How to Recycle Tin Cans for your 4th of July Celebration

10 tin can crafts for the Fourth of July in 2022. Learn how to recycle tin cans into beautiful decor for your fourth of July celebration. These tin can crafts will get you thinking of ways to repurpose your own tin cans so you literally won’t need to spend a dime on 4th of July decorations this year!

The Fourth of July is just around the corner and if you aren’t one for spending a lot of money on Fourth of July decorations than these tin can craft projects are for you. Since repurposing the tin cans for Christmas I have been a little obsessed with tin can crafts!

I love REPURPOSING and recycling anything, but especially tin cans because I think they make a great base for some pretty but high quality crafts. If you missed the 10 tin can planters I did for spring you might want to check those out too!

But back to the 4th of July. I truly think these 10 tin can crafts will really give you everything you need for a FUN and FESTIVE Fourth of July celebration!

I have created a full video and a supply list for each of these projects. I hope that you will find as much JOY as I did in recycling some of your own tin cans this Fourth of July!

Video on recycling 10 Tin Cans for the Fourth of July

Note: before we get started in making these FUN and Festive Fourth of July tin can crafts I want to encourage you to make sure to read through all of these projects. At the end we are going to put a number of them altogether in one grand finale project!

So let’s get started!

What can you make out of old tin cans for the fourth of July?

1. Washi Tape Tin Can Crafts

This first tin can craft is a cinch! If you have some washi tape in red, white and blue then you are pretty much ready to make a beautiful American Flag!

I picked red, white and blue washi tape that wasn’t the typical primary colors. You really could do any variation of tapes but the red, white and blue obviously gives you more of the American patriotic look.

I started by spray painting the can white. Next I marked where I wanted the red and white washi tape to finish and the blue to start. Starting with the red tape, I alternated between red and white tape until I reached the mark. Then I used the blue tape around the rest of the can. The video has the full tutorial.

I sealed the can with dishwasher safe mod podge to make the can more durable.

Here’s the supplies for making a washi tape tin can flags:

Tin Can
White spray paint
Hot Glue and Glue Sticks
Scissors
Washi Tape (Red, white and blue)
Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge

2. Crushed Tin Can Craft

This next patriotic 4th of July tin can project is probably one of my favorite. This time start with a larger tin can (28 oz or larger) and open both ends of the can. You can leave the top of one of the cans partially attached if you like that look better.

Then using your hands or a mallet crush one of the ends of the cans. Once the can is flattened on one end, use mod podge and attach a piece of patriotic paper to the can. Mod podge the top of the can and you have a beautiful crushed tin can to display for your fourth of July celebration.

Tip: If you want to use this as a real planter just make sure to leave a small gap on the crushed end for water to escape.

Here’s the supplies needed to make a crushed tin can craft:

28 oz Tin Can
Hot Glue and Glue Sticks
Scissors
White Spray Paint
Scrapbook Paper
Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge
Foam Brush

3. Stars & Stripes Tin Can Craft

You may have seen mason jars or cans in the store with stars or stripes. Well this next craft is a super inexpensive way to replicate that look. You can use three seperate cans for this craft or just one can like I did. Using stars and stripes scrapbook paper I covered the can with the paper. Then mod podged the outside and inside of the can with the dishwasher safe mod podge again.

I used rick rack in the center of the can to tie in the stars and stripes and then added a little wooden star in the middle! I did also go over the paper with some antiquing wax.

You could definitely also do the stars alone on a can and the stripes alone on a can but I liked how this turned out as well!

4. Windsock Tin Can Craft

This next tin can craft is a fun fourth of july craft for kids or adults alike. Start with your tin can again and paint it white. Open one end of the can.

Then cover the tin can with the stars scrapbook paper. Mod podge and hot glue it in place.

Set your can on the table, open side up. Then start gluing ribbon and lace onto the bottom edge of the can, alternating between red and white.

Drill a hole in the top of the can. Feed twine through the hole you drill and use the twine to hang your windsock

TIp: If you plan to use your windsock outside you definitely want to seal the paper of the tin can with a poly spray or other sealant.

Here are the supplies needed for a Windsock tin can craft:

Tin Can
white spray paint
Stars Scrapbook Paper
Red and White ribbon, lace, rick rack or fabric strips
Hot Glue and Glue Sticks
Scissors
twine

5. Country Flag Tin Can

These tin can crafts are perfect for someone who doesn’t usually decorate with stars & stripes. This is a festive way to bring a patriotic flair into your home without literally using the stars & stripes. I would think an impressionist would like this type of tin can. (lol)

To make these country flag tin cans. Use scrapbook paper that has the blue and white pattern but not necessarily stars. Then use red buffalo check for the stripes.

