tin cans | The Ginger Penny Pincher

The holidays are upon us, and you know that with the holidays, usually comes delicious food… Likely, a lot of this food will be homemade. If so, you will undoubtedly incur a lot of food packaging waste. Some will have to go straight to the garbage (re-using Styrofoam meat trays is not cute), but a lot of it can be recycled… or better yet, REPURPOSED! (click on the link — you know you want to).

What turned me on to this whole idea in the first place was what I saw as I was walking down the streets o’ Brooklyn on trash day this past week. Lots of bags of trash, lots of recycling, lots of… “what is that??”

Source: 123RF.com

And yeah, I know… Recycling is good. But… UPcycling is fun!!! And think of it this way: Free materials! (because crafting supplies really can cost some serious money.)

So, I thought — and realized, after looking in my own recycling bin — that since a big majority of the food related recyclables are cans (think: cans of crushed tomatoes, pumpkin pie filling, beans, cranberry sauce, etc.) I needed to scrounge up some crafty-whacha-ma-call-its that require cans (you know, so I could sleep better at night).

Well… what could be a better place to look than Pinterest?

(I often turn to Pinterest in times like this…)

So, for your viewing pleasure, and hopefully crafting pleasure, here are my Pinterest finds — and some good ol’ fashioned Google search finds — that use cans.

(To redirect yourself to the original location of these ideas, click on the image. And if you really like these ideas, repin them yourself! Share the love!)

ENJOY!

Tin can table numbers. These would also be great with a monogram. Source: 100 Layer Cake I love how the inside is painted a different color and it shows through the numbers.

Tiered vase. Everything looks better when spray painted. Source: Sweet Paul Magazine

Cans wrapped in textured wallpaper. Source: Martha Stewart

Spray paint and florals. Yes, please. Source: Luna and Chloe Weddings

Tin cans for organization. Pretty... Looks like they just added lace, old sheet music or book pages, and some other stuff. Source: Shabby Chic Inspired

This looks like it belongs in my mother's crafty room. Source: Cynthia Shaffer

Tin can dog. I don't necessarily want one of these for myself, but it'd be great in a kid's room. Source: Martha Stewart

Tin can luminary. I smell an outdoor wedding... Source: Viva Terra

Tin can picture frame -- she just took the outside and unrolled it. Super creative! This would also be great if spray painted. Source: Gingerbread Snowflakes

Tin can votive. Pretty. Hammer and nails are magic :) Source: Charlotte Upfield Cermics

Herbs! These would make good teacher's gifts or wedding favors. Source: You are My Fave

This may seem a bit obvious, but still lovely. Source: Shibawi.com

Tin can mugs with bent forks for handles. Except for the pastel part, these would be perfectly at home on a camping trip (but I wouldn't know). Source: Recyclart.org