One of my favourite kids’ crafts makes use of something you probably already have in your recycling bin: tin cans and fabric scraps. This simple recycled tin can craft turns an ordinary food can into a useful container—and gives kids plenty of room to get creative.
We’ve used tuna cans for this craft, but you can use different sizes of cans depending on what you want to make. I still use some of the decorated cans we made years ago to hold USB cords at the computer, our family rosaries, and odds and ends that don’t seem to have a home anywhere else.
That’s one of the things I like about useful kids’ crafts: you’re not just making something that gets displayed for a few days and then ends up in a closet. Your child can make something that actually has a purpose.
A Recycled Tin Can Craft for Kids
This is also a great way to reuse materials that might otherwise be thrown away. Instead of buying a new pencil holder or small storage container, you can turn an empty food can into something colourful and useful.
Kids can choose their own fabric, ribbons and other decorations, so every tin can can look completely different. You could coordinate the colours with a child’s bedroom or craft room, or simply let them use whatever scraps you have on hand.
Just be sure an adult handles the can itself and checks the edges carefully. Depending on the type of can opener you use, the metal edge may be sharp.
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Supplies Needed
You don’t need many supplies for this easy recycled craft:
- an empty tin can
- fabric scraps
- ribbons or other embellishments
- glue
You can use whatever craft supplies you already have at home. This is a great scrap fabric craft for kids because you don’t need a large piece of fabric. Small leftover pieces from other sewing or craft projects work perfectly. If you have a grandparent or friend who sews, ask them to save a few scraps of fabric for you. Otherwise, many fabric stores and even dollar stores have “fat squares” or other fabric ends available for purchase for crafting.
Cost: $5 or less, depending on what you already have at home
Difficulty: Intermediate; suitable for kids ages 5+
What Can You Use a Decorated Tin Can For?
One of the fun things about this craft is coming up with different ways to use the finished container. The size of your can will help determine what works best.
A small tuna can might be useful for holding little items such as:
- coins
- hair accessories
- craft supplies
- small toys
- USB cords
- rosaries
A larger tin can could become a:
- pencil holder
- desk organizer
- paintbrush holder
- kitchen utensil container
- flower pot or planter
- holder for markers and crayons
You could even make several decorated cans and use them together to organize a child’s desk or craft supplies.
A Useful Homemade Gift
Decorated tin cans also make inexpensive homemade gifts. Kids could make one for a friend, teacher, grandparent or other relative and fill it with something small.
For example, a decorated tin can could become a teacher appreciation gift filled with pencils or pens. A larger one could hold flowers for Mother’s Day, or a child could decorate one as a small Father’s Day gift.
Because the container is made from metal, it’s also less likely to break than some other homemade gifts. That’s especially handy when you’re giving something made by younger children!
More Ideas for Decorating Tin Cans
You don’t have to stick with fabric and ribbon, either. Once you’ve tried the basic version, let your kids experiment with different materials and designs.
They could use:
- different colours and patterns of fabric
- buttons
- yarn
- washi tape
- stickers
- paper
- felt
- lace
- other leftover craft supplies
This can be a fun opportunity to talk about recycling and reusing materials, too. Instead of looking at an empty food can as something that belongs in the recycling bin, kids can start thinking about other ways an everyday object might be useful.
And that’s really the best part of this craft: there isn’t one “right” way to decorate a tin can. Let your kids be creative and see what they come up with.
Get the Full Tin Can Craft Tutorial
For the full instructions and more pictures, pop over to my original tutorial at Untrained Housewife.
If you make a decorated tin can—or any of the other crafts in this series—I’d love to see it! Tag me on Instagram at @koalamomblog. Have fun, reuse what you have, and let your kids be creative!
More Useful Kids’ Crafts
This tin can craft is part of my 31 Days of Useful Kids’ Crafts series, featuring simple crafts that kids can make and actually use afterward.
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