Tin can crafts – one idea you may love!

Recycling tins is exciting because it’s free craft materials!

And we all love free craft stuff don’t we!

And it’s a great challenge to use recycled stuff as the focus of a craft project.

So this is just one idea for tin can crafting.

Technically, tin cans aren’t free because we pay for the food packaging.

However, anything that would normally get thrown away, I class as being free.

Metal recycling in crafts is one of my favourite things at the moment.

So I produced a video to show you one tin can crafts idea I had .

Click here to see the tutorial on YouTube.

Tin can crafts – metal recycling or upcycling?

First of all, I’m not sure if what I do with food cans is strictly metal recycling.

Metal recycling, is generally about taking tins to a recycling point to be collected and melted down.

Apparently, there is no limit on the number of times steel or aluminium can be recycled.

It can take as little as six weeks for a recycled can to be back on the supermarket shelf.

Metal recycling saves the earths resources and cuts down on Co2 emmissions. If you are very eco minded, you can read some interesting facts about metal recycling here.

So I’m kind of thinking what I am doing is upcycling.

I’m turning a tuna can into a candle holder without any melting down processes being involved.

That has to be good… right?

Is your metal recycling (or upcycling!) project steel or aluminium?

If you want to know what material you are using, try the magnet test. The tuna can I used in this project stuck to the magnet so I’m guessing it’s steel.

But the tin can I used was not drawn to the magnet which probably means it’s aluminium.

Either way, I saved two tins from the recycling process and made a fun candle holder to use.

What made this project fun for me was adding the bead and brad detail.

And to do that, I used my very useful I.8mm punch pliers (see below).

People are always asking me where they can get this brilliant little tool.

If you can’t source one locally, I have a Amazon storefronts where you will find some of the key items I use, such as this tool.

Note: All items I post are available at time of writing, however, this may change over time.

You can find the tool and many other craft products and books by visiting https://www.amazon.com/shop/rainbowlane

UK readers will find my my store here – https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/rainbowlane

Here is a direct link to the page with the punch tool for UK readers.

You can read my Amazon Affiliate Statement here.

If you like this project – please do watch the video and have a go!

You can experiment with different ideas once you have seen what I have done.

My tutorials are designed to get your creative juices flowing so that you can come up with your own ideas.

Metal upcycling is fun, so have a go and see what functional crafty things you can make with food tins.

If you enjoyed this post, you may love the one linked below.

Embossed tin pendants. Happy crafting!