knock them all over. Tin can bowling would also be a great backyard party game for adults.
Image via A Girl and A Glue Gun
UPCYCLED FORMULA TINS – A fantastic (and practical!) addition to your laundry, these upcycled formula tins are perfect for holding your pegs, washing power, anything you can think of!
ROPE PENCIL HOLDERS – A lovely, simple addition to your desk, these rope pencil holders would even be fantastic for pens, paint brushes, erasers, scissors… the possibilities are endless!
Learn how to make these here
What do you do with your cans?
This post was originally published on 10 September 2011 and has been updated.
14 comments
Wow LOVE IT. Going to try some of these ideas for sure. Great way to be organised and to recycle.
Great Ideas!
We use old formula tins for storing things in the shed (screws, nails, odds and sodds)…
Also they are great for making money tins out of… cut a hole in the lid and let the kids decorate!
This is GREAT!!
I kept formula tins from my twins (we went through a lot) and covered them in fabricand edged them with ribbon for storage in my sewing studio. They came up so well and everyone comments on them.
Thank you! I have a heap of milo tins and a few illy tins that are too lovely to throw away.
I use all my old formula tins for everything from containers for pasta, rice, sugar, dog biscuits (you name it food wise it gets put in a tin)right through to drums for the kids, pencil tins, and if you get a drill and put a hole at bottom on either side and put string through and they instantly become stilts. Little tins such as milo tins etc make great shakers when they have rice in them and for the grown ups to make for the kids to look at but not touch, punch holes all round the tin, place a candle inside and hey presto you have an awesome tin that shoots light through the holes onto the wall like some galactic sky.
I love this idea! I’m just wondering how the cans are connected to the board in the fourth picture…
Cheeky Monkey has a formula tin for his toys (he’s only 6 months) so he can put them in and take them out again. The can and the lid also make great toys in and of themselves!
I’ve been meaning to paint some cans. These all look great. I’m also saving Milo tins.
These are great ideas. My son made some fantastic lanterns by drilling holes in the tins, painting them with auto paint & making wire handles.You simply pop a tealight candle inside. They look great hanging in the garden. I have been collecting tins ever since & now I have some great ideas of what to do with them. Thank you.
You are just magical and help keep me and my home business all organised this will come in handy!!!
I have heard that some people use them to bake small Christmas cakes in.
?simply wow
So many things you can do with them hey that you may have never thought of! 🙂