Here’s a simple tutorial for making a tin can vase or pencil holder craft. It makes a wonderful, homemade gift for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day!

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These homemade pencil holders or vases made from tin cans are super easy for kids of all ages to make! I love how they are personalized with a photograph to make them extra special for mom or dad. (This post contains affiliate links.)

Personalized Tin Can Pencil Holder or Vase

Materials for Tin Can Craft

• Empty tin can with no sharp edges (This can opener is our favorite for cutting smooth edges.)
• Acrylic paint and paintbrushes
• Craft sponