Add style and fun to your indoor and outdoor patio space by upcycling simple tin cans into a colorfully painted DIY utensil holder.

Colorfully Painted Tin Can Utensil Holders
Creating home decor using materials from around the house is a great way to keep busy and stay on budget. We painted a set of tin cans in bright, bold colors to hold our utensils for our Summer BBQ’s on our outdoor patio. We transfer the utensil holders from the kitchen to the backyard on a tray along with the condiments so it’s not only pretty to look at but practical too.

There are so many creative uses for tin cans! Next time you use up a can of food or coffee, consider any one of these fun DIY upcycling projects:
- Upcycled tin can storage containers
- Painted candy tin pumpkin decor
- Upcycled tin can winter centerpiece
- 50 upcycled tin can crafts
Materials Need to Make Colorful Utensil Holders:
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- Crafter’s Acrylics in
- 3 Tin Cans
- Paint brush
- Painter’s tape, ½” to ¾” thickness
- Spray paint
- Twine (optional)
- Decoart Americana Decoupage Sealer in matte (optional)

A Few Tips To Get You Started
- Protect your work surface from paint using a sheet of parchment paper.
- Wash and dry each can thoroughly with soap and water before painting.
- Be sure to file the edges of the tin can using a metal filer to eliminate any rough or sharp edges.
- Apply a thin coat of spray paint to the surface of the tin cans prior to painting with Crafters Acrylics to help paint adhere better.
- Allow paint to dry fully before adding another coat of paint or changing colors.
How to Make a DIY Utensil Holder:
Apply a thin coat of the white spray paint to the base of the tin cans. This will help make the acrylic paint stick to the tin cans. Next, allow the spray paint to dry fully before proceeding with the next step.

Using a paintbrush, paint the majority of the middle section in Crafter’s Acrylics white.
Once dry, apply painter’s tape to each of the tin cans in a varying stripe pattern (as shown).

Paint one of the taped off sections in Crater’s Acrylics Grasshopper Green. Repeat as needed for more coverage.
Peel off the painter’s tape.

Add painter’s tape to the tin cans for the next striped color. Leave ¼” spacing below the green area for a thin white stripe.
Paint the taped off sections in Crafter’s Acrylics Tutti Fruitti. Repeat as needed for more coverage.

Peel off the painter’s tape.

Add painter’s tape to the tin cans for the next striped color.

Paint the taped off sections in Crafter’s Acrylics Turquoise. Repeat as needed for more coverage.

Peel off the painter’s tape. Use a fine tip paint brush to touch up any rough edges or peeled off paint from the tape.

Tie a piece of twine around each of the painted tin cans. Style with kitchen utensils and enjoy.

This originally appeared on DecoArt’s Project Gallery.
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Upcycled DIY Utensil Holders
Materials
- Crafter’s Acrylics in White, Grasshopper Green, Tutti Fruitti, Turquoise
- 3 Tin Cans
- Paint brush
- Painter’s tape ½” to ¾” thickness
- Spray paint white
- Twine optional
- Decoart Americana Decoupage Sealer in matte optional
Instructions
- Apply a thin coat of the white spray paint to the base of the tin cans.
- Using a paintbrush, paint the majority of the middle section in Crafter’s Acrylics white.
- Once dry, apply painter’s tape to each of the tin cans in a varying stripe pattern.
- Paint one of the taped off sections in Crater’s Acrylics Grasshopper Green. Peel off the painter’s tape.
- Add painter’s tape to the tin cans for the next striped color. Leave ¼” spacing below the green area for a thin white stripe.
- Paint the taped off sections in Crafter’s Acrylics Tutti Fruitti. Peel off the painter’s tape.
- Add painter’s tape to the tin cans for the next striped color.
- Paint the taped off sections in Crafter’s Acrylics Turquoise. Peel off the painter's tape.
- Tie a piece of twine around each of the painted tin cans.
- Style with kitchen utensils and enjoy!