How To Make Cute Upcycled Easter Baskets From Tin Cans
Inside: A tutorial on how to use tin cans of various sizes into cute upcycled Easter baskets/buckets.
Before I even opened my Birthday gifts, I was oohing and ahhing! The gift wrap was gorgeous!
So, instead of tearing it to find what was inside quickly, I carefully removed the sellotape and unfolded the paper. I wanted to preserve as much of the paper as possible for crafting.
The paper had spring vibes with bright colours and simple patterns. It made it perfect for making these cute Easter tin can buckets. But they would also make pretty spring tin can planters.
DIY Upcycled Easter Baskets
This is a very affordable upcycle made from repurposed household waste materials. It only takes a few minutes to complete each Easter bucket.
Fill them with your favourite Easter treats, or use them for buckets on an Easter egg hunt.
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Materials Used
- Tin cans - Small shorter tin cans work best. You don't want the upcycled Easter baskets to be too tall.
- Spring gift wrap or other paper. My gift wrap was from a local company Cambridge Imprint. Check your local gift and bookstores for lovely printed gift wraps.
- Rotary paper cutter and mat.
- Spray paint in spring colours.
- Wine corks or wooden cotton reel spools.
- Garden wire or the wire from an old coat hanger.
- Awl with a wooden handle for piercing holes into the tin cans.
- Pliers
- Matte Mod Podge and a foam brush.
How To Make The Tin Can Buckets
Step 1: Wash the tin cans in hot soapy water and remove any residual labels. Then dry them and spray paint the inside of the cans to match your gift wrap.
Top tip: I use a box outside to spray paint small objects like tin cans.
Step 2: Measure the circumference and height of the tin can.
Step 3: Cut the gift wrap paper to these measurements. And then, using decoupage glue, stick it to the outside of the tin cans.
Top Tip: Add another Mod Podge layer to the decoupage's top to protect the paper on the tin cans. The glue will dry clear and act as a protective varnish.
If you don't have any spring paper, another option is to use paper napkins to decoupage the tin cans.
Step 4: Add a wire handle to turn the decorated tin can into an upcycled Easter basket. First, use the awl two to punch holes into the side of the tin can.
Step 5: Make a hole through the centre of the wine cork using the awl. Then cut a length of wire long enough for a handle. Thread the cork onto the wire.
Step 6: Finish off by attaching the wire to the tin cans through the holes. Use the pliers to twist the ends of the wire to secure them.
The Finished Upcycled Easter Baskets
I made a collection of these Easter baskets in various sizes and colours. For some of the tin can bucket handles, I used a wooden cotton reel spool for the handles instead of an old wine cork.
Fill them with Easter treats or flowers.
Other Tin Can & Easter Crafts
You'll find more awesome Easter craft ideas for adults and more decoupage crafts here.
For a slightly different look, there is a collection of vintage Easter bunny images you could use for this craft. And some bunny craft ideas here, too.
Other spring tin can craft ideas include making a beautiful songbird wind chime or these colourful Marimekko decorative tin can planters to brighten the garden. Or these hanging tin can planters for the front porch.
Cans can also be upcycled for Christmas; check out these tin can Christmas crafts.
Pin for later!
Great Idea! Make for any and all holidays, and / or for each season, birthdays, baby showers, etc.
Use your imagine and decorate to your liking. Endless possibilities. Create for indoors use or outdoors.
Yes, thank you, they can easily be updated for different holidays and seasons.
Hi, Claire! The hosts and I couldn’t stop thinking about these adorable tin can Easter baskets! I’m excited to tell you this post is being featured in Whimsy Home Wednesday Link party this week! Thanks for joining us and I hope to see you at the party this week! Pinning!
Thank you, that is awesome to here I look forward to seeing them.
I used two colors of yarn ( lavender & purple) since I didn't have any gift wrapping paper.
That sounds like a lovely idea too.
I will be making some of these. I have a lot of children
Thank you, have fun making them, they are very straightforward.
I'm guessing your birthday gift-givers know you really well, Claire. That wrapping paper is so totally you. Love this idea for so many different reasons.
Thank you, yes I’m lucky that they know what I like. I think some Christmas buckets would be fun.
These are the coolest Easter baskets I've ever laid eyes on, right down to those cork and spool handles! Adorable!
Aww, thank you. They are also so easy to make and cost practically nothing too.
Oh my goodness! These are way too cute. I chuckled when you said you opened your gift carefully, my husband makes fun of me for the same reason. I want several of these all over our house! Thank you so much for sharing with Whimsy Home Wednesday!
Thank you, they do make a lovely spring decoration especially when full of flowers.
I have to admit, I totally swooned with this project, gorgeous and the daffodils, WOW! Thanks so much for sharing on craft schooling Sunday, and oh dear, will now have to save cans, got the wine corks covered!
Thank you so much. Yes we have a plentiful supply of wine corks too. Lucky for me we eat a lot of curries so plenty of empty tins from coconut milk to upcycle.
Que bonitos...gracias por el paso a paso.
Saludos.
You're welcome, and thanks for visiting the blog.
These are adorable! Great idea and so simple. Pinned! Found you over at the Cottage Market for a cup of Joe. XO- MaryJo
Thank you, yes really easy to make.
Omg, thank you for the idea; they look so sweet. I wish I'd seen this before, but now I'm absolutely saving all empty cans for easter. And for other things as well. Awesome 🙂
Thank you. Yes they’d be great for other holidays or as planters. A Halloween version would be fun.
These are so adorable! I love it! I would like to invite you to come share over at my weekly link party for a chance to be featured! Hope you will come join us!
ourtinynest.com
Thank you so much, and thanks for the invite.