Storage Idea - Upcycled Milk Can

Storage containers from recycled milk cans.

This is a quick project I did earlier because I needed a place to store my crochet thread balls. These balls are of uneven shapes and sizes since I've already used them for my previous projects which makes it tricky to pile them up on a shelf. 

I usually make boxes for storage purposes but this time I'm trying out a different material, a milk can. We have lots of these since I have a 2-year old daughter who consumes two cans of 1.6kg powdered milk every month. We usually just throw empty cans away but recently I started saving them because I'm planning to start gardening and I want to use them as planters. Well, that's me, I like recycling things. 

To make this easy little project, you will need the following:

- Milk can - Okay, not necessarily milk can, you can use any tin can, I just like this because it's the biggest I have.

- Wrapping paper/scrapbook paper

- Decoupage sealer/ glue - I used Mod Podge

- Can opener - If your tin can has that friction ring for the lid and you want to open it completely.

- Scissors

First, clean your tin cans. This picture shows that mine wasn't cleaned yet, I did that after opening the can completely by removing the friction ring using a can opener. Then I washed it multiple times, just to make sure that there'll be no leftover milk powder inside and dried it.

Now, it's clean and shiny, and ready to be covered with a wrapping paper, which is the next step.

Check out the size of your paper to see how much you will need to cover the whole can around up to the top and bottom edge. Cut the paper according to your measurements.

Paint the can with the sealer/glue and adhere the paper. Lay the paper carefully and smooth out any lumps or ripples along the way. It dries pretty quickly so I didn't paint the whole thing at once, I only did half first and adhere the paper, then did the other half. 

Add a coat of decoupage sealer for a nicer finish, also to protect the surface from peeling off easily. You can add decorations for a prettier look. And, it's done.

I made another one and would probably make more later since I have a lot more stuff to store and organize. Now my crochet thread balls won't be jumping out of the shelf where I'm keeping them, it's these cans that I'll be putting on there, a more organized craft area for me. Yay!

An easy and useful project, right? I hope you like it. Have a nice day!