Tin Can Buckets

The Look of Vintage

This is one tin can craft that will add that 'wow' factor to a  primitive display.

And, they're easy to make from a tin can salvaged from the recycle bin.  I try to find those large coffee cans that come with a plastic lid, because the rim is much nicer to work with.

If you can find tomato tins, those work too, with a bit more care to pinch down the sharp corners where the lid has been removed.  The larger the better, for this project.

The manufactures of these cans have different styles for various sizes, making interesting variations in the ripples. 

Nowadays, the cans you get supplies in are very thin, not like when tin cans were first introduced.  I've tried to drill holes in old tins and buckets, and it's impossible.

Aged in the fire and sprayed with bleach or left outdoors in the rain, these weather to a great rusty finish.

Drill two holes near the top, opposite each other for the 'bail' or wire for the handle. Check that the edges aren't too rough - if they are, rasp off the edges, or bash them with a hammer (or even a rock, if a hammer won't fit inside the can).

A piece of wire cut to a bit larger than you think you'll need, and threaded with some beads will make the handle.  The two end beads are glued with a bit of Mod Podge or other craft glue to be sure they don't just all slide to the bottom.

These beads came from the local dollar store, and the shiny ones were salvaged from one of those bead seat covers designed for long road trips. 

You could even make your own from short lengths of twig, drilled through the center, or just wrap wire or string around the bail to make the handle. 

Think outside the box if you don't have the exact supplies here.

The ends of the bail are threaded through the holes drilled into the can, and bent over.  Don't make these too tight, as you want the handle to be able to move.

Put twigs in for a rustic display, use them for pine cones or egg shells, or even for kitchen scraps for the compost.  A collection of them on a shelf holds lots of smaller items, keeping them neat and tidy.

They're cheap or free to make so you can make lots of them.