Need a unique and inexpensive idea to make a huge impression? Giving your gift inside an altered paint can give that instant "wow" factor you were looking for.
Basics
Craft Paint Can
Decorative Paper
Modge Podge
Desired adhesive for decorations
16 Glitter Pipe Cleaners
Extras
Die Cut Outs, Stickers, Yarn
Tools We Used Cricut: Personal Cutting System
Fiskars Paper Crimper
Glue Gun
Xyron 150: Create A Sticker
Xyron 900: Sticker Maker Cartridge
DIRECTIONS
Create a pattern out of card stock to use as a guide for cutting your paper to fit on the can. If you are using regular sized or scrapbook sized paper you'll need two sheets. When it is cut and ready, apply one sheet at a time using the Modge Podge or other desired adhesive.
Cut two pieces of paper to use as the bottom border. We ran ours through the Fiskars Paper Crimper for a texture effect. If you have the Xyron 900, use this to give the paper a sticky backing. Otherwise, continue using the Modge Podge. Make sure to align the seems with the background paper you have already adhered to the can.
Get 6 of the glitter pipe cleaners and your glue gun. You'll need two for each row as a border. Apply them to the very bottom border of the can, the top of your border paper you just applied and to the very top border of your can. At the top you may not want your overlapping pieces to meet where the pail handle will brush them.
Now you're ready to decorate the can however you wish! We used our Cricut machine with the Base Camp cartridge to create the layered "I love you" and the "kiss kiss hug hug" cut outs. We then embellished each of the "I's" with rhinestone heart stickers. We then applied a punch out from our paper pack to the middle of the heart in the "i love you" cut out.
For the lid, we also used our Cricut machine (George and Basic Shapes cartridge) to cut out a 5" circle (with the shadow feature on). We repeated this step for a slightly smaller circle to fit inside. We ran the smaller circle through the Fiskars Paper Crimper. For the scalloped hearts we used the Doodlecharms cartridge on our Cricut machine. Using decorative edge scissors you can get the same effect. As an added effect we placed two pieces of glitter pipe cleaner inside the unused ridge of the lid.
Use the remaining pieces of pipe cleaner on the handle. Wrap very tightly and use pliers (if needed) to crimp down the sharp edges. Once you've completely covered the handle, use a texture type yarn to lightly wrap around the handle and over the pipe cleaner for a "sparkly" effect.
Sources: For easy duplication, we used Valentine's Day paper packs we found in Wal-mart's Valentine's Day section. The rhinestone stickers were also found at Wal-mart. Our paint cans we found at local craft store.
WHAT'S INSIDE?
What you put in your can is ultimately up to you! However, here are some suggested uses for this particular design:
Candy Pail: Put various bags of candy such as Hershey's Kisses and Hugs. If you wrap them into individual packets, you can hole punch the top and add a little love note to each packet.
Goodie Pail: Wrap up some homemade cookies and brownies to send to your favorite Valentine! Top it off with a homemade love card.
Valentine Pail for Him: Valentine theme boxer shorts, conversation hearts, CDs of your favorite songs, love letter, and his favorite candy or sweet.
Valentine Pail for Her: Valentine theme sleepwear, CDs of love songs, romantic movie, love letter and her favorite chocolates.
Share your craft projects!!
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