Kid's Green DIY Project: Easy Recycled Can Storage

Ever wonder what you could do with all your soup and vegetable cans? You can help your child make decorative can storage!

Crafting with your old soup and vegetable cans is a great way to teach your kids about reusing and recycling. One of the easiest crafts using cans is to make decorative storage. Adults and kids of all ages enjoy making these and they are very simple and cheap to make! I remember when I was a kid I made some can storage with my first grade Girl Scout troop as a Mother's Day gift. They are simple enough for Pre-K and interesting enough for high school age children to make.

Materials Needed:

1. You will first need some soup or vegetable cans that have been thoroughly washed and dried.

2. Then you need a material to cover your can with. Some material suggestions are: Tissue paper, newspaper, pieces of fabric, scrapbook paper, holiday greeting cards, wrapping paper, magazine pages, wall paper, comics, even fortune cookie fortunes can be used!
Let your child be creative and choose what colors or themes they would like to use. The choices are really endless!

3. Next you will need some tape or Mod Podge glue to keep your material on the can.
Mod Podge is a crafting glue and sealer that crafters use for decoupage. You can find it at almost all craft stores. Plain scotch tape works fine for paper but if you are using fabric of any kind I would recommend using Mod Podge.

4. If you want you can decorate your finished can storage with ribbon trim, stickers, foam shapes, or other paper detailing.

Instructions:

1. First you need to make sure your cans are clean on the inside and out. Sometimes residue glue will be on the outside of the can. It comes off pretty easy but an adult may have to help the child scrap it off.

2. Next you measure the height of your can and cut out strops of whatever material you are working with. Make sure your cut the strips long enough to go all the way around your can.

3. Then you will tape or glue your material onto the can. if you are using Mod Podge don't worry about your child applying it. Mod Podge is non-toxic and cleans right up with soap and water.

4. And that is all there is to making decorative can storage! If you want you can give some extra decorative detailing trim but it isn't necessary.

Uses:

You can use can storage anywhere! In the office you can use can storage for holding your pens and pencils. In the crafting area you can use can storage for holding paintbrushes, scissors, and all of your other crafting supplies. Whether it's out in the garage or in the kitchen, you can use can storage in all areas of your home.

Can storage is also great for kids to make and then give as gifts to others. Mom, Dad, teachers, and friends all would love this personalized yet practical gift.