Upcycle Tin Cans and Old Jeans Into a Handy Caddy

3 Materials
$5
1 Hour
Easy

Repurpose some old tin cans, jeans and screwdriver into a useful stylish copper and denim caddy. It's really handy for craft supplies or as a stylish picnic organiser.


I've made cool denim planters (see here) out of tin cans before but this time I wanted a caddy.

What you need: 6 Tin Cans Hems of Old Jeans Old wooden-handled screwdriver Piece of pallet or other old wood Screws Spray paint

Firstly spray your tin cans. I sprayed mine inside different colours as I love colourful stuff. I sprayed the outside copper to give it a more stylish look.

Prepare your handle by driving your screwdriver into the middle of your piece of wood at the top.

Caddy Handle

You will attach the cans to the handle with your denim hem strips. Make sure you denim hems fit snuggly around your cans. You can use either eyelets or washers, when screwing the cans to the wooden handle using your denim straps.

Screw the straps to the wood

When all six cans are attached your caddy is ready.

My dining room doubles up as my craft room so I use the caddy to neatly store some of my arts and crafts tools whilst keeping them at hand. You could of course use it as a picnic or cutlery caddy. What would you use your for ?

Used as a picnic caddy


Full details and more photos are on the blog.


I love upcycling tin cans for various things in the home they are so easy to decorate. I've even squashed and decorated them to make a cool house number display (see here).


DIY home decor using repurposed tin cans

Check out more creative ways to reuse empty tin cans here.
 

Resources for this project:
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Claire at Pillarboxblue
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
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  3 questions
  • Linda Carter Linda Carter on Jan 16, 2016
    I would love to know more about your buffet in your dining room that I can just barely see in your tin can pallet tutorial. The colors are beautiful! Do you know the paint colors for your buffet? Thank you!
  • Lisa Manrique Lisa Manrique on Apr 06, 2016
    Can you actually lift the caddy with the screw driver handle simply pushed into the piece of wood?
  • Stephanie Stephanie on Dec 27, 2018

    Hi Claire, I realize this post is a couple years old, but I hope you get my message. Your caddy is so unique and I love that you painted the inside of the cans, so fun! I have a question about the lovely pineapple. Do you have a tutorial for it? Its simply gorgeous! Thanks so much and i hope you're enjoying the holidays!

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  • Michelle Michelle on Nov 11, 2019

    I think I am going to try this using my colorful foreign beer cans. I hated to punch holes for little planters. Or you could use this idea for contained herbal garden!

    • Claire at Pillarboxblue Claire at Pillarboxblue on Nov 11, 2019

      Thank you. Instead of punching holes in the tin cans use a cut up soda bottle and pop that inside the cans.

  • Dellria M. Dellria M. on Dec 09, 2019

    Great project I was thinking What could I do with some of the cans from my collection, I try to recycle everything. So thanks for your smart idea I will be doing this project.

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