Turn tin cans into candle holders you'll love.
Do you transfrom, improve or upcycle your junk? Most of us are in the habit of recycling nowadays but what about turning your waste into something spectacular before it hits the bin?
Making the most of what you’d normally throw away teaches children great messages about valuing what you have, being inventive and caring for the environment. With a little imagination you can transform all sorts of junk into creative projects.
We keep a well-stocked ‘making box’ full of egg cartons, toilet roll tubes and old wrapping paper ready to go whenever the kids need materials for some art project or junk modelling. What about creating with other materials though?
Transforming tin cans
Tin cans transform into customised candle holders in a few very simple steps, giving the children the chance to try out some real tools and make something pretty but with a practical purpose.
To make tin can candle holders
- After you’ve used the contents, wash out your tin can and fill it up with clean water. We use tin cans that have a ring pull lid. You can use a hammer to tap down the sharp rim that’s left inside the can.
- Pop the can in the freezer until the water has all turned to ice.
- Take the can out of the freezer and sit in on a tea towel, which will help to hold it steady and mop up any water if the ice melts a little.
- Create a design of holes in the can using a wide bradawl or screwdriver. Position the tool where you want to make a hole and give it a few taps with a hammer to punch a hole through the can. The frozen water inside helps to keep the can’s shape and gives resistance, making it easier and safer to punch the holes.
- You can make as many holes as you like and the more you make, the more the light of the candle will shine through. You could create a random scattering of holes, a repeating pattern or spell out a word.
- When you’ve finished, let the ice melt and pour it out of the can. Light a tea candle inside and the light will pour through the holes you’ve made showing off your design. You can make lots of them and use them as fairy lights all round your garden.
More upcycled projects to try
What I Made is a great site for interesting projects. I like the bird feeder made from a coke can and the drinks bottle lampshade.
One Inch World shows you how to turn the plastic mesh your fruit comes in into sweet little handbags.
And The Crafty Crow has a tutorial showing how to up-cycle a drinks bottle into an upside down hanging basket.
Photo: Cathy James
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4 Comments
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admin
15 July, 2011
We try to upcycle or recycle wherever we can, and I love the idea of these candle holders. We have all sorts of items in our garden filled with flowers, from welly boots to an old belfast sink. My daughter's school are great at teaching the kids to think before they throw away, and they are busy making a greenhouse out of 2 litre pop bottles!
A much better alternative to filling up landfill sites!
Leigh
Ready for Ten Team
mum
15 July, 2011
Leigh, the greenhouse sounds fantastic!
18 July, 2011
Cathy - your ideas never cease to amaze me! This is a fabulous idea - I love it and am SO going to do this!
mum
18 July, 2011
Thanks Kim N. I think they look so pretty in the garden - I've got some extras in the freezer now, ready to make some more!