10 Ways to Recycle Tin Cans into Beautiful Crafts for Spring

Learn how to recycle old tin cans into beautiful home decor for spring. This tutorial will show you step by step exactly how you can recycle tin cans into BEAUTIFUL planters and other storage containers for spring! So before you throw out the recycling bin make sure to read this post on turning tin cans into home decor for spring!

Today I am going to show you 10 ideas to turn tin cans into beautiful planters for spring! I had so much fun turning tin cans into Christmas decor that I could not wait to do it again! And since I CANNOT wait for SPRING this year it seemed like an excellent way to prepare!

Even though I have made A LOT of crafts with tin cans, (check out this post on recylcing tin cans for Christmas if you missed it) I am always so amazed at what clever creations you can make out of the recycling bin! So if you are ready for spring and ready for some recycled tin can craft INSPIRATION let’s get started!

Watch the full step by step video tutorial on recylcing 10 tin cans for spring planters:

How to turn a tin can into a planter for live plants:

If you are using any of these tin can crafts for live plants. Remember to put some holes into the bottom of your can. The easiest way I have found to do this is to take a hammer or a drill and just make holes. You can see the picture below where I made holes in the bottom of the can for the water to drain from the can. If you are not using these tin can planters for real live plants than no need to make holes. 🙂

1. Faux Corrugated Metal Tin Can Craft

Supplies Needed for this Faux Corrugated Metal Tin Can Craft

• Corrugated Craft paper
• 15 oz Tin Can
• Hot Glue and Glue Sticks
• Scissors
• Metal Colored Spray Paint
• Acrylic Paints that are metal colored

To make this very easy tin can craft use corrugated paper. Cut the paper down to the size of the can. Then simply hot glue the corrugated paper around your tin can.

Tip: If you are using this planter for real plants you will want to take a hammer and nails and drill several holes in the bottom of your can for drainage.

If you want the can to look like metal. Take your acrylic paints and mix up a silver metal color paint with black, white and gray paint. Then just paint over the paper. You can also leave the corrugated paper as is if you like the craft paper look.

2. Faux Cement Tin Can Planter

Supplies Needed for this Faux Cement Planter Tin Can Craft

• Tin can
• Joint compound or Plaster of Paris
• Hot Glue and Glue Sticks
• Acrylic Paints

This next tin can craft is making a faux cement planter. Simply take joint compound and spread it around your tin can. You can use your hand with a ziploc bag or anything with a smooth edge and just smooth the compound around the can. You will want to cover up any ridges in the can.

Wait for the can to dry. Then paint over the compound whatever color you would like. Add sealant on top of the paint to keep the compound and paint from chipping.

3. Fluted Planter Tin Can Craft

Here’s the supplies needed for this tin can craft:

• -1 package of 1/4″ wooden dowels
• 28 oz can
• Hot Glue and Glue Sticks
• Scissors
• Black Spray paint or acrylic paint
• Seam binding
• Thick ribbon or upholstery webbing

With this tin can craft I used these wooden dowels that I found at the Dollar Tree. I had them for so long and was just dying to use them in a project. at Hobby Lobby but you could also use little sticks that you find outside. Start by painting your cans to match the color of your sticks. I painted mine white but if you are using brown sticks you could paint your can brown. Hot glue the sticks around the perimeter of the tin can.

I then stuffed floral foam into the center of the tin can. You could also put a candle in the tin can if there was nothing flammable in the can.

4. Mosaic Tin Can Craft

Supplies Needed for the mosaic Tin Can Craft:

• -Tin cans
• Scrapbook paper with geometric shapes
• Hot Glue and Glue Sticks
• Scissors
• Dishwasher safe Mod podge
• Coordinating color spray paint
• Lace or ribbon

This tin can craft is SO simple it’s so COOL! Simply take your favorite geometric or mosaic looking scrapbook paper and wrap it around your tin can. Hot glue the paper in place around the outside of your can. You can also cover the bottom with the corkboard to give it a high end look. You can spread dishwasher safe mod podge on top of the paper or leave it as is.

