If you’re like many of us at BumbleBar, then you go through your coffee like a fiend. Some of us drive through a line every morning for our caffeine, some of us use the Keurig machine at work, and some of us make it ourselves at home. One of the more economical ways of making coffee at home is through buying coffee grounds in those huge gallon coffee cans. On my own, I’ve managed to go through two of those drums in the last four years, so I decided that I needed to make something out of it instead of just recycling the container.
There are infinite creative directions you could take when repurposing an old coffee can, but I decided to transform mine into a comically large beer can replica of Spokane’s very own No-Li Brewhouse. The super simple method that I used to do this allows for you to create any design. Follow along and make your own!
Gather Your Materials
All I needed for this craft was a ruler, pencil, pen eraser, two sheets of 8.5in x 11in cardstock paper, tape, and colored pencils. You might choose to use paints, markers, etc.
Measure the Coffee Can, Cut, and Tape
Before drawing out my design on the cardstock, I measured (about 18in) around the coffee can. I used a fabric ruler to see how much distance I needed to cover with the paper. Then I taped one edge of a sheet of cardstock to the tail end of the other, measured 18in, cut across, and threw away the end that wasn’t taped.
Draw Your Design
Use a light pencil and a possible reference image to sketch out your design. Make sure the pencil marks are easily erased. This helps you hide whatever mistakes you make as best as possible.
Outline Your Design
Use a pen or marker to outline and solidify the lines you sketched with a pencil.
Color in Your Design
Using whatever medium you decided on, color in the lines you outlined. Pro-tip: wait a few minutes between using a marker and coloring your design in. Depending on the pen/marker, the lines might smudge.
Wrap Your Design around the Can and Tape the Edges Together
Once you’re happy with what you’ve created on your cardstock, carefully wrap it around the can and tape the edges together and to the metal. Wah-lah! You have a brand new spatula holder! Or candy bowl! Or change container! The options, as always, are endless.
If you like crafts like these, check out what made for some last minute DIY holiday gift ideas as well as what we did with some crayons and jars. And check out what else you could do with an empty coffee can like the one we just transformed!
