I’m a huge fan of repurposing and upcycling. In other words, I hate to throw anything away and I’m a bit of a tree hugger. I love to look at food packaging that would otherwise be recycled and figure out a way to repurpose it.

I shared this project a couple of weeks ago when I guest posted over at my friend Dianna’s blog Craft A Spell.

Recycled plastic can for an upcycled patriotic DIY

Repurposed Plastic Container for a Patriotic DIY

Today’s victim inspiration is a Carnation Breakfast Essentials Box a friend gave me. I already repurposed one {here}, but this one has been waiting a couple of months for its transformation. I really like using this container because the blue is so pretty, the can is a large size and the lid is perfectly flat with no logo I have to hide.

This repurposing project took about 30 minutes and 20 of that was waiting for the Mod Podge to dry.

I started by measuring my card stock. I’m an impatient crafter so I just eyeball measurements. I folded the card stock down at the bottom of the can to give me a mark for cutting. I used my paper-cutter to trim the paper just short of the fold line. It covered the can perfectly.

I grabbed an ink pad, a make-up sponge (but you could use any type of sponge) and a piece of tin foil to protect my table.

Just dab your sponge on the ink pad and then drag it across the paper to make stripes. You can see that it makes darker areas where you first start dragging the sponge. You can either start off the paper to minimize the dark spots. Or because I wanted more variation in color, I just kept dragging the ink over the stripes until the entire stripe was darker. That way the dark spots weren’t as noticeable but the stripes had depth and variation to them.

I was impatient and immediately added the Mod Podge to the back of the paper. I’d recommend you let the ink dry thoroughly on the paper or the combination of Mod Podge and ink will smear. (I was very careful.)

Because the can is curved, I secured the Mod Podged (it is a verb, you know) paper with rubber bands to dry.

20 minutes later I added star stickers that I already had to the lid. You could use a star punch and make your own from card stock or use a paint pen to draw them on.

I’m planning to use this container to hold utensils at a summer party.

But I can think of many other uses, too. The beauty of this All-American repurposed Can is that it’s quick, easy and versatile.

All-American Upcycled Can

Repurposed Plastic Container for a Patriotic DIY

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