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All-American Upcycled Can

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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 used to hold straws, next to 2 mason jars holding plastic silverware with title text reading All-American Upcycled Can

 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.
 
Carnation Breakfast Essentials container
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. 
a hand folding cardstock
 
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. 
ink pad, white cardstock, foil
 
 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.
 
foil with a piece of white cardstock with red stripes on it
 
 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.)
 
foil, white cardstock, sponge brush, container of mod podge
 
 Because the can is curved, I secured the Mod Podged (it is a verb, you know) paper with rubber bands to dry. 
rubber bands holding on a red and white striped paper wrapped around a can with a blue lid
 
 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. 
stars on a blue lid of a can decorated with red and white striped paper
 
 I’m planning to use this container to hold utensils at a summer party. 
Recycled plastic can used to hold straws, next to 2 mason jars holding plastic silverware
 
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. 
Recycled plastic can used to hold straws, next to 2 mason jars holding plastic silverware with title text reading Repurposed Food Container
 
 

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12 Comments

  1. Hi Susan, Love this idea! I have a Viactiv canister that is just waiting for some love. Not sure what I want to do with it yet. But it won’t be tossed. Too many cute options. Hugs, Holly

  2. Hi Susan!I’m stopping by today from the Brag About It blog hop – I’m loving this cute idea! What a perfect way to organize things for a 4th of July cookout!Hope you enjoy the holiday!- Ang

  3. Susan- love it – easy to put together and looks terrific.Thanks for sharing on the BRAG ABOUT IT. We’d love it if you link back to BeBetsy. -xo Happy 4th of July and have a fun cookout!Sharon and Denise Fashion | Food | Beauty | Out & About | Morning Coffee

  4. This is great. I love re-purposing things when I can. Thanks for sharing & linking up @ DearCreatives.com & Happy 4th!

  5. I just love this and wish I would have seen this idea before my 4th of July picnic! I think I would have been like you and been impatient!

    Thanks for linking to the In and Out of the Kitchen Link Party. I am featuring this in the Top 10 Favorites post that will go live on Monday morning!

    Cynthia

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