Tin Can Luminaries

Day 20 - Tin Can Luminaries

Half way there - Yippee!!!

Today I thought I'd go greener by upcycling some tin cans into garden tea lights.  Upcycling simply means making something of more value out of waste materials whereas recycling usually refers to breaking waste items down to make new materials for new items - there is still a production process, costing more money and resources.  

In preparation for today's project I had already taken the labels off my old chopped tomato tin cans and cleaned them out.  I usually use white spirit to get the glue off - same for glass jars. I then filled the cans with water and left them in the freezer overnight.  

Design plans

Having taken the cans (one at a time) out of the freezer I used a hammer and nail to tap small holes through the cans to make a kind of 'join the dots' picture. You could just do this free hand but as I was working on an Easter theme I had prepared some sketches to follow.  I wrapped the paper around the can and as I was working I would occasionally leave a nail in the can to hold the picture in place.  Ah ha, by freezing the water in the cans they retain their shape once you start to bang the holes through!  








Once I had finished tapping through the designs I added a couple of holes at the top for handles.  As the ice starts to melt or cracks away once you start hitting the nails through, you have to work quite quickly and don't forget to put a towel under the workspace.

Finished upcycled tin can tea lights

These tea light holders would still look great without painting them.  However I've given them a couple of coats of Plasticote spray paint. I assume other paints for metal including car paints would work as well.  The hardest part of today's challenge was trying to get the cans ready for painting before the setting of the sun.  Putting on a second coat of spray paint in the dark was not the easiest job.

For the handles I've used two ideas.  The first was to thread beads onto a piece of garden wire and then thread the wire through the holes in the can.  The second was to simply use a piece of chain from a well known DIY store.  Again you don't have to add handles, these tea lights could be used as a centrepiece on an outdoor table.

See how the light reflects off the handles

These lights are hanging from our bird feeder 

Once lit and hung in the garden the lights look great - much better than I thought they would.  The photos don't do the lights any justice, they are really very effective in the garden - we'll perhaps try to get some better shots tomorrow.  

Update: I made four but I have orders for six more, luckily not for Easter!