We’ve all ended up with a load of empty soup tin cans at one time or another. More than likely they probably end up in the recycling bin with the glass bottles and cardboard boxes.

But why throw out an empty soup tin that could easily be transformed into something wonderfully creative and practical? If Andy Warhol found art in soup cans, so can you.

From flowerpots and candle holders to festive decorations – the only limit is your imagination when it comes to reusing tin cans.

So, the next time you enjoy your favourite soup or use it in a delicious recipe, perhaps you’ll think twice about throwing the empty can away and begin your own upcycling journey.

How do you Reuse Soup Tin Cans at Home?

Before you dive in and let your creative juices flow, it’s important to follow a few simple steps to ensure your empty tin can is ready for upcycling. After all, you don’t want to injure yourself in the design process.

Firstly, check your empty tin cans have been thoroughly cleaned inside with warm, soapy water. You don’t want to get halfway through a project before discovering a rogue chunk of food lodged at the bottom. That would only waste time and you’d probably end up starting again after you’ve given the can a proper rinse. If you want to preserve the label, you’ll need to be cautious so it won’t disintegrate or rip.

Secondly, it’s important to look for sharp edges that could leave you with a nasty cut to your hand or fingers. If sharp edges are present, safely round them off with a metal file so they become smooth and safe to handle. When dealing with sharp objects, make sure you have appropriate gloves and eye protection on hand.

Finally, assemble your paints, brushes, and any craft tools you’ll need and off you go. Whether you’re making practical objects for around the home or a special gift for a loved one, this guide will help you discover how to reuse tin cans to give them a new lease of life.

6 Ingenious Ways to Reuse Your Soup Tin Cans at Home

These quirky and stylish ideas are bound to have friends and family talking. Each time you take a spoonful of soup, you’ll immediately wonder what magic your soup tin can could create.

1. Turn your tin can into a fun planter

What could be simpler than reusing your empty tin cans by turning them into a feature planter or flowerpot. You won’t even need to remove the outside packaging as it makes a really striking feature, as you can see from these reused Campbell’s tomato soup cans. These planters can be used for plants, flowers, or herbs and can be fixed to a wall or wooden fence as well as left to sit on the windowsill or as a table centrepiece. If you’re looking for less maintenance, you could even fit these cans out with artificial flowers or plants.

2. Make an attractive candle holder

Create a special ambience in a room with these pretty candle holders made from reused tin cans. All you need is a hammer and nail to punch holes in the tin, as well as appropriate safety equipment and a creative space to work in. You could even use several tins and punch the outline of a letter on each one to spell out a word or a person’s name. A handy tip is to fill an empty can with rice or water then place it in the freezer so that it remains stable and doesn’t dent when you’re punching the holes. You could also paint the inside of the can a different colour to give it extra appeal. These are ideal with LED candles too.

3. Transform into colourful wind chimes

These brightly coloured wind chimes look amazing and would make a great feature in any room or garden. Just punch a hole in the bottom of an empty tin, thread it with string, and then hang it in your favourite place as the calming ring of chimes fills the air. This is also a brilliant idea for children’s projects, especially during summer holidays or at the weekend.

4. Use as a bird feeder

Wildlife enthusiasts will love this idea for making a bird feeder from a few humble tin cans. All you must do is poke holes near the top of the can big enough for string or wire to poke through, then fill it with birdseed and hang it from a tree or fence. Alternatively, take any number of empty cans and secure them to a wooden board to create a multiple bird feeder. You’ll have starlings, robins and sparrows gracing your outdoor space in no time.

5. Reach for the tin can utensil organiser

Make cluttered kitchens a thing of the past with these DIY utensil or cutlery holders, made from reused tin cans. You could spray each can in a colour that matches your kitchen décor then fill with utensils, so you’ll never have to hunt around the cutlery draw again. For even easier access, you could also fix them to the wall using strong glue or screws. In addition to utensils and cutlery, these reused cans are also great as organisers for pencils, stationary, jewellery, and even DIY items like nuts, screws and bolts.

6. Create tin can festive decorations

We’re back to punching holes in reused tin soup cans again, and for good reason. Using the same steps you would follow to make a candle holder, create a festive pattern of holes, such as a star, in your empty tin. Thread through some string or wire, place a candle inside, then hang from the Christmas tree or use as part of a larger festive display.

How do you reuse your Campbell’s soup tin cans?

Are you a crafty upcycler with endless ideas for reusing empty tin cans? We’d love you to share your stunning creations with us, so please take a photo and tag us using the buttons below.