Asked on May 12, 2015

Coffee tins

Elena gagliardi
by Elena gagliardi
I have quite a few coffee tins, what can I use them for?
  9 answers
  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on May 12, 2015
    I use them for buttons and other craft items. They are great for smaller items!
  • Linda Fraser Linda Fraser on May 13, 2015
    I have them attached by the bottoms to boards and hung on a wall in a spare room. They are filled with yarn for my crocheting. I walk in and see quickly all my colors without having to dig to find what I need. You could use them for other types of storage too. I also cut a piece of sticky sided felt then took it and places around the edge so if their were any rough edges it covered them. You could also paint them and use them in a child's room to be used for small toys etc. In a bathroom to hold rolled up clean washrags.
  • Lisa Thompson Eisler Lisa Thompson Eisler on May 13, 2015
    I've started covering them in decorative paper or fabric to contain little objects my daughter collects. I also saw a cute idea of covering with paper and using shapes to make faces for the kids. I was also thinking of cutting a hole in the top and keeping plastic bags or tissues in them.
  • LeJeanne Wolters LeJeanne Wolters on May 13, 2015
    Turn into bird houses. Turn upside down with lid on bottom. First make hole on each side to attach a wire for a hanger, then cut out round bird hole, make small hole with a punch for twig perch. Easy clean out, just remove lid...then reapply. My husband uses them for storage in the garage. He uses them for nails, screws, bolts etc. He tapes one of the items on the front of the can or puts a label for larger items. He has rows & rows of tin & plastic containers on multiple shelves
  • Nancy B Nancy B on May 13, 2015
    I use to minimize clean up when painting. I throw them away at the end of the day. Also use for paint brush clean up. I have herbs growing in my kitchen window in tin cans as well.
  • OhSally OhSally on May 13, 2015
    You could make a tin can man for your garden. Here's a link: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf43267298.tip.html. Package gifts in them. Cover the cans with some pretty paper, cut a circle of matching/coordinating paper to glue onto the can lid (so the recipient can't see what's inside). If you don't have the lids any more, you could "pouff" tissue paper and stick it in the top of the can with a bit sticking up out of the opening. Wrap tissue paper or use Easter grass ($1 at the Dollar store in many colors) around your gift to cushion it. You could make a cute gift tag or card using left-over paper scraps. If you want to be really thrifty, cover the can with colorful funny papers from your Sunday Newspaper (especially cute for a child's gift) and cushion the gift with newspaper. They also work great as tins for giving cookies at the holidays. Decoupage pretty Christmas papers around the cans, starch some extra fabric to make a pretty bow for the top. How about filling some with water and freezing it. Then you can easily pound nails through the can without squishing it. Make the holes in the shape of a star or heart or whatever you want. Let the water thaw, dry the can and add a candle to make a luminary. Stack 3 or 4 on top of each other. Use Duct or Gorilla tape to hold them together. Cover with heavy paper (wallpaper?) and use as an umbrella holder. Put some dollar store marbles in the bottom to weigh your umbrella holder down (or glue a plate or a circle of wood to the bottom) so it doesn't tip over. Paint one with chalk paint (or paint of your choice). Put a couple holes at the top of the can and run wire through it to make a hanger. (Be sure to smooth down any sharp edges where the nail went through.) Hang it by your washing machine, and when you find things left in pockets on laundry day, drop them in your bucket. This could be cute with chalk paint and a label that says "stuff" or something similar. Drill a 1 to 2 inch hole in the bottom center. Drill two small holes near the top. Run wire through the two small holes to make a hanger. Plant a tomato plant through the hole in the bottom of the can (use a coffee filter cut to fit around the plant to stop soil from falling out.) Plant herb seeds (Basil is nice) on the top. Hang in a sunny spot and enjoy muching on your own home-grown fresh tomatoes and herbs this summer. Again, decorate the can by painting it, decoupage, or leave it au natural! (Of course, you would want to plant smaller tomato varieties like cherry tomatoes...I don't see this being successful with big Beefstake tomatoes. (I've done this with children's plastic beach buckets from the Dollar Store for years and it's worked wonderfully.) Hope this helps!
  • Trudy Trudy on May 14, 2015
    I use them to organize my hardware type stuff, be sure to label! Then I keep them in a behind the door rack on the door to the basement. Much faster than a trip to the garage.
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on May 14, 2015
    Terrific ideas given.
  • Marge Marge on May 15, 2015
    You could spray paint them, attach them together with string or screws, and use for storage when attached to a wall. You could line them up for a game of ball tossing at a kids' birthday party. Containers are great!