It all started in a school cafeteria in Williamsburg, Va…

It’s the tale of the tin can…we begin our journey in the local elementary school cafeteria where the cafeteria manager happens to be a crafter who hates to let anything go to waste, including the big tin cans that fruits and veggies come in.  This simple tin can makes it’s way to school cafeteria manager’s home where it is cleaned and stored away for a future project.  Shortly thereafter, the can is used as packaging in a R.A.K. and finds itself being shipped across the country to Seattle, WA.  That’s when it becomes mine! Muhahaha!  My very first tin can to alter!

Seriously though, my sister in law is turning 30, she lives on a farm and I couldn’t think of anything to buy her so I thought I’d make her something.  I decided to alter this tin can and make it a gardening supply can and fill it full of gardening supplies and goodies.  She can use it as a decoration or to put seeds in, or whatever she wants once she gets it.  Until then it’s my job to make it cute, so I started by choosing some paper and embellishments to dress it up.  Here’s how she started out.

Kind of naked and plain…so I went with the whole farm theme and chose the Farm Girl collection by October Afternoon.  I used scor-tape to adhere the paper onto the tin can and then applied two thin coats of mod podge and this is what I had so far.

Next, I punched two holes on either side of the can, set two eyelets using my Big Bite,  sewed the “Sew Fun” banners from the collection and draped one across the can.  I then took the chip n’ stick chipboard embellishments, laminated them in my xyron machine and cut them out.  I hot glued them all around the can as embellishments and this is what I got.

Next I took a piece of wire, wrapped it around a pen and twisted it to get a curled effect (thanks Meghan!) and inserted it into each of the eyelets.  I added some mini clothespins, ribbon, filled it with gardening goodies and…

Voila!  She’s finished!

Here is a close of the matching card.

So on Friday, we will pack up the car and this simple tin can will make it’s way to a farm in Idaho where it will find a permanent home.  It’s a long way from that elementary school in Virginia!  I hope my SIL likes it!