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    Home » Crafts

    DIY Luminaries | Tin Can Luminaries

    Published: Jan 31, 2023 by Ang Paris · 4 Comments
    This post may contain affiliate links·

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    These DIY Luminaries made from tin cans are the perfect way to light up your outdoor BBQs and get-togethers this summer! This fun upcycling project is great to do with kids, too. via @jugglingactmamaThese DIY Luminaries made from tin cans are the perfect way to light up your outdoor BBQs and get-togethers this summer! This fun upcycling project is great to do with kids, too. via @jugglingactmamaThese DIY Luminaries made from tin cans are the perfect way to light up your outdoor BBQs and get-togethers this summer! This fun upcycling project is great to do with kids, too. via @jugglingactmama

    These DIY Luminaries made from tin cans are the perfect way to light up your outdoor BBQs and get-togethers. Tin can luminaries are a fun upcycling project to do with kids this summer but are also great all year long for parties, holidays, and events.

    DIY Luminaries - collage image with text overlay for Tin Can Luminaries craft project
    This is a fantastic craft for summertime, but is also great for Earth Day to talk about reusing items!

    Hello, Juggling Act Mama readers! My name is Amanda, and I blog over at Dwelling in Happiness. I'm so thrilled to be contributing here at JAM! At my blog, you'll find me sharing all sort of things from simple crafts, to DIY home decor, organizational ideas, tips and tricks, and sometimes even a recipe or two. But my most favorite thing to share is crafts, and I'm so excited to share these super duper cute DIY Marbled Tin Can Luminaries with you!

    Jump to:
    • Materials
    • Instructions
    • 💬 Comments

    I'm a huge fan of inexpensive crafts and upcycling, and this craft is just that. We all have tin cans lying around, and if not, you're bound to open up a can of beans or soup at some point, right? These luminaries are perfect for hanging around the patio, lit up along stairs, or sitting on outdoor tables. And, they're so pretty! Want to make some? Here's what you'll need...

    Marbling seems to be the new "it" thing right now, and I wanted to get in on that fun trend, too. I had no idea how easy it actually is, and now, I kind of want to marble everything in sight. 🙂

    materials needed including nail polish, hammer, wire and cleaned out old tin cans to make your own luminaries

    Materials

    Here is what you need to make your own tin can luminaries:

    • Tin cans (any size works, but I used the typical 15oz "soup can" size)
    • White spray paint
    • Nail polish in bright, coordinating colors (as many as you'd like!)
    • Plastic container or big bowl filled with water (deep enough to dip your can in to marble) (not pictured)
    • Toothpicks (not pictured)
    • Thin wire (that is easy to maneuver)
    • Hammer and nail
    • Wire cutters
    • Tea light candles
    tin cans painted white and stacked up

    Instructions

    Here's how to make DIY luminaries

    1. Wash and dry out your tin cans, making sure to take off all the paper and glue from the outside (if the glue is stubborn, Goo Gone is great stuff!). Then, spray paint your tin cans white. I also sprayed the inside a little bit.

    collage compiling steps for making DIY Luminaries with tin cans and nail polish.

    2. Once dry, fill a large plastic container or bucket with warm water. The marbling process needs to be done super quickly or the nail polish will dry before dipping your cans in! (1) Carefully pour one nail polish color into the water. (2) Pour a second nail polish color into the water in the middle of the first color. (3) Very quickly, use a toothpick to swirl the colors together. (4) Dip your can into the water, and slowly turn your can (5) so the nail polish sticks to the can. Continue turning (6) until all the nail polish is on the can. Voila! Continue the process with all the cans. I mixed different colors for all of my luminaries. Remember, you'll want to do it QUICKLY so the nail polish doesn't dry (I may have had to do it a few times to get it right..)! 🙂

    tin cans with marbled paint are lined up to dry before they are made into tin can luminaries

    3. Let the luminaries dry for several hours, or overnight.

    close up of a hammer making a hole in a tin can using a nail

    4. Once dry, it's time to add some holes to the cans. I used a little piece of wood and put it into the can to help stabilize it. Hammer a nail in the can until it makes a hole. Continue hammering the nail in and making holes randomly all over the can. Repeat the process with all the cans.

    collage image - how to make DIY Luminaries with tin cans cans with marbled paint and step by step instructions for adding the wire for hanging.

    5. Now it's time to add some wire for hanging. (1) Using the same nail and hammer, poke a hole in the top of the can, and one on the opposite side for the wire. (2) Put some wire through one of the holes, and (3) using wire cutters, twist the wire around itself to create a little "loop." This is will help keep the wire from coming out. (4) Cut the wire and do the same for the other side, feeding the wire into the hole to the inside of the can, and twist the wire into a loop. Now they are ready to hang!

    tin can luminaries - close up of pink and purple marbled tin can made into a rustic upcycled light hangs from a fence

    6. Add a tea light candle to each can. Or, if these will be hung on a wooden fence, use battery operated tea light candles.

    pink and green marbled tin can luminary hanging from a fence

    Aren't these the cutest little luminaries? Totally perfect for lighting up your yard for a little summer get-together!

    homemade marbled luminaries at night lit up

    I just love how they look all lit up, too!

    pink and green marbled tin can luminary hanging from a fence

    I can't wait to have some friends over this summer just so I can light these pretties up and display them all around our yard! I think I might even make several more. 🙂

    More Fun Projects for Outdoors

    Here are a few more crafts I think you might enjoy...

    • Sequined Milk Jug Bird Feeder
    • How to Hang Patio Lights
    • Tin Can Stilts Tutorial
    • DIY Pallet Planter
    • DIY Gift Ideas for Teacher Appreciation - Updated for 2023
    • Unique Teacher Appreciation Gifts
    • Mini DIY Dollar Tree Planter
    • Easy to Make Garden Markers
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. HArmony @ creatingmykaleidoscope says

      May 28, 2015 at 9:40 am

      I absolutely LOVE these! These are definitely being added to my list of DIY presents. Thanks for the tutorial.

      Reply
    2. Keri says

      May 28, 2015 at 12:44 pm

      Wow! I never would've thought to use nail polish.

      Reply
    3. Corinne says

      June 05, 2015 at 2:06 pm

      I love this idea! Not only do they look beautiful and fun to make, it's such a smart way to upcycle tin cans. Thanks so much for sharing it at This Is How We Roll Thursday.

      Reply
    4. DeeAnna Pendarvis says

      December 09, 2020 at 8:33 am

      Love easy and inexpensive crafs..

      Reply

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