Recyled Madness: Project - Turn Your Tin Into - 'Can-dle' Holders

Tin cans...we all have them in abundance.  Most of the time they get tossed into the trash or recyled bin.  Turn Your Tin Into... will be a series of projects on how to put your pedal to the metal! 

The Pointer Sisters sang, "I know we can make it, I know we can, yes we can, can"…that is the theme of this so-easy candle holder project. The great thing about these 'can-dle' holders is that they can be put together quickly for a party, buffet, instant romantic touch, or to enhance outdoor ambience....run them along a walk way or scattered throughout the yard and use them again and again.

Supplies Needed: Small can such as tuna or cat food size. I prefer Bear & Wolf salmon cans, not only are the cans beautiful…inside looks like brushed silver outside an amber colored metal, but it is wild caught salmon and much healthier than canned tuna. Makes great salmon dip. There are natural rings pressed into the bottom where your tea light can rest if you choose not to keep it simple and just use the two items or to assure they stay in place, the top of Starbuck’s Frappacino makes a perfect holder and divider from your decorative surrounding matter. Tea lights can be purchased affordably at Walmart, Dollar Stores, Big Lots and other such places in large quantities. You can use generic no scent or scented. If using outdoors, use citronella tea lights to keep bugs away, but do not use those indoors. If you wish to enhance your candle holder, you can add small colored stones, beads, sand, cut glass or any nonflammable material to drizzle around the tea light holder. Optional: Colorful stones, buttons, old costume jewelry, theme items can be hot glued to the exterior of the can for add’l decorative flair.

This time we will keep it simple with two variations as you can see by the pictures.

In one it is just the can, Starbuck’s lid and tea light, in the other colorful glass stones have been added to reflect the light from within and to give a more polished look to the candle holder.

Use a can opener that cuts from the side to avoid sharp edges on your tin. Hold on to those lids as there will be a project for those up ahead. The paper comes off very easily but may leave some glue on one side, simply clean that off with a little Goof-Off. Make sure when you wash your can, to dry it very well to avoid rust. And if this can is going to be used outside on an ongoing basis, you may want to invest in some clear Rustoleum spray to weather proof it and your Starbucks lid. Next simply lay the Starbuck’s lid inside the interior ring. You can hot glue it if you wish but it is not necessary. For the simple version simply place your tea light inside the Starbuck’s lid and it’s done.


For the more polished look, add your beads or stones around the Starbuck’s lid making sure not to overflow the lid top. If you choose to hot glue decorations to the outside of your can, do that at the beginning. Make sure that whatever you add does not hang over where the candle might burn it or catch on fire.

If you choose to use larger candles such as votives, use a bigger can than the candle to prevent the wind from extinguishing your light but not so deep that it won’t get sufficient air. Never leave candles unattended or within reach of small children.

Use your imagination to put those discarded cans to use…and you will be singing, 'Yes I can can!’