Do-It-Yourself: Recycle Cans Into Art Supply Storage

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by Crystal on January 20, 2011

Andrea shares how to turn cans into storage containers for art supplies.

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{ 9 comments }

Laura January 20, 2011 at 1:20 pm

This idea is so cute, I already had recycled cans like this, but never thought of painting them. I will do this with my 3.5 year old son who is getting more and more into drawing and coloring.

Jess January 20, 2011 at 2:33 pm

anyone have any great ideas for how to store the broken bits of crayon that are taking over our craft area? Or better yet anyone have any ideas of what to do with them?

Casey January 20, 2011 at 2:55 pm

@Jess= We like to take crayon bits and melt them together to make new swirled crayons

Rae January 20, 2011 at 3:02 pm

You can chop them up using an old blender or food processor (or think of some other way to get them small) and bake them in cookie cutters to make new multicolor crayons. Or you can shave them to make thin shavings to use for a craft. You cut 2 pieces of wax paper (we made a butterfly in mommy and me) and let the kids sprinkle the shavings on the shape in any pattern they want. Then put a towel over top and iron on low until the shavings are melted. Cut a border for it using construction paper and glue it around the edges on both sides. It is great to hang from the ceiling or in a window because the light shines through.

Andrea January 20, 2011 at 3:21 pm

Jess, I have a post on my blog that uses crayon bits to make big crayons if you want the step by step:

http://lelandfamilyadventures.blogspot.com/2010/02/crayon-hearts.html

HTH,
Andrea

Bethany January 20, 2011 at 3:59 pm

We’ve always used cans like this, but I’ve never thought to paint them. Kinda fun!

Leighann January 20, 2011 at 4:05 pm

This is a great idea, thank you!

Priscilla January 20, 2011 at 9:31 pm

one year, we painted them white…taped/held snowflake cut-outs on, while we painted/sponged on blue….removed the snowflakes so, we had white snowflakes & blue background…a nice holiday pencil/pen holder.

Hannah @ Heart of a Working Mom January 20, 2011 at 10:28 pm

My mom used to do this but instead of painting them she used decorative Contact paper. She also used them for “instruments” for us. She took cans that had lids and filled them with dry beans, secured the lids, and covered the cans with Contact paper. We used them like maracas and when we were very small a cassette tape (or our own boisterous voices!) and those shakers provided us with plenty of entertainment.

My mom also used this idea in her kitchen. When I was growing up we lived in Africa and bought Nido or Belle Hollandaise powdered milk, imported from Europe, because of the danger of TB in the local fresh milk. Most people there use powdered milk anyway. The powder came in big tins with lids, so my mom used empty ones as kitchen canisters for sugar and other items. Again she covered these in Contact paper to match her kitchen.

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