For a boho inspired look you can add some lace or ribbon around the bottom of the can. Just hot glue it in place.

5. Leather Inspired Tin Can Craft

Here’s the supplies needed for the leather inspired Tin Can Craft:

• Tin Can
• Scrap leather or faux leather
• Hot glue gun and gluesticks
• Scissors
• Felt or corkboard (optional)

If you like leather looking containers than these tin can crafts are for YOU! Cover your tin can with scrap leather or faux leather. I just measured the can and then cut out that size of the leather. Hot glue the leater on the outside of the can.

These tin cans could be used for planters but also to hold pens or utensils for your craft room.

6. Map Page Tin Can Craft

Here’s the supplies needed for this map page tin can craft:

• Map or Scrapbook page with a map
• Tin Can
• Hot Glue and Glue Sticks
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun and gluesticks

Does your family have a favorite location to vacation or that you call home? Use this map page tin can craft to turn that special location into a tin can craft project. Just cover the tin can with the map page, and hot glue it in place. Then use dishwasher mod podge on the outside of the can. Remember if you are using it for a live plant than hammer holes in the bottom of your tin can.

7. Scrap Fabric Tin Can

Here’s the supplies you need for this scrap fabric tin can:

• Tutorial for Piping
• Scrap fabric (I used a t-shirt with a fabric I liked)
• Upholstery cording or clothesline
• Sewing Machine with a zipper foot
• Hot Glue and Glue Sticks

For this tin can craft you will need some scrap fabric I used a shirt I had with a pretty fabric but not a great fit. Start by cutting your fabric into 1″ strips. And then follow this tutorial on making piping. Wrap the piping around the tin can and hot glue it into place. This tin can craft can be used for pencils or other supplies.

8. Polka Dot Tin Can Craft

Here are the supplies needed for the polka dot tin can craft:

• White Paint
• Mod Podge
• Polka Dot Paper
• Tin Can
• Hot Glue and Glue Sticks
• Scissors
• Twine, Ribbon, or other Embellishment (optional)

This tin can craft is easy peasy. Like some of the other tin can crafts just get some polka dot scrap paper and measure and cut it out. Hot glue or mod podge the paper onto the cans. You can add some additional mod podge on top for added durability or just leave as is. These cans would also be cute for parties or filled with treats!

9. Faux Fern Tin Can Craft

Here are the supplies needed for the faux fern tin craft:

• Spray Paint (white looks really nice!)
• Tin Can
• Jute Twine
• Mod Podge & Foam Brush
• Scissors
• Ferns flattened and dried or faux ferns

A few years ago I made this fern wreath for summer with the ferns in my backyard. I simply flattened the ferns and turned it into a simple wreath. Another way to use flattened ferns is just mod podging them onto tin cans that have been painted white. Attach some twine around the top and you have another cute planter idea!

10. Spray Painted Tin Can Craft

Here’s the supplies needed for this spray painted tin can:

• Variety of Laces
• 28 oz Tin Can
• Hot Glue and Glue Sticks
• Scissors
• White Paper and Other Scrapbook Paper
• White Paint -Corkboard (Optional)

This lace tin can craft can be used as a planter like some of these other tin cans or as a storage container for other items. Just take a larger tin can. Cover it in white paper or white spray paint and attach different types of lace around the can. I used large lace and smaller lace for a varied look. Attach twine or other embellishments to finish it off!

And these are just a few of the MANY types of tin can crafts you could do this year to recycle this year for SPRING! Please let me know below which one is your favorite and be sure to check out this tutorial on turning mason jar lids into Christmas ornaments! I think you might LOVE it if you love re-purposing items into home decor!

No time to work on these tin cans TODAY? No problem, just PIN IT FOR LATER!