OH MY GOSH!! I knew it was time to post as I was going through withdrawals from hearing from you guys as well as missing one of my favorite things to do...posting some new projects! Honestly, you guys have been the most incredible supporters and friends! I love reading your comments and receiving your emails. Which brings me to this...If you emailed or commented with a question and I didn't respond, DO IT AGAIN! Please resend the question! LOL! That simply means I had really, really good intentions but got waylaid somewhere along the way. Which my friends, is not hard for me! "Distracted" or "Distraction" should be my middle name! :) It is always my pleasure to help or listen!
OK, enough with the sweet gooshy stuff! Onto the Fast and Easy Project!
I can never get enough organization in my life, so you will continually see me create things to hold my tools and supplies. (These things grow don't they!) This time around I was in dire need of pen, pencil, structure strip and paintbrush storage. I was tired of going into the kitchen to look for a glass and there never was one! Where in blue blazes have they gone! AhhhHaaa! My studio, crammed with the aforementioned! Good Lawd! So, I present today's Fast and Easy Project...
Spinning Tin Can Organizer!
Materials Used:
Echo Park - Note To Self Paper Collection (See, perfect collection for me and this project huh? LOL!) from Scrapadabadoo.com
Michaels Dollar Bin Handled Cans (Try recycling some soup or veggie cans!)
Round Lid from Paper Mache Box
Plastic Spinner from Scrapadabadoo.com (Which really makes the whole project worth doing!)
Small Fundimentals Tags from Scrapadabadoo.com
Office Max Key Tags
Magnet buttons
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Numerals from InspirationEmporium.com
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Curio Knobs from InspirationEmporium.com
How I did it:
It's pretty easy y'all!
BOX LID:
I covered the round paper mache box lid bottom and sides with Echo Park's Note To Self Paper. I then placed my cans in for a dry fit. I traced around the cans with a pencil, removed the cans and found the center of the circled traced line. I glued four of the super strong magnet buttons onto each of the center marks. I then continued to cover the inside of the lid with the Notes to Self paper.
SPINNER:
For the next step, I glued the Plastic Spinner to the bottom of the lid. (Love these!!) I wanted this organizer to sit on my desk so I could just spin it around to get to what I needed. So cool!
NUMBERING:
Next, I cut five of the ( I knew I was going to have to remember the name of the round photo things! Well, I don't remember! Note to self, find out what these blasted things are called!) round photo reel things from the Echo Park collection. I set these aside. I then took the key tags, removed the ring from hole (save this for later!) and glued a Tim Holtz Numeral on each of the fronts of the key tags. I then glued the numbered key tag to the round photo thing and adhered it vertically to the box lid edge.
KNOBS:
With an awl, I pierced a hole on two sides of the box lid and placed a Tim Holtz Curio Knob into each of the holes. Let me back up a sec, the reason for the magnets and the knobs is so that I can carry it from room to room. I am forever going from my studio to the kitchen island to work. (these are THE ONLY flat surfaces left in my house!) The magnets hold the cans firmly in place and the knobs help me get it there.
CANS:
The easiest part of the project was covering the cans with the patterned paper. I measured from just under the rim to the other rim and cut paper to size. I glued the paper into place overlapping the edges about 1/2 inch. Next, I turned the can upside down. I cut a couple of pieces of med. weight chipboard to around 1 x1 inch, glued them together and then glued them to the bottom center of the can. Next, I glued the magnet to the top center of the chipboard pieces. Why the chipboard pieces you ask? There was a about a 1/4 inch from the bottom of the can to the bottom of the rim. If I wanted the magnets to reach each other I needed to add the chipboard pieces to extend the bottom. Your cans may be different. I would do a test run first and see if you need to add the chipboard extensions. Last, I punched a scalloped circle from the collection and adhered that on top of the magnet, hiding the chipboard and magnet. I did this for four of the cans.
WOODEN BALLS:
For the fifth can, I adhered wooden balls to the edges of the bottom. Again you ask why? LOL! The balls hold the four cans together and believe it or not, they hold the top can in place so it won't tip.
MAGNETS:
OK, getting close now...The last thing I did was to cover the Fundimentals tags with the pattered paper. After that, I placed the reserved metal key tag rings into the the paper tag and then attached it to the handle of the can. I numbered the tags to match the numbers on the sides of the box lid. I know, I know...Why right? The reason this time is... however perfect you may be, there will be one can out of the whole stinkin' shooting match that will not line up with all the other magnets perfectly. So by numbering them, (which I think looks cool just as decoration) the pairs match and fit properly.
That's it! Pretty simple huh?
THOUGHTS:
As mentioned above, think about recycling some cans from the kitchen trash. I just happened to be in Michaels (just happened to be! Hahaha!...Oh, I accidentally ran into Michaels! Please!) and saw these and knew they would come in handy for something. So I grabbed a few. But I will totally do this again and recycle my kitchen cans.
The handles on the cans...not needed really. I liked them. If you want handles for your recycled ones, come down about 1/2 inch and either pierce with an awl or use your Big Bite Crop-A-Dile to make a 1/8 inch hole. Once this is done, bend 6" of wire into an arch. Next, with needle nose pliers, bend the wire making loops on each end. Place the loops into the holes and pinch the wire together forming the handle.
The Michaels cans, as well as your kitchen cans will obviously hold liquids, think about using the cans as a sort of flower frog. I could see this as a cool tiered centerpiece filled with fresh cut flowers for an outside party!
Thanks For Visiting!
Jim
The Gentleman Crafter
