Have A Can-Do Attitude With These 5 DIY Can Ideas

It’s the beginning of a new year and maybe your resolution for 2019 is to be more mindful of the household waste you create. We teamed up with ShopRite to upcycle all of our empty canned veggies and turn them into something new. Recycling is always the way to go with old cans, but maybe try keeping them out of the recycling for a bit longer by turning them into something helpful you can use around the house.

Hate the sticky residue that’s left behind from those pesky labels? Try spraying a little bit off Pam Cooking spray over the glue and give it a wipe with a reusable rag. The glue will come right off and you’re left with a shiny can.

Maybe you’re sick of running out of counter space in the kitchen. Wrap those silver cans with a little bit of twine and some hot glue and hang them from a painted board, and voila you can see your counters again!

Having too many toiletries crowd the bathroom vanity is also a never-ending battle. You’re constantly knocking your facial cleanser into the sink or, even worse, into the toilet. Glue some cans to a board and mount it on the wall above your sink to keep your bathroom necessities handy and your vanity clear.

We had a blast working on this project with ShopRite! Check out the Can Can sale going on now at your local ShopRite!

Build a pyramid of empty cans to grow your herbs

Materials:

• Large empty coffee can
• various sized empty cans (like you’re building a pyramid. Larger and wider on the bottom, smaller on top.)
• Potting soil
• Industrial glue
• Various herbs
• Optional: labels

Instructions:

1. Remove all of the labels from the empty cans.
2. Place a normal sized can, with the bottom facing up, into the empty coffee can.
3. Fill in the empty space with potting soil.
4. Pipe some industrial glue around the bottom of the normal sized can and stick on a can that is less wide than the coffee can. Place that can face up.
5. Fit a small can inside that can.
6. Fill the empty space with potting soil.
7. Repeat steps 4-6 with even smaller cans to top off your pyramid.
8. Plant your fresh herb plants in the soil.
9. Optional: create labels for each can to specify what each herb is.

Create a shelf to hold all your toiletries

Materials:

• 6 empty cans, all the same size (large diced tomato cans are a good size to work with)
• Contact paper (design and color of your choice)
• Wood board (large enough to fit all 6 cans)
• Wood stain
• Paintbrush
• Industrial glue

Instructions:

1. Cover each can in contact paper.
2. Stain the wood board and wipe off the excess.
3. Let dry before gluing down the 6 cans. 3 facing vertical and 3 horizontal with the bottoms glued to the board.
4. Fill the cans with toiletries and other bathroom necessities.

Keep your counters clear by hanging all your kitchen utensils instead

Materials:

• Empty cans
• Hot glue gun
• Twine
• Power drill
• Wood board
• Nails

Instructions:

1. Pipe some hot glue onto the empty can. Wrap the entire can (except for the very top) with twine. Add more hot glue as you wrap to secure the twine. Repeat for all the cans.
2. Use a power drill to drill two holes at the top of the can.
3. Thread some twine with the ends tied through the two holes to create a handle.
4. Hang them on hooks or nails on a wood board.
5. Fill the cans with various cooking utensils.

Turn a cutting board into an on-the-go utensil holder to bring to your next family picnic

Materials:

• 6 empty cans (normal size)
• Wooden cutting board with a handle
• Power drill
• 12 small screws
• Acrylic paint (color of your choice)

Instructions:

1. Drill two holes into each can. Drill one hole near the top and one near the bottom, in line with each other.
2. Paint the cans and cutting board a color of your choice.
3. Drill 6 holes into the wooden cutting board. They should be the same distance apart as the holes on the cans.
4. Drill in 12 small screws (6 on both sides of the board).
5. Hook in the 6 cans to the cutting board.
6. Fill the cans with silverware, napkins, etc.

Design your own custom wine rack

Materials:

• Empty cans (number depends on how many slots you want in the rack)
• Can opener
• Acrylic paint (colors of your choice)
• Industrial glue

Instructions:

1. Remove both the top and bottom of each can with a can opener.
2. Squeeze some acrylic paint into each can and twist them slowly to let all the paint coat the inside.
3. Pipe some industrial glue onto the cans and stack them in a pattern of your choosing.
4. Let dry before adding the wine bottles.