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50 Best Upcycled Tin Can Crafts

There are so many pretty and practical uses for upcycling tin cans. From home decor, planters, lanters, organizers and more, there are so many great way to repurpose those empty tins! After looking at these creative recycled tin can crafts, you’ll never throw away another tin can!

Collage of images as examples of tin can crafts including vases, plant markers and more.

Even I was amazed at just how many great ideas and unique craft projects there are to make using tin cans! And think beyond that can of beans: coffee tins, olive oil cans, soup and sauce tins are just some items you can repurpose for sustainable crafting!

Whether you’re looking to make home decor, add organization to your home or to make holiday decorations, these inspiring tin can crafts are a great way to get you making! Simply scroll down to explore them all, or jump to your favorite types of tin can crafts from here:

  1. Home decor ideas (vases, )
  2. Lanterns and luminaries
  3. Organizers
  4. Planters and garden decor
  5. Wind chimes
  6. Holiday and seasonal decor
  7. Kids crafts with tin cans
empty tin cans collected for making tin can crafts

Join our crafting community to find more nature-inspired DIYs and upcycled craft ideas. It feels good to repurpose, upcycle and create with nature!

The ideas below include tin cans of all sizes, from small to larger coffee tins. The best tin cans to use are those without sharp edges. Use a can opener that cuts from the side and leaves a smooth edge. Otherwise carefully sand the sharp parts of the cans from the recycling bin.

Be sure to remove any outer labels and thoroughly clean the inside of the empty cans with warm, soapy water to remove any grease and debris.

Ok, now that we’ve saved our tins from the recycle bin, let’s get crafing with these fun project ideas! Simply click on the images to take you to the full tutorial.

50 Creative Crafts from Upcycled Empty Tin Cans

1. Tin Can Crafts for Home Decor

Who knew tin cans could be so pretty?! Seeing plain old tin cans transformed in creative ways into beautiful decorative accessories for the home is my kind of makeover! With a little paint or scrapbook paper, you can creative a cute vase, candle holder or planter.

Smashed Can Decor Pockets
The smashed can craft was extremely popular earlier this year. With a little pressure, you can flatten the can to make a cute little pocket. When filled with faux florals, and decorated with a little bit of paint, you can create beautiful shabby chic tin cans. Or decoupage on a pretty napkin with some Mod Podge for a lovely rustic look.
Check out this project
DIY Decorative Tin Can Vases
These DIY Decorative Tin Can Vases not only make pretty decor, they’re also incredibly practical, easy to make and budget-friendly!
Check out this project
Decorative Clothespin Tin Can Planter or Organizer
Create this clothespin tin can organizer or planter with an old coffee can! A perfect addition to your desk or kitchen counter for storage!
Check out this project
Fun and Unique DIY Oriental Vase Flower Pots
Create some fun faux blue and white Ming style vases with these upcycled tin can DIY flower pots. A cool addition to any home or garden.
Check out this project
Rustic Craft Stick Tin Can Organizer – Video Tutorial
This adorable rustic craft stick tin can organizer is a perfect dollar store craft for kids to make! Only 3 supplies needed and the result is adorable!
Check out this project
Decorated Tin Can Vase for Spring Flowers
In this simple tutorial you'll learn how to recycled a tomato sauce tin can into a pretty vase for spring with some scrap fabric!
Check out this project

2. Pretty Tin Can Lanterns and Luminaries

DIY Star Wars Day tin can lanterns
If you have Star Wars fans at home, these cute tin can lanterns to help you celebrate Star Wars Day on May the 4th.
Check out this project
Tuna Can Tealight Holders
For this clever craft you'll learn how to make a romantic luminary with tin cans and tea lights.
Check out this project
Gorgeous DIY Tin Can Lanterns
How to make simple lanterns from repurposed tin cans. Follow these step-by-step instructions and video and see how easy it is to make these beautiful lanterns for summer.
Check out this project

3. Organization from Tin Can Crafts

Not only are they pretty but tin cans are so useful! All you need are some paints and basic craft supplies to start. With so many practical purposes such as a utensil holder, craft caddy and holder for school supplies, you’ll have upcycled tin can storage containers all around the house.

