Coffee Tin Craft Project – Try out this Easy DIY!

We love a good DIY project! Not only is it fun to give new life to old things, it is a great way to keep items out of the landfill. Part of a sustainability mindset is finding ways to use what we already have and therefore purchase less.

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The brand of coffee I like to buy comes in solid tin cans. I had read somewhere about how they work great as a kitchen utensil holder and, since I needed one, started using my coffee tin for that purpose. But that got me thinking how there must be a way I could transform the tin to make it a bit prettier–enter in today’s coffee tin craft project!

Coffee Tin Craft Project

This coffee tin craft project is a really easy way to upcycle an item you might normally throw into the recycle bin. Recycling is great, but giving things a new life is even better! With this project, you will get something practical and functional with the end result too. While I used my coffee tin for a large utensil holder, you could use it for many types of storage or even as a planter.

Craft Project Supply List

There are a few basic supplies you’re need for this coffee tin craft project.

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• Coffee Tin (or give this a try with any variety of tin!)
• Primer (optional)
• Paint
• Modge Podge (I like using the matte finish version)
• Furniture Transfers in your desired pattern (I chose this floral themed one)
• Paint brushes (I will most often use foam brushes, such as these ones)
• Scissors
• Painter’s Tape

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How to Complete the Coffee Tin Craft Project

This is really one of the most simple craft projects, but the end result looks superb!

Step 1:

• Clean your tin and remove the label.
• Scrub off any glue from the label.
• Ensure your tin is dry before continuing.

Step 2:

• Paint your tin with a coat of primer (Optional).
• Let the primer dry, if using.
• Paint coffee tin in your desired colour.
• Allow to dry between coats.
• Paint as many coats as you like to get your desired finish and allow to dry.

I chose to use primer for my first coat as I thought it might help the paint adhere to the tin material more effectively. I’m not sure that it mattered in the end, though I do feel it helped me stretch my paint colour a bit further. I used one coat of primer and two coats of paint. Without the primer, I might have needed three coats of paint.

Something to consider when painting your tin is to keep the paint from getting on the bottom rim of the can. If you do paint the bottom rim, just be mindful of the surface it is resting on as it might transfer the paint colour to that surface.

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Step 3:

• Cut out your furniture transfers.
• Choose your desired arrangement for the transfers and tape in place onto your coffee tin with painters tape.
• Using the wooden tool that comes with your furniture transfers, rub the transfers onto your coffee tin.

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Step 4:

• Seal your furniture transfers on by coating your coffee tin in a layer of Modge Podge.
• Layer coats of Modge Podge to get your desired finish.
• Allow Modge Podge to dry between coats.

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Coffee Tin Craft – Finished Product

How easy is that?! And now you have a pretty tin to use however you’d like. I’ve been using mine as a large utensils holder in my kitchen. I also made one up to use as a type of basket to wrap a gift in. The great thing is these tins come with a lid, so can be used for storage too.