Recycled Can Organizer
4 Materials
1 Hour
Easy
I've just finished 30 articles of clothes for my granddaughters Our Generation Dolls and had nothing to do! But I have cans! I don't use a lot of canned food, but when I do, I save the cans. Who am I kidding... I save everything!
So, since I have so many things that I use almost daily, I decided to make an organizer for said items! No idle hands here!
Gather materials
I decided to use 3 cans of different sizes. All I needed was the cans, some pretty napkins, twine and glue.
I don't use modge podge. I make my own, using equal amounts of Elmer's glue and water. I mix it in this handy dandy container that has a brush attached to the lid.
I found some cocktail napkins in my stash and thought they would work nicely.
The first thing I did was separate the napkins, keeping the top printed layer. These are 3 ply. I've found that ripping a small piece helps to separate them. I used 4 cocktail napkins for the three cans.
I used straight edges for the top and bottom rims and glued them on first. For the rest of it, I used torn pieces. I make a lot of cards, mixed media canvases, and other things using paper, and, in my opinion, torn edges look better than cut. Of course, to each their own, but that's my preference.
Torn napkins
Cover the can with bits and pieces, giving it a coat of (watered down) glue after it's done. Do the same with the other 2 cans.
When the glue was dry, I hit the top rim with a touch of white chalk paint and a dry brush. I used Deco Art Americana Decor. I use chalk paint because acrylic doesn't stick as well to the can.
Once the white paint dried (within seconds) I brushed a little bit of brown paint here and there on the rim, to give it a slight rusty appearance. I used acrylic for this part, which sticks fine to the chalk paint. I did this to all 3 cans.
I used hot glue to stabilize the cans, and finished it up by wrapping twine around the whole thing 3 times. ( I like things in triplicate!) I hot glued the twine here and there to keep it in place.
Then I loaded it up.
Seriously, I use this stuff daily, including the daily reminder! I made one before, but it was overflowing! So, I reckon I'm set now! Thanks for looking!
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