Transform Your Home with Tin Can DIY Projects

Are you ready to roll your sleeves and dive into creative crafting? Let's shake things up this season and turn those ordinary tin cans into extraordinary organizational marvels! As a professional organizer passionate about DIY, I'm thrilled to share some inspiring ideas to help you revamp your space while reducing waste and unleashing your inner artist.

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What can be held in these empty tins?
Before Beginning Tips
Project 1: HOW TO CHANGE A TIN CAN INTO A MARKER BIN
Project 2: SPRINGTIME TIN CAN RECYCLING IDEA
Project 3: SPRINGTIME YARN SOUP CAN UPCYCLING CRAFT PROJECT
Project 4: SPRINGTIME ROPE SOUP CAN UPCYCLING CRAFT PROJECT
Project 5: HOW TO CHANGE A PLAIN SOUP CAN INTO A GORGEOUS DIY PENCIL HOLDER
DIY Project 6: SOUP CAN (Tin Can) TO DIY MAKEUP BRUSH HOLDER
FIVE CHRISTMAS THEME (Seasonal Crafts) DIY PROJECTS
HOW TO UPCYCLE SOUP CAN INTO CUTE GNOME WITH STORAGE
HOW TO TURN A SOUP CAN INTO A CUTE CHRISTMAS PEN HOLDER
Closing

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Say goodbye to clutter and hello to "chic" organization! Old tin cans are your secret weapon for crafting stylish storage containers that not only tidy up your living space but also add a touch of personality to every corner. The possibilities are endless, from sleek pencil holders for your desk to adorable kitchen organizers for your utensils (Affiliate Link) and dry goods. Get creative with paint, fabric, or decorative paper to match your home decor and express your unique style.

What can be held in these empty tins?

These unique containers come in different sizes and can store small items. Below is a list of the small everyday items you may use these tin cans for.

Office supplies: store things like pens, pencils, markers, scissors, etc.
Craft Supplies: store things like paintbrushes (Affiliate Link), crayons, markers, beads, buttons, and ribbons (Affiliate Link).
Kitchen utensils (Affiliate Link): if you have a large tin can - you can store spatulas, wooden spoons, and other cooking utensils (Affiliate Link).
Garage (Affiliate Link) Tools (Affiliate Link): You can also store screwdrivers (Affiliate Link), pliers, and wrenches in these soup cans.
Makeup Brushes: In your bathroom, you can store makeup brushes, mascara, eyeliner, etc... in them to keep your morning routine (Affiliate Link) organized.
Garden Tools (Affiliate Link): Add things to larger tin cans like trowels, pruners, and plant markers.
Toys: Small toys like action figures, building blocks, and toy cars can be kept in tin cans. If you want to
Jewelry (Affiliate Link): You can store bracelets, necklaces, and other jewelry (Affiliate Link) items in soup cans.

Basically, anything that you or your family need to keep together.

Before Beginning Tips

There are some things you need to know about these DIY projects.

Empty tin cans must be thoroughly cleaned and dried before doing any DIY tin can projects.
You will need a can opener and discard the top of the can, of course.
Each of these tin can (soup can) projects is easy to do.
Almost all projects use Mod Podge (Affiliate Link), a hot glue gun (Affiliate Link), glue sticks, or self-adhesive fabrics.
Each post below includes a full tutorial on how to make each fun project.
Some upcycled tin projects below are holiday (Christmas) themed but can be swapped out for any holiday. For example, my Christmas Tree felt can be replaced with a felt with a fall, spring, or summer theme.
A piece of heavy emery cloth—80 by GatorGrit or 3M—is perfect for smoothing out any sharp edges you may have.
Most of these projects involve a 15 oz can.

Project 1: HOW TO CHANGE A TIN CAN INTO A MARKER BIN

The first DIY Project uses a vinyl backsplash sheet, which I had remaining from my accent-table DIY project. The white ribbon with cotton balls is so handy that I used it for several of my projects to finish the top and bottom edges. Click above to see the tutorial.

How to Change a Tin Can into a marker bin square image - scissors and marker inside tin can

Project 2: SPRINGTIME TIN CAN RECYCLING IDEA

The next tin can project uses two sheets of flowered felt, hot glue, and a hot glue gun (Affiliate Link). The lace has a flat edge, so it can fold easily over the top of the can. Click above to visit the tutorial for this tin can project.

Finished tin can with Silk flowers springtime project

Project 3: SPRINGTIME YARN SOUP CAN UPCYCLING CRAFT PROJECT

This tin can (soup can) project uses fuzzy yarn and a hot glue gun (Affiliate Link). I created it because my daughter had so much yarn from her last crochet project.

Springtime Yarn Soup Can Upcycling Craft Project square without title

Project 4: SPRINGTIME ROPE SOUP CAN UPCYCLING CRAFT PROJECT

The fourth fun craft uses .23 in / 6 mm wide cotton rope and can easily be found online through Amazon, Michael's, or Joann's Fabric.

Springtime Rope Soup Can Upcycling Craft Project - Square image with no title

Project 5: HOW TO CHANGE A PLAIN SOUP CAN INTO A GORGEOUS DIY PENCIL HOLDER

The next tin can DIY recycling bin is a great one to store in a student's study zone. It uses FolkArt by Plaid Patina 2951 Multi-Surface Acrylic Paint, Mod Podge Matte finish, Natural Jute Twine thin, a Hot Glue gun, and a Hot Glue stick (Affiliate Link).

How to change a Plain Can Into a Gorgeous DIY Pencil Holder finished project

DIY Project 6: SOUP CAN (Tin Can) TO DIY MAKEUP BRUSH HOLDER

The next tin can project is great for a bathroom to use for stand-up makeup brushes and other things like cotton swabs. This tutorial uses tools like a hot glue gun (Affiliate Link), quilt cotton fabric, and scrapbook paper.

Soup Can to Makeup Brush Holder - square image

FIVE CHRISTMAS THEME (Seasonal Crafts) DIY PROJECTS

Now, that's not all. I also have Christmas-theme upcycling tin can projects. Changing the fabrics to different holiday themes is pretty easy for these projects. Feel free to check them out below.

HOW TO UPCYCLE SOUP CAN INTO CUTE GNOME WITH STORAGE

This project involves using three different-sized tin cans, from coffee tin cans to chili pepper cans.

How to Upcycle soup can into gnome with storage - square image

HOW TO MAKE A DIY CHRISTMAS TREE FELT CAN HOLDER

This DIY tin can project has a different type of cotton ball ribbon I found at Marshall's. It's super cute and the felt was especially easy to work with.

DIY CHRISTMAS LIGHTS CAN HOLDER - UPCYCLE A CAN

The next Transform Your Home with Tin Can DIY Projects idea I wanted to share with you is my felt project. Like the one above, I used a different cotton ribbon and felt fabric.

DIY Christmas Lights Can Holder - square image

HOW TO TURN A SOUP CAN INTO A CUTE CHRISTMAS PEN HOLDER

And lastly, the below project was especially fun to make. I found that using a Decorative Holiday crew sock (Affiliate) that I had left over from another easy project worked well with these tin cans.

Closing

So, what are you waiting for? Grab those tin cans, gather your crafting supplies, and make this summer one to remember and bring new life to old tin cans! You'll be amazed at what you can accomplish with a little creativity and a lot of enthusiasm. It's a fun way to show your kids that home organization can be fun! I hope these tin can DIY projects help you stay organized. Happy crafting!