Dare to Make It: Holiday

How to Transform Holiday Tins

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Diane Gilleland, contributor

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Turn leftover holiday tins into practical containers to store craft supplies, receipts, loose change, you name it.

Diane Gilleland

Here's how they looked before decoupage. Cute, to be sure—but Christmas is now past!

Diane Gilleland

This project needs simple materials: some wrapping paper, some Mod Podge, and a brush.

Diane Gilleland

Turn leftover holiday tins into practical containers to store craft supplies, receipts, loose change, you name it.

Photo: Diane Gilleland

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Tins are always great for storage. You can decoupage them with colorful paper to match your craft room or even with pictures of whatever you plan to store inside. Or, if you really like to plan ahead, you can decorate them for (gasp!) Valentine's Day treats!

What you'll need:

• Assorted tins
• Painter's tape (see note below)
• Fine-point Sharpie
• Lightweight wrapping paper
• Mod Podge, matte finish
• Scissors
• Paper cutter (optional)
• Pencil
• Sponge brush
• X-Acto knife
• Clear acrylic sealer (optional)
• Embellishments, such as bias tape, trim, ribbon, or buttons
• Craft glue

A note about paper: You really need thin, lightweight papers for successful decoupage, especially when you're decoupaging to a curved surface, like a round tin. I'm using various wrapping papers here, which work nicely. If you want to use heavier-weight papers, I'd recommend scanning them and printing onto lighter-weight paper first.

More découpage projects: • How to Découpage a Tray • How to Transform Holiday Tins • Découpage a Colorful Pendant and Earrings Set!

Mask the top edge of the tin with painter's tape.

You may need to trace along the lid of the tin to create a masking line.

Mask along the traced line.

Now you have a line to follow with that masking. (By the way, it's much easier to mask with several shorter pieces of tape than one long one.)

Cut a strip of wrapping paper to fit around the sides of the tin.

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Comments (23)

CraftBinger writes: I love this idea and love this site. I accidentally discovered CraftStylish today and have enjoyed the great ideas and comments.
Now I have some an idea of what I can do with some small pieces of wrapping paper and small pieces of fabric that I just could not throw away. I knew I could find a use for them one day!
Posted: 3:08 pm on April 20th

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Posted: 10:03 am on January 7th

Sarah_Forhan writes: Nice tutorial. The only thing I would add is to rough the tins up with sandpaper first. It really helps the paper and decoupage to stick to the tins. The shiny finish is kind of a pain to work with and for me (best results) was with some sandpaper first. Doesn't look so pretty but nobody sees it anyways once it is covered with paper.
Posted: 3:35 pm on January 5th

Jetmuis writes: what a great idea, love it, i have only painted them and added a lot of kitschy beads and rihnstones on them.
but this is a much easier way. thank you for the sharing and the great tute!!
happy new year;-D
Posted: 5:01 am on January 1st

catplus writes: Nice tutorial. I did a découpage tin recently, but it was a lot messier looking! I picked up some tips for next time. Thanks!
Posted: 11:56 am on September 28th

RelicaJewelry writes:
Thanks for an amazing tutorial, Diane. I've always wanted to do something like this (also with lampshades) but have been reluctant without clear instructions and photos like these.
FYI: An artist and elementary art teacher told me that diluted white glue can work well as a sealant. I think she used a 50/50 formulation and brushed it on papier mache and even clay projects. Just avoid letting it pool, esp. if you use a weaker dilution, because it may look a bit milky. Will try modpodge first. For anybody wanting to embellish or collage, I invite you to check out the supply listings at my Etsy shop. I've been collecting antique stampings and jewelry findings like a bowery bird on crack for fifteen years and must DeStaSh them since my job was downsized. The misfortune of having more time to craft and less money to make it happen. Good luck with your projects, everyone, and thanks again for an amazing tutorial!! Jane RelicaJewelry www.RelicaJewelry.Etsy.com.
Posted: 12:16 pm on March 30th

sink_in writes: Thanks1 I am going to try to do Easter eggs to put bath salts in them.
Posted: 5:45 pm on March 22nd

pdwar5150 writes: oh thank you! people seem to think i cllocet tins and i have soooo many. now i can actually make them into something useful!
Posted: 8:31 pm on January 20th

