TIN CAN DECOUPAGE – A BEAUTIFUL MOTHER’S DAY GIFT

So Mother’s Day is literally days away from the time of this blog post. Last week, I put out a video tutorial on YouTube where I showed how to make really cute little flower holders to hang, using tin cans and decorative paper napkins.

You will be so surprised when you see how easy they are to make, because they look like they were purchased from a cute boutique.

This is a great gift for a “hard-to-buy-for” mom on your list, because they look so unique, and DIY gifts are always special to give, especially at Mother’s Day.

Here are the materials that you will need for this project. I will add Amazon links, and if you order now, there’s still time to get the products shipped to you. If you run out of time, I’m sure you can also find these few items at a store near you.

Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain other affiliate links that, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission from. Read full privacy policy here.

Materials:

Empty and clean tin can(s), washed and dried completely

Chalk paint, any color (you could also use acrylic paint) – https://amzn.to/44TqAAL

Paper napkins, in pattern of your choice – https://amzn.to/3VJiqq9

Mod Podge – https://amzn.to/3HNv3La

Foam paint brush – https://amzn.to/3nK9WTm

Bottle opener – https://amzn.to/3LNw33e

Metal hole punch – https://amzn.to/3O8wurN

Finishing wax (optional) – https://amzn.to/3NP7jdq

Ribbon – https://amzn.to/3VLkzBF

Floral Foam – https://amzn.to/42yg3J4

Silk flowers – https://amzn.to/3NQCfKb

Moss – https://amzn.to/3pk01nZ

Instructions

1. Wash the tin can out, completely, making sure to remove the label and glue, and dry the can thoroughly.
2. Using a can opener, remove the bottom of the can so that you have an empty cylinder.

3. Put the can sideways on a sturdy surface, such as a garage floor or sidewalk. Press down on one open side of the can, using your hands. You should push down just enough for the opening to look like a skinny oval.

4. Using a hammer or mallet, pound the other side of the can so that it is completely closed off. If you are going to use fake flowers, as I did, you don’t have to worry about it being sealed. However, if you want to put real flowers or a plant in it, you will need to pound it so that the bottom seals off and dirt won’t fall through the can.

5. Using either a hole-punch for metal or the pointy end of a bottle opener, make 2 holes in the back of the can, so that you will be able to put ribbon through it to hang it from.

6. Using chalk paint (or acrylic paint, if you prefer), paint the outside of the can. You do not need to cover all surfaces of the can completely. It gives a more rustic look if you can see the tin coming through the paint in some areas. Let paint dry, completely.

7. On your paper napkin, separate the two layers. You will discard the white layer and keep the patterned layer.

8. Tear off any part of the pattern that you want to show on your can. You don’t need to cover the entire front of the can with the napkin. You can choose a small section that you would like to display.

9. Using a foam paint brush, paint a thin layer of Mod Podge on the area that you are going to put the piece of napkin.

10. Carefully lay the piece of napkin over the area you painted with Mod Podge. Lightly press down, being careful to push out any bubbles without tearing the napkin.

11. After the napkin is in place, paint over it with a thin coat of Mod Podge; let dry.

12. Finish with a second coat of Mod Podge over the napkin.

13. Optional: For a more rustic look, take a small amount of brown Finishing Wax on your finger and dab some onto the can to resemble slightly rusty areas. Let sit until just tacky and then polish with a soft cloth or paper towel.

14. When your can is finished, you will want to create two holes in the back to add ribbon or twine to hang with. If you have a metal punch, you can punch two holes, the same distance from the top of the can. If you don’t have a metal punch, I used the pointy end of a bottle opener. Regardless of what you use to create the holes, make sure you press the edges of the holes down so the metal won’t cut anyone.

15. Finally, cut off a piece of ribbon to the length that you want the can to hang from. Push both ends from the back of the can, one end through each hole and tie a loose knot so the ribbon won’t come out. You can even put a few drops of hot glue to help keep the ends of the ribbon in place.

That’s it! It’s hard to believe that something so simple could turn out so cute, right? I love this project!

After you finish it, you can put some floral foam into the bottom of the can, and then add some silk flowers and moss to complete the look.

Here is the YouTube tutorial on this project, in case you are more of a visual learner. If you have any questions, be sure to leave them in the comments below.

Thanks for stopping by my website and checking out this project. This would make a great gift for any occasion, but it seems especially suited for a Mother’s Day gift.

And if you’ve ever been curious about how Mother’s Day started and the interesting start of this holiday, check out this post on my blog, “The Interesting History of Mother’s Day“.

Have a great week, and don’t forget to stop and celebrate the moms in your life!

Xoxo Teresa