Mod podge and hot glue the paper in place and then cover with mod podge to seal. Tie ribbon or lace around the tin cans. I used some vintage blue lace for this can.

Supplies needed for Country Flag Tin Cans:

Tin Can
Scrapbook Paper (Blue and white flowers, red plaid)
Mod Podge
Foam Brush
White Spray Paint
Lace
Hot Glue and Glue Sticks
Scissors

6. Firecrackers Tin Can

I really like how this next tin can craft turned out. I used two to three tin cans for each of these firecrackers.

Make each firecracker by drilling a hole in the top of one of the cans. Pull a strand of twine or nautical rope through the hole in the center of the can. Then tape another can or two to the first can.

Using red, white and blue scrapbook paper cover the cans by hot gluing or mod podging the paper into place. Use embellishments to dress up your firecracker tin cans!

Tip: I used three different sizes of tin cans to make a set of firecrackers. Large, Medium and small.

Supplies needed for a Firecracker Tin Cans

2-3 Cans of the same size (I used 7 tin cans to make 3 different sizes of firecrackers)
White Spray paint
Hot Glue and Glue Sticks
Scissors
Ribbon
Scrapbook Paper
Wooden Stars, Rick rack and other embellishments

7. Tin Can Luminaries

Nothings quite as pretty at night time on the fourth of July than some lights. And these tin can luminaries are a great way to add some flair after the day time fun is over with. You can paint these in red, white in blue or any other way you choose.

After painting your tin can, take a star or other image and trace it onto your can. Then take an awl or drill and make holes around the shape. Re-paint the can as needed and re-punch the holes with the awl after the can dries.

Punch two holes to attach a handle to the can. I used a burlap covered wire and tied a knot on both sides to secure the handle to the can. Use tea lights or small candles to light your tin can luminary all night!

Supplies needed for a tin can luminary:

Tin Can
Water
Awl
Star cut out
White Spray (whatever color you prefer)
Burlap covered wire
Tea light

8. Denim & Stripes Tin Can

Is anything more all American than denim? Well this tin can craft celebrates that all American feel.

Simply add blue denim or other red white and blue fabric to the outside of your can by hot gluing it into place. Then embellish the can by adding a red and white striped ribbon. To finish the tin can you can also add cork to the bottom of the can.

This can is great as a stand alone container because it’s simply so CUTE!

Supplies needed for a denim and ribbon tin can craft:

Tin Can
Denim Fabric
Hot Glue and Glue Sticks
Scissors
White Paint
Red and white ribbon
Scrapbook paper for the inside of the can (optional)
Corkboard (Optional)

9. Ribbon Tin Can Supplies

These next craft is about as simple as it comes. Simply add patriotic ribbon to the outside of the tin can and make an attractive container for your Fourth of July celebration!

Then add some wooden stars or buttons to embellish your tin can. Easy peasy but truly stunning!

Supplies needed for a Ribbon Tin Can:

White Paint
Tin Can
Red and white ribbon
Hot Glue and Glue Sticks
Scissors
Stars or other Embellishment

10. Fourth of July BBQ Caddy

Now for a grand finale tin can craft for the fourth of July we are going to add 6 of these projects together! If you are planning to host a fourth of July celebration wouldn’t it be great to have a caddy to set on your table that is gorgeous and festive?

Well this fourth of July BBQ is just that! Take 6 of the cans that you dressed up and attach them to a small board. I used a board that was 9″x5″ and attached 6 of the cans with 6 small screws.

Oh my gosh! I really LOVE how this looks tin can caddy turned out! And to think I just used items that literally were recycled trash! I so love that! You can see the full tutorial on the video.

Then just add paper straws that are red, white and blue to silverware and other goodies. What do you think?

Supplies needed for a Tin Can Caddy:

6 Tin Cans
Drill or Screwdriver
Board 9″ x 5″
Screws
Scissors
Felt balls or twine
Staple Gun

I LOVED making these tin can crafts for the 4th of July and I hope that you loved them too! Please let me know below if you will be trying any of these for your 4th of July celebration this year! And thanks for being here! If you want to stay in touch for future posts or ideas you can do that HERE or join us on Youtube or other social media channels!

Take care and Happy Crafting!