Carolebarrel writes: I've done similar paper/cloth coverings for open containers used as a desk set with tin cans as pencil/pen caddies, coordinating tuna cans to store stamps and paper clips and covering other desk accessories for writing personal notes such as recycled desk blotters, phone/address book covers. Left over wallpaper is great for this. It even has its own glue when you run out of modpodge. Let your imagination run wild until you cover most anything--great for gifts. I could kill my husband who tends to throw out those great wooden Clementine boxes that are great to cover to store stuff like spools of thread etc. in.
Posted: 11:49 pm on December 30th

47cats writes: Great idea! I like to use napkins for decoupage. Lynn
Posted: 3:49 pm on December 30th

marketmaster writes: Can I print with an inkjet printer, or will the Mod Podge pull the ink?
Posted: 2:35 pm on December 30th

kelodia writes: wonderful works,i will try to make my own DIY project.
Posted: 2:21 am on December 30th

IrishMissy writes: I didn't get any this year but the thrift stores usually has them cheap.
Posted: 7:16 pm on December 29th

Lunamoth writes: Right, KatyKat, because Christmas is the ONLY holiday that happens, ever, and only those celebrants use cookie/candy tins.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/yl4zmx8
Posted: 2:56 pm on December 29th

needswaterdaily writes: Lovely tutorial. And got a chuckle from KatyKat's post. She's so busy critiziing your use of words she spelled Creator wrong. Must have been a typo...
Posted: 1:33 pm on December 29th

Average_Jane_Crafter writes: Bias tape on the edge of the lid! BRILLIANT! I love it! :)
Posted: 11:33 pm on December 30th

gramcracker writes: A great idea, Diane. EVEH..I know where my mod podge is...it's in my large plastic ice cream container, I keep my paints in there too. My house is full of tins and neat boxes that I plan to do something with...some day. I did finally turn my velveeta cheese boxes into small file boxes for my fabric stash.I covered them with contact paper then made cards that fit nicely into the boxes. On the cards I staple a small sample of fabric, then I write the amount of each piece and laundry info. on it, the amt. used for a project. Also,the date of puchase and the price paid.

Posted: 10:39 pm on December 29th

CalPatch writes: long live Mod Podge! this is a great idea.yours look beautiful! i've always meant to re-cover those round cardboard containers (i eat a lot of oatmeal) too...
Posted: 1:21 pm on December 27th

eveh writes: Thanks Diane. I was just sitting here staring at four of those sitting on my dresser. I usually just put them away with Christmas decorations in them. But You do get too many after a while. I could use some containers for my extra lace, buttons and beads. The ones that I have been staring at, are small ones and not very useful for too much storage but would be great for these small things.

So, : ) away we go to Michaels to get a jar of Mod Podge, which I know I have around here somewhere, but where? Maybe I will use one of these tall shape tins to store my Mod POdge. Then I would know where it was at. LOL Maybe this will kick start my ever perennial first resolution come the New Year. I Will Get Organized. Then of course, lose some weight and exercise more. Oh yeah, I know you all do that too. LOL
Posted: 12:02 pm on December 27th

KatyKat writes: I'm looking forward to trying this, but I would have been happier to see the tile use Christmas or Holy Day rather than the latter's secularized contraction. If you're going to use your Creater and only Redeemer's birthday to sell magazines, you should acknowledge it as such.
Posted: 8:08 am on December 27th

walkinthewoodsllc writes: What a beautiful idea! And one more to add to my long, long list of fun and useful things to do!
Posted: 7:16 am on December 27th

angelwingz writes: this looks fabulous... i think it would be great to really 'collage' the tins up and let loose on them ;)
Posted: 7:09 am on December 27th

Tally writes: *thanks*

I might use it for "commercial" tin cans as well
Posted: 2:03 am on December 27th

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