My mom and dad–and grandma and grandpa–all shared the same obsession with empty coffee cans. They didn’t meet one with which they could part. It’s rubbed off on me, I’m afraid. Conversations surrounding the topic in my house go something like this:
Him, while holding up an old coffee can stashed in some corner of the basement or garage: “I’m recycling this.”
Her: “No! That’s a good can.”
Him, while rolling his eyes: “Fine.”
But, seriously, a good coffee can or two can translate into some really cool stuff. And now, with these ideas in my arsenal, I’ll have a better comeback than ‘that’s a good can’ next time one of my precious containers is threatened with recycling.
Up top, check out ReadyMade’s Coffee Can Lamp tutorial.
For a very old school lamp alternative, we just might want to give Karen’s Coffee Can Lanterns a try.
Photo: Design Sponge
Bonnie turned an old coffee can into a pop-up plastic bag holder.
Photo: Creating a House of Grace
Or how about using a bunch to make a wine rack?
Photo: Real Simple
I spotted this cute wall of coffee can planters at AT. (All gardens need a touch of blue, don’t you think?)
Photo: AT
Speaking of planters, Stephanie used an old coffee can and cardboard strips to make this faux birch planter:
Photo: Love and Lace
Lee used 14 Trader Joe’s coffee cans to make her yarn cubby. So cute and colorful.
Photo: Leethal
Taking our cans back in the kitchen, here’s a trick from The Dutch Baker’s Daughter. She makes a heavenly Coffee Can Pumpkin Bread baked IN coffee cans!
Photo: The Dutch Baker’s Daughter
And, finally, here’s one for summertime: Coffee Can Ice Cream. The website Make Ice Cream has three different recipes for making such and include vanilla, chocolate and, of course, coffee.
http://www.curbly.com/users/diy-maven/posts/13476-roundup-9-cool-creative-uses-for-old-coffee-cans
