Why “buy” a vase when you can make a DIY Shabby Chic container from any old can!

The word “waste” is simply NOT a part of my vocabulary! So as I think ahead to the  upcoming holidays, I’m already looking at the “stuff” I couldn’t bring myself to throw away, just knowing there would be a RE-use for ALL of it!

So, while I’m already using coffee cans, paint cans, round detergent bottles, etc., to hold my pens, pencils, tools, flowers, plants and other doo-dads, in order to give them away as gifts, I really need to put some work into making then a lot easier on the eyes. In other words, instead of using them as they are around my office/studio, a little gussying up for gift-giving is a good idea.

And the fun begins!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• One pound coffee cans – I like the ones without the little lip at the top, two pound coffee cans, well washed large paint cans, larger canned vegetable cans like the type in which you might tomatoes or pumpkin pie filling 

• Acrylic paint
• Left over fabric ribbons, pieces of fabric, jute, raffia, etc.
• Glue or wire
• Felt for indoor containers – optional

and … my favorite things,

• Pieces of old costume jewelry, doo-dads, bits and pieces. Yes, these are on the floor. Why? you ask? I dropped the entire drawer full when I went to grab just a few. Eh … I’ll organize later.

Here’s what you do:

1. Wash, rinse and dry the cans

2. Choose your colors … while I like bright, bold and brassy, for this project I chose muted, monochromatic colors which really do lend themselves to “shabby chic.”

3. Paint and if necessary, let dry and add a second coat

4. Cut a round piece of felt the diameter of the bottom of the can an glue in place.  A nice finishing touch

5. Embellish 

The metal cans make great vases for 1, 3 or 5 chunky blooms; flowers like dahlias, zinnias, or chrysanthemums for instance.

The possibilities are endless as you can certainly create these amazing containers for whatever theme party you have coming up, for instance:

Bridal or baby showers for table center pieces

Greens and reds for Christmas
Blue, white and silver for Hanukkah
Black and orange for Halloween
Red, white and blue for Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, Veterans Day
Pink, red  and white for Valentine’s Day
Orange, purple, brown, red, green, yellow combinations for Thanksgiving/any fall festival

Or just create them for gift giving; one container matching the color scheme of someone’s powder room is such a lovely, thoughtful idea.

Too much stuff already!

These days when folks are becoming more and more aware of buying, giving and otherwise acquiring more and more STUFF. A homemade gift is nothing to of which to be ashamed, after all, when we were young most of us were encouraged to make something special for mom or dad or grandparents, etc. and speaking for myself, I too encouraged my children to craft things from the heart for whomever might be on their gift giving list.

I still have, all around the house, those BEYOND SPECIAL things my children made and gave me … every one.