Not Your Typical Way To Upcycle Cans: This DIY Gives It A New Shape And Style
An empty soup can has near-endless potential. Once clean, it has lots of uses around the home. We've seen these big food tins get decoupaged, painted and bejeweled, or repurposed into nifty storage solutions. Some people have even turned empty soup cans into vertical gardens that are great for small yards. However, the end result doesn't have to stay cylindrical. By using things like burlap circles folded in half and glued to the can, you can transform its shape into something round and frilly. No one would be able to guess that the finished piece was once a tin can. For a textural take on this upcycling idea, crafty TikToker salt.fairy7 covered a can in circles of burlap edged with white cord. You can use the resulting vase-like vessel to hold utensils, display faux flowers, or house an indoor plant.
A 28-ounce can is the ideal canvas for this project, but a 16-ounce can will also work. Gather together a sheet of burlap, a spool of ¼-inch white SteadMax Natural Cotton Rope, a glue gun, a measuring tape, a permanent marker, scissors, a piece of cardboard, fine-grit sandpaper, and any decorative beads or trim you think would look good as a finishing touch. The details you add — if any — allow you to tailor this DIY to your taste. TikToker salt.fairy7 used large pearl beads and dainty white floral trim. A 1,200-piece set of Hudinsun Acrylic Pearl Beads in assorted sizes costs a little over $5. Wooden beads and some SynHHergyx Beige Crochet Cotton Trim would take your creation in a more boho direction. Swap out the burlap for a bold-colored felt or denim cut from some old jeans. As long as the fabric is thick and won't fray, you can use almost anything.
Preparing the can and edging the burlap circles
Once you've washed your can and removed the label, smooth any sharp edges with sandpaper to prevent injuries. TikToker salt.fairy7 painted their can white, most likely to hide the label. However, if you've already removed the label or you're using a thick, opaque fabric, you can skip this step. When covered in several layers of cloth — burlap or otherwise — the sides of the can won't be visible anyway.
@salt.fairy7 "Repurpose an Old Tin Can! Stylish and Practical Upcycling Idea"
Measure the can's height and circumference, and mark these dimensions on the burlap. Cut out the rectangle of fabric and glue it onto the can. Next, create a template for the folded cloth circles that decorate the can. On a piece of cardboard, draw a circle with a diameter that's 1 inch less than the can's height and cut it out. Lay the template on the cloth and trace around it five times. You can either line the edges of each circle with white cord and a glue gun now, or do it after you've cut them out. Either way, dab a little glue to the end of the cord pieces to prevent fraying.
You will need more circles than just five to cover the can's sides, but starting with five will help you gauge the final number. Depending on how tightly you fold them, you may need as many as 12 cloth circles to surround the can. Set any burlap off-cuts aside — you can use them in a crafty DIY that turns fabric scraps into cute and rustic sunflower decor.
Form and attach the burlap circles and decorate your vessel
Adhere two or three lengths of white cord to the top and bottom rims of the can using your glue gun. If too much burlap cloth or metal is visible at the top of the can, cover the top rim with more cord or decorative trim. Working with one burlap circle at a time, add a 1-inch or so line of glue to the edging. Fold the circle onto itself at one end, so the glue adheres to the other side, creating a petal-like shape. You can play around with the width of your burlap petals by simply gluing more of the circle onto itself — try doubling the amount of glue to start and see how well that works.
Glue the folded circles — or petals — vertically to the sides of the can, alternating them by folded end to open end as you work your way around the vessel. Once you've attached all of your original five circles, estimate how many more you'll need to cover the entire can and get making. As before, adhere the new folded circles to the can until it's entirely covered. At this stage, you could consider yourself done with this DIY. Fill the container with a faux or fresh bouquet of flowers — like these whimsical Smalldu Artificial White Daisy Flowers — and place it on a sideboard to add texture to your home decor. If you feel like this vase needs a little something extra, now is the time to decorate it with pearl or wooden beads and top the rim with a fanciful trim of your choice.