Friday

DIYP # 37 A Bin Tin



I love, Love, LOVE this week's project.

Y'all know I have a thing old stuff and for junk. So, this is right up my alley. Even if you don't like to repurpose old things, I think  you'll still marvel at how good I am at stealing ideas from magazines!

Supplies Needed:
3 Tins of graduated size
copper tubing (Lowes or Home Depot plumbing aisle)
5/16 Threaded still rod (hardware aisle)
2 - 5/16 in. lock nut
4 - 5/16 in. flat washers
small piece of plywood
5/16 in drill bit
Jig Saw, scroll saw or coping saw
Hacksaw (for cutting threaded rod)
crescent wrench (tighten nuts)

First, gather some old tin containers in varying sizes:


These are actually pretty inexpensive (I'm not talking about collectible tins at pricey antique stores) if you can find them at thrift stores, garage sales or your own storage. There are several products you can buy sold in similar tins (like butter cookies, coffee) if you want new ones.

The graduating size is important. So, take your time and shop around. It took me a couple of weeks of looking here and there to find these.

Next, find the center point of the largest tin's lid with a compass:


Use the compass to draw the circle onto a piece of plywood that is thinner than the inside depth of the lid:


Talk someone you know into cutting out the circle OR Do it yourself and impress me! (My hubby used a jigsaw).


Drill a hole in the center of the wooden circle and the center of the tin lid. This hole will be the same size as the threaded rod that you will use to hold the Bin Tin together. My hubby used 5/16 threaded rod.  Insert the rod through the tin and the wood and attach it with a lock washer and a nut. This is the base of your Bin Tin:

Now drill holes in the center of the three tin bases (discard other two lids). Cut a small piece of copper tubing and slide it over rod. Add the first tin, followed by a washer and another nut. Repeat with other two tins.

Before putting the last tin on permanently, my hubby took a hacksaw and cut the extra rod off at the top of the Bin Tin.


Here's the final product:


Seriously adorable, huh?

It makes the perfect centerpiece to hold napkins, salt & pepper shakers, etc. I found this adorable idea in Better Homes & Garden's 100 Decorating Idea quarterly magazine and they put it on a desk to hold post-its, pens and paperclips!

Total project $15-$20
Total time: 1 hour

P.S. I just discovered a fun new carnival called Make & Tell at The 6 o'clock Stitch, where you can link up and share new projects every Monday! There are some great ideas!

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your craft ideas are always awesome. Thanks!

Miss Mandy said...

That is so ingenius. I'm gonna be on the hunt for some contemporary looking tins for my office!

Anonymous said...

Oh that is too cute! I love it. I think I might even have a few tins lying around here. Great job!
Toni

Keri said...

Wowzers that's cute! I even have enough tins around for it, I'm pretty sure!

Anonymous said...

Adorable!
Looks really cute AND useful!

Muthering Heights said...

Wow, I really like that!!

I Am Boymom said...

Really, really cute! Since I am not real crafty, I probably won't make one, but love looking at yours!

the BLAH BLAH BLAHger said...

I LOVE it and want to try it soon!!!

Unknown said...

Looks adorable, but if craft ideas involved "serious" tools, they scare too much. I need to find someone practical to make this for me!

Shell in your Pocket said...

That is so creative.
sandy toe

Staci said...

This would be an awesome thing to do with all those Christmas tins I have. It could be a great addition to my CHristmas decor. I love your projects!

Niki Jolene said...

I adore that! I could never make one because I am not that kind of crafty, but I love it!

Your ideas are always awesome!

Amanda said...

cute-ness!!! great idea. Im on a storage/junk hiding kick- my goal is to conquer all our closets with baskets & bins!

Anonymous said...

Looks great!

Pam said...

That's a neat idea! They could also be spray painted and embelished to match any room. I'll keep this idea in mind.

southerninspiration said...

Oh, how clever is that??? And very cute, too!!!

Suzanne

Kristin - The Goat said...

If you don't like the design on the tin, you could always decoupage it. You did a great job!

MyLinda said...

That is absolutely adorable! I'm putting it on my to do list...boy that list is getting long!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the cute organizing idea and the link. Can't wait to see all the projects everyone comes up with!!

Valarie Lea said...

That is awesome!!!!! I have a friend who collects tins, I need to show her this.

(Did you notice that the name of the company on the tin with the little dutch girl is Scott Petersen??)

Kate said...

I think one of those would look great on my desk!

Unknown said...

OMG, that is seriously cool. Okay if I share a link on my blog?

Emily Ann said...

Oh I love this idea! I'm thinking about using some of my Christmas tins and using it for serving finger foods at holiday parties.

T with Honey said...

That is such an awesome project that my jaw just hit my chest. Seriously.

And if I didn't like the tins I could always grab a can of spray paint or cover with modge-podge. Oooo! Yet another great project I really don't have time for. ;)

Anonymous said...

Well, I guess I'm not very crafty because I think that is the ugliest thing I've seen in a while - and a waste of good tins.

Anonymous said...

Seriously adorable! Now I'm going to have to keep my eyes peeled for some tins...

Anonymous said...

Cute idea! Now if only I were allowed around power tools...I kid. Sort of.

And I think this is a great way to use those tins instead of having them sitting on a shelf all closed up collecting dust!

Kristin said...

i love this idea...its great!

Natalie Witcher said...

WOW!
AWESOME!
ADORABLE!
CUTE!
WICKED!
BRILLANT!

There, does that make it better?

Cathy said...

Rudeness need not apply on this blog.

Just helpin' a sista out...:)

I THINK IT'S AWESOME! Why can't I think up things like that? I love it the way it is, and I love the ideas of painting or decoupaging it, too!

KK said...

So cute!!

Dawn @ simply transparent said...

Bev "does not play well with others?!"

I for one love all things crafty and this is one of those things..maybe you should ebay some and then blog about how much $$ you made!

Sweet!

Anonymous said...

Someone must have a pretty heavy dose of PMS . . . . . . or is just generally nasty.

I FREAKIN' LOVE THIS PROJECT. THE ONLY REASON I'M NOT RUNNING OUT AND BUYING EVERY GRADUATED TIN I CAN FIND IS BECAUSE I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN OVER HOW AWESOME AND CUTE THIS PROJECT IS.

AND THE CREATOR/ORIGINATOR OF THIS PROJECT? WELL, SHE'S THE MOST AWESOME, CREATIVE, BEAUTIFUL, TALENTED, GORGEOUS, GENEROUS, HUMBLE, GRACIOUS, GODLY, CARING, KIND, SELF-CONTROLLED, JOYFUL, CHRISTIAN WOMAN I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF BLOGGITY-BLOGGING WITH.

There. Just had to get that off my chest.

Unknown said...

Adorably cute anda great organizing tool.

Heather of the EO said...

I'm in love with this.

Beach said...

Wow I am blown away that someone even thought that comment was necessary....sad!!!!

I think it is a great and cute way to do something with tins that in my world would just sit in storage and collect dust otherwise! I think I have a box full that this project may get used on next holiday season!!!
Hugs, :) Heather

Unknown said...

Very cute! And so clever - impressive!

...and she lived... said...

That's so cute! Thank you for sharing this idea with us!

bridget {bake at 350} said...

I wish I would have seen this idea before I ebayed all of my "extra" Mary Engelbreit Christmas tins! How cute would that have been for Christmas sweets?!?