Upcycled DIY Utensil Holders with Tin Cans
Upcycle tin cans into colorful DIY utensil holders to hold those spoons, forks and knives. Great for the kitchen or your outdoor patio.
Check out this project
upcycled home organizing
Upcycled Tin Can Craft Storage with Cricut
Using supplies from around the house to create modern upcycled tin can storage.
Check out this project
craft room organization ideas on a budget
DIY Football Utensil Holder | Drugstore Divas
Grab a soup can (or any other tin can) and upcycle it into this cute DIY Football Utensil Holder. It’s perfect for game day.
Check out this project
Make A Stylish DIY Craft and Utensil Caddy
Make some stylish storage with this DIY utensil caddy. Easy to follow upcycling tutorial, using tin cans, denim and wood.
Check out this project
DIY Galaxy Painted Recycled Pen Holder
Learn how to do a galaxy painting technique to transform a recycled can into a beautiful desk organizer.
Check out this project
Creative Repurposed Tin Can Ladybug Organizer
Check out this great upcycled tin can ladybug organizer craft! A fun way to repurpose a tin can and create a cute organizer for your desk!
Check out this project
Homemade Headband Holder
After wrapping your can in colorful yarn, use it as an organizer to corale all those headbands.
Check out this project
Cute Pencil Holders From Empty Tin Cans
Use some coordinating fabrics to create cute holders for pencils and other school supplies. This project makes the perfect craft idea for Back to School Week!
Check out this project

4. Tin Can Garden and Planter Ideas

I love, love, love these creative DIY garden and planters using repurposed tin cans. I might just have to make them all! Wouldn’t the herb planters make great gifts for a special occasion such as a house warming?

Herb planters with Mod Podge Image Transfer
Upcycle those old food cans into pretty herb planters with a simple image transfer technique.
Check out this project
Clever Garden Markers from Tin Can Lids
You can even use the can lids to make cute plant markers with the help of some rubber stamps and outdoor paint!
Check out this project
Easy To Make Colourful Tin Can Planters
These colourful rainbow tin can planters will brighten up your garden or patio. It's a great upcycle of old tin cans and left over paints.
Check out this project
DIY Fabric Covered Flower Containers to Match Porch Pillows
Cover your little planters to match your porch pillows in this fun repurposing project.
Check out this project
Adorable and Trendy Fringed Planter
With a little bit of yarn an baby formula can, make this adorable little planter for your small plants such as succulents!
Check out this project
Patriotic Repurposed Can Birdfeeder
What a great idea! Use up those empty can and feed the birds with this cute birdfeeder idea!
Check out this project
Vintage Tin Cactus and Succulent Planters
You don't have to paint those cans for this craft! Let that pretty vintage design shine with this simple planter idea. Have you seen anything like this before?
Check out this project
Burlap and Lace Succulent Planters
Instead of painting the tins, wrap them in burlap and lace for a pretty farmhouse style vibe!
Check out this project

5. Colorful Tin Can Wind Chimes

Having made a few different wind chimes over the years, I have yet to make one out of tin cans! I can already hear the jangling sounds in the wind. You’ll simply need cans in different sizes and some paints for this easy project.

DIY Rainbow Wind Chime from Recycled Cans
This recycled rainbow wind chime is perfect for making with kids for St. Patrick’s Day or just because!
Check out this project
Patriotic Recycled Tin Can Wind Chimes
This patriotic design of wind chime will look so beautiful hanging in your yard all through the summer.
Check out this project
Decoupaged Birds Tin Can Wind Chime
Upcycle some old tin cans with paint and pretty songbirds decoupage to make a beautiful tin can wind chime for your garden.
Check out this project

6. Holiday and Seasonal Tin Can Decorations

There are simple tin can crafts for every holiday of the year. The toughest part is deciding which craft to make:)

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7. Tin Can Kids Crafts

Crafting isn’t just for adults! Check out these fun craft ideas using tin cans for the kids to make at home. Just gather some googly eyes, construction paper and different colors of paints.

Fall Wind Chime Crafts For Kids
Let’s use these easy fall crafts to make a home-made fall themed wind chime!
Check out this project
Homemade Pencil Holder To Organize Tools For School!
Get the kids to decorate their own tin cans to make handy homemade pencil holders. They can use construction paper, buttons and other simple embellishments.
Check out this project

So remember to save those humble tin cans! And let us know, which one of these DIY tin can crafts will you make?

Looking for More Creative Upcycling Projects?

Check out these fun DIY crafts using suuplies you already have around the house!

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Collage of various tin can crafts including bases, wind chimes, utensil holders and herb garden markers.

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Kassie

Thursday 12th of January 2023

So many ideas I never thought of.

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