Tinned food is widely purchased around the world (what would we do without beans?!), but what do we do with cans once we're done with the product that's inside? More than likely, we throw it away or recycle it. Recycling is a great way to help the environment but why not keep the tin and reuse it as a household item? Here's some great ideas on how to upcycle your tin cans.
1. Flower Pots
What's the best way to dress up a room? Flowers! Adding flowers to your room or on a table as a centerpiece is a great way to bring nature into your home. For stunning flowerpots that will really make a statement, spray paint used tin cans in the colour of your choice.
2. Mugs
This is a great way to create something rustic and useful with a faux-vintage feel. Remove any sharp edges from the tin and remove labels. Spray the tins in your preferred colours, including the inside, and then seal the paint. You can attach ordinary handles if you wish but to go one step further, bend silverware into the shape of a handle and glue to the tin can.
3. Stationary Holder
Make sure any sharp edges have been smoothed out and either spray the can with paint or, like in the image, attach eye-catching wallpaper or wrapping paper to the cans. You can either stand the cans up-right or stack them like in the image above. If you'd like to stack the cans then glue them together first so they don't roll around.
4. Bird Feeder
This is a great way to bring wildlife into your garden. Smooth off any rough edges and spray the can. Secure string to the inside of the tin can with one end of the string at the top and the other end at the bottom. If your tin came with a lid then cut the lid in half and place it back on to the top of the can. If it didn't come with a lid then not to worry, you can use cardboard; the half lid is just to stop the seeds from falling out.
5. Money Box
Smooth off any sharp edges and let your children decorate the tin. If your tin has a lid then place the lid on the tin and slit a hole big enough to fit money through. If your tin doesn't have a lid then tightly attach some coloured cardboard to the top and slit a hole in in the middle. Your children now have somewhere to save their pocket money.
6. Stilts
If you have tin cans that are big enough then this is a great way to entertain the kids, and you can get them involved in making the stilts! Spray paint the cans a fun colour and secure a long, thick string to the tin. Make sure the string has been secured to the end of the can where the feet will be placed.
7. Plant Pots
This is a great, natural way to grow plants and herbs in your home. Remove the label from the tin cans and smooth off any sharp edges. Add soil and seeds to the inside of the can and create a label for the plant using some string and card. Place the cans in the window and watch the plants grow!
8. Candles
Sometimes we end up throwing away candle wax because we can no longer reach the bottom to burn it; well we have a solution. Collect all the left over wax from the used candles and put them into a tin can. Add the can to boiling water and let the candle wax melt. Once the candle wax has melted, carefully remove the tin from the water and place it on a safe surface. Find some card, slit a small hole in the middle, thread the wick through it and add it to the melted wax (this is so the wick stays in the center whilst the candle wax turns solid). Now you have a cheap-to-make home-made candle!
9. Hairbrush Holder
This is a great way to store items and it wont leave a dent in your pocket. Remove the bottom of the tin so there is a hole either end and decorate. Attach the decorated cans to your desired area and slip in your hairbrushes. Voila!
10. Cookie Cutters
These cookie cutters are really easy to make and really useful too! Take your tin can and cut the top and bottom off so you're left with a cylinder with hole at either end. Then flatten the can and cut an inch-wide strip going horizontally across the can. One you've done this you can mold your metal strip into your desired shape.
11. Heart-Shaped Cakes
Keeping with the baking theme, and seeing as it's coming up to Valentines Day it's only right that we include something heart-shaped! This is a really easy way to create a heart shaped cake for your loved one. Simply cut off the top and bottom of the can, bend it so it resembles an oval shape, and then pick one of the points and bend it inwards.
12. Grill
This is a great hack for when you fancy a quick outdoor grill - and it can save you a ton of money! Carefully cut your tin can into lengthwise inch-wide strips; make sure you leave about 2 inches at the bottom so the tin can can hold its weight. Then bend the tin strips back slightly until it resembles a large bowl. Cover the metal strips with foil and create a well in the hollow of the tin. Fill the well with coal, add a grilling rack and you're good to go!