Reusing Tin Cansby Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 29 Apr 2007 05:23 AM Reusing tin cans sounds like something from our grandmother's days, when they used to carefully wash out any rare can they might have and put it to good use. Today, we seem bombarded with tin cans. They hold everything from asparagus to yellow squash. Although I try to cook from scratch using fresh ingredients, I still have a supply of cans in my cabinets. For example, yesterday I made a pumpkin pie which required (at least for my recipe) two cans. One for canned pumpkin and the other for evaporated milk. Many cans come with a pull top lid that allows the open rim to be very safe and not a cutting hazard. It seems a shame to waste the cans. So what can you do with them all? Be frugal and put them to good use as substitutes for something you might spend money to buy. Here are some ideas. A garbage or peel collector. Have to peel a bunch of potatoes, trim some meat or green beans? Have a can at the ready to catch the scraps. Yes, you can actually purchase little garbage containers to do the same thing, but why? Lanterns. This is a great craft for which my current stash of cans will be used. I plan on having this craft for the path in the backyard woods, the first time we get ready to use our grill and eat al fresco. Just paint some clean cans a nice rich color (I will choose a rust burgundy). You can sponge stamp a leaf or other decoration in a contrasting color on the cans after the main color dries. When all dry, fill the cans with water and freeze. Then take a small nail and hammer and hammer holes in the can in any pattern or design you like (the ice in the cans makes them stand up to the decorating process without denting). Let the ice melt and drain the cans. Then set a votive or tea light in the can and light. The can will glow through the holes for a nice effect. Related Articles: The Third Principle of A Frugal Lifestyle: Recycle What to Do with Old Toothbrushes Real Kitchen Uses for Egg Cartons Real Storage Solutions Using Egg Cartons Recycling Yarn: Unraveling a Thrift Store Find Can Save You Big Bucks Creative Uses for Thrift Store Finds New Uses for Old Baby Blankets Interview with A Dumpster Diver (1) Interview with A Dumpster Diver (2) Interview with A Dumpster Diver (3) Learn more about Mary Ann Romans  Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. Relevantfrugal tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags crafts, reuse, recycle, tin cans Discuss this article
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