Turn your recycling into cool art projects and crafts for kids to make! Try these fun tin can crafts and activities for kids!
Upcycling is free and versatile.
Upcycling can be done with things you have on hand. Tin can crafts and activities are a great way to upcycle!
Tin cans…I have a lot on hand, at all times!
27 Tin Can Crafts & Activities For Kids!
Since I’ve always got so many tin cans on-hand at all times, I decided that we might as well put them to good use as crafts and activities!
My kids love to do all sorts of crazy things with tin cans: bowling, crafts, stacking, and painting. As much as I like to let them take the lead, sometimes I also like to give them some structure and direction.
Setting up a creative craft or hands-on activity with our tin cans is perfect! Once we’ve run through our “go-to” tin can activities or crafts, I tend to get stuck for ideas.
Sound familiar?
To prevent that stuck feeling later, I scoured the web and pulled together 27 of my very favorite upcycled tin can crafts and activities for kids.
Grab some tin cans – soup cans, coffee cans, any cans – for fun activities that kids will love!
Make beautiful music – all with recycled tin cans!
Can you get crafty? Wash up some of your recycled tin cans and try these easy ideas!
Tin cans can turn into beautiful projects for the holidays! What will you try this holiday season?
I have an ongoing list of tin can ideas found on my Tin Can Pinterest Board. There are ideas for adult crafters too!
What do you do with your tin cans or other recyclables? We’d love to try one of your creative ideas!
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Allison @ Kids Activities says
Perfect to keep my children busy! Thank you
Emily says
How can I make the sharp edge on the rim of a tin can safe for preschoolers to make a flower arrangement for Mother’s Day?
Tabitha Lightfoot says
Hi Emily! Great question – I know there are some can openers that leave a smooth edge on the can. Otherwise, you can try sanding it with sandpaper or just covering the edge with duct tape (or some other thick tape).
Lin says
Thank you! I work with one and two year olds. It’s not easy to find science activities for this age.
Pat says
Cute ideas…thanks for sharing!
Vicky @ Mess For Less says
I think I will start saving these from now on. Great list Jamie!
Khushi Taparis says
haha
LOL
:P
papijump says
Hi there! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us beneficial information to work on. You have done a marvellous job!
Kammy Wielenga says
Hey Jamie, I would LOVE for you to share these over on Trash To Treasure Tuesdays on The Korner!! This would be so much different than the usual ugly dresser painted to be beautiful!! :) I haven't done anything with these yet, but I sure want to!!! http://kammyskorner.blogspot.com/2011/10/trash-to-treasure-tuesday-link-party-2.html
OneMommy says
Can't say we've done anything with tin cans, yet… I love the magnetic robots! I remember using yarn to wrap around a tin can and making a pencil holder as a Mother's Day gift when I was younger…
Heather at Willow Cottage says
Thank you for adding my luminaries to this awesome post. We have a whole box of tin cans and I am going to get busy. I love these ideas. We never throw a tin can away. :-)
JDaniel4's Mom says
I need to start saving my tin cans! What wonderful ideas!
Anonymous says
I use them to melt old pieces of broken crayon in the oven, which I then cool in candy molds to make swirly, fun-shaped crayons for gifts, party favors, or just so my kids use the bits and pieces.
Deborah says
Awesome post Jamie! I have been saving my cans too! Always looking for another idea of what to do with them :)
Play-based Classroom says
Jamie, I've been saving tin cans for ages, and I haven't done anything with them, yet! Thanks for this post. :)
Christie - Childhood 101 says
Thank you for including our tin can telephones, Jamie!
Alissa says
Hey Jamie, great round up! Love that you linked to your Pinterest board!
Kelli @ RTSM says
I LOVE to use old cans for fun projects! Thanks so much for including my tin can windsocks:) I think robots may be the next craft project on our list!
maggy, red ted art says
What a brilliant selection of tin crafts! I am inspired! And thank you for including our drums :-)
Maggy
Kelli says
I love this SO much! I shared it on my FB page & Twitter(and of course, Triberr).
Toddler Approved says
Love your collection here and on pinterest. The drum set you pinned is amazing. Thanks for including our tin can painting… I had totally forgotten we had done that!
BusyWorkingMama says
Love it! I need to save some tin cans. I was thinking of a Halloween luminary for one.
Kammy Wielenga says
I am LOVING these tin can ideas!!!! Your blog is awesome, Jamie! :)
Kammy's Korner