How to Make Jewelry or Decorations Out of Tin Can Lids

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How to Make Jewelry or Decorations Out of Tin Can Lids

Earrings, necklaces, ornaments, home and garden decor - the possibilities of what you can make just depends on your own imagination!

Felicia Gustin

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Step 1 of 36

You'll need a special can opener that doesn't leave sharp edges. I use the Good Grips Smooth Edge Can Opener from Oxo which makes a smooth cut below the can edge.

Step 2 of 36

So using this can opener, remove the lid from any size can.

Step 3 of 36

It pops right off - there are no sharp edges!

Step 4 of 36

See?!

Step 5 of 36

Next rinse off the lid from your can and dry.

Step 6 of 36

I save all my lids until I am ready to turn them into earrings, necklaces, ornaments or decorations for the home or garden. I often personalize them when I make gifts for friends or family.

Step 7 of 36

There are endless things you can now do with the can lids! Use your imagination and basically anything you find in an arts and crafts store. Different lid sizes lend themselves to different projects.

Step 8 of 36

A note about hole punching… I finally invested in this metal hole puncher (it cost about $30) because I got tired of using a hammer and nail plus the hole is so much cleaner.

Step 9 of 36

So here is an example of earrings I made from tomato paste can lids. I used a glue gun to attach small fabric flowers found in scrapbooking supplies. "Glossy Accents" adds a shimmery finish.

Step 10 of 36

Same materials here but on a larger lid to make this necklace. I used a piece of leather cord as well.

Step 11 of 36

I found this unusual button a long time ago and decided to incorporate it into this necklace.

Step 12 of 36

Water colors and ink on water color paper accented with glitter come together on these earrings.

Step 13 of 36

To make this pendant, I cut out the mermaid from a Loteria card (Mexican card game), then glued her on a "sea" of glitter surrounded by tiny shells.

Step 14 of 36

I loved this image on a package of Italian pasta so I used it with glitter accents and then coated it with Mod Podge craft glue to give it a nice finish.

Step 15 of 36

Picked up two postcards announcing a local event because I liked the images. Cut them out and attached them with glue gun. Topped it off with Mod Podge craft glue.

Step 16 of 36

This image came from a greeting card. I accented it with some glitter and coated it with Mod Podge.

Step 17 of 36

This is a big lid (from a can of Goya guava (guayaba) paste). The background is from a wall calendar of sunflower images and the horse is from a birthday card.

Step 18 of 36

I covered the lid with fabric and then attached a cardboard flower that I found in scrapbooking supplies.

Step 19 of 36

Yo ho! A pirate attached to a lid covered with duct tape!

Step 20 of 36

An old button centers this pendant. I used spray paint for the background.

Step 21 of 36

Here are some other people's examples of things you can make using can lids that you can swipe through. ------->

Step 22 of 36

Felt, feathers, pipe cleaners and plastic eyes = angry birds!

Step 23 of 36

A wall hanging!

Step 24 of 36

Gift tags.

Step 25 of 36

Holiday ornaments!

Step 26 of 36

Another tree ornament.

Step 27 of 36

A mobile - this one uses plain lids but think of how it might look if the lids were embellished!

Step 28 of 36

Halloween decorations. If you live in a country that doesn't celebrate Halloween, just adapt these to whatever holidays you might celebrate.

Step 29 of 36

Garden markers.

Step 30 of 36

Add a hammer and a nail to the mix and the possibilities expand even more.

Step 31 of 36

Another wall hanging.

Step 32 of 36

Attach felt to the backside of your lid and you have coasters.

Step 33 of 36

Attach a magnet to the back and you have a lovely gift for friends or family.

Step 34 of 36

Sardine, anchovy or mint can lids can be used too.

Step 35 of 36

So there you have it. From these…

Step 36 of 36

...to these! Be sure to share any additional ideas you might have. The possibilities are truly endless - have fun!

You're Done

Check out other guides by this author!

Felicia Gustin

Bay Area, California USA

I love to create! All kinds of things. Food, crafts, jewelry, art, photos, theater, events, history, social justice. My proudest creation is my daughter!

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Smooth edge can opener

Metal Hole Puncher (or hammer & nail)

Can lids

Craft supplies

Glue gun

Imagination!

Thanks, Kacey!

Felicia Gustin (author) 4 weeks ago

I love this its awesome

Kacey Spencer 4 weeks ago

Thanks Gina - so glad you like these!

Felicia Gustin (author) last month

These are so cool!!! I love the earrings and the wall hanging!!!

Gina Ribena last month

Thanks VB!!!

Felicia Gustin (author) last month

Wow, super creative! You have a great imagination. :)

V B last month

Glad you enjoy them, Alina!

Felicia Gustin (author) 3 months ago

You are amazing, so many great ideas!!!

Alina Alina 3 months ago

Thanks Maria!

Felicia Gustin (author) 8 months ago

This is truly crafting at its finest. Lid art is so unique and with a bit if imagination can be really cute. Thanks for the detailed instructions.😊

Maria van Ulsen 8 months ago

If any of you make your own lid art, email me the photo and I'll add it to the guide for others to see. My email is: feliciagustin@yahoo.com

Felicia Gustin (author) 10 months ago

Love the idea

Saba Z 10 months ago

Thanks to everyone for your great comments. I'm so glad that others are also inspired by this idea and will hopefully try it. I wish there was a way that people share images in the comments because then we could see your ideas as well.

Felicia Gustin (author) 10 months ago

I never thought can lid might be useful. But now i can say they are beautiful and yes they are useful. Omg unblieveble

Tabasom Sam 10 months ago

Your amazing! Love these!

Betty :) 10 months ago

@Matt - One person's trash is another person's work of art! Have fun!

Felicia Gustin (author) 10 months ago

Bravo! I always thought of tin can lids as trash. You sure changed my outlook. Thanks for the great ideas.

Matt N 10 months ago

@ Brittney - thanks for your help! I added a couple more examples thanks to you. 🌻

Felicia Gustin (author) 10 months ago

@felicia if you go to the "me" tab and tap the blue button (with a pencil) on your guide, you'll be able to add photos and then republish. You can also rearrange steps by holding down on a step and dragging it to a new spot. Hope this helps!

Brittney Riley 10 months ago

I've made a few more since I uploaded the guide and wanted to share those photos. But I can't figure out how to add images to an already published guide. Any suggestions?

Felicia Gustin (author) 10 months ago

Amazing! Thank you for sharing, going to definitely make these.

Boris Borealis 10 months ago

I agree. Upcycling is wonderful & it all looks like such fun. Create to your heart's content inexpensively! Super ideas all! Thanks for sharing.

Alice Ryan 10 months ago

Upcycle! Great idea! :)

Deanna Light 10 months ago

Wonderful job u've been doing!!

Y P 10 months ago

What a creative idea. And your use of everyday objects as embellishments is great! Thanks for this unique and inspiring guide!

Johanna D 10 months ago

You my dear are AWESOME!

S A 10 months ago

These are so great!! I would've never thought to save can lids. I'll have to start saving them now:)

Taylor Price 10 months ago

Thanks for all the comments! Once you know you're going to make these, you began to save greeting cards, advertising, and other images that might be usable for your lid craft. Heck, I walk into a Michael's craft store and it seems every aisle has items you can use for this!

Felicia Gustin (author) 10 months ago

I love the tree one. So beautiful. What a brilliant idea you have had! Time to buy myself an oxo can opener. Thank you very much for this I feel inspired.

Corinne Dexter 10 months ago