Repurpose Cans and Jars

by Cindy Cloches and Lavender

5 Materials

$10

15 Minutes

Easy

My name is Cindy, welcome, to Cloches & Lavender where I share easy crafts, recipes, and decorating ideas.

Let’s talk about ways to repurpose cans and jars easily. We all have these in our recycling bins so how about making these containers useful and pretty?

Let’s See What Technique I’m Using to Create an Upcycled Vase

Step 1: Using an Empty Caffe D’Vita Can for Flower Vases

Supplies Needed:

Annie Sloan chalk paint
printer paper and inkjet printer
Graphic Images - Graphics Fairy or Pinterest
Outdoor Mod Podge
Chip brush
sponge brush for Mod Podge – optional
clean cans or jars

I begin this easy craft idea by removing the label and giving the coffee can a cleaning.

caffe-d”vitta-can-cans-and-jars

repurpose-cans-ad-jars-can-cleaned

Now sand with a 220-grit sanding sponge. This roughs up the surface a bit to give the container tooth so the paint will stick well.

sanding-can-220-grit-sanding-spong

Paint the coffee tins with two coats of Annie Sloan Old White chalk paint or chalk paint of your choice.

painting-first-coat-repurpose-cans-and-jars

painting-finished

Note: If you use acrylic one coat of primer may be necessary.

Note: For painting on jars such as candle jars, I suggest chalk paint or glass paint.

Step 2: Find a Graphic of Your Choice to Add to the Project

Now decide on a graphic image of your choice to add to your easy recycled can craft.

Again, the link takes you to one of my favorite places and these vintage images are FREE! I also suggest signing up to follow this site because new graphics are added often.

Here I recommend cutting as close to the graphic as possible. I do this because I think it adds a cleaner look to your empty jar.

cutting-image-with-sharp-scissors

Next using an outdoor Mod Podge add it to the back and add it to the can smoothing the paper.

By the way, I have a trick using plastic wrap to remove wrinkles from paper during this process for your simple craft project. It works every time!

outdoor-mod-podge-protect-lable-from-water

adding-glue-to-paper

adding-image-to-can-ways-to-repurpose-jars-and-cans

adding-outdoor-mod-podge-protect-label-from-water

After the images dry add a coat of outdoor Mod Podge to the outside of the graphic on this fast craft project. Again, this is mentioned in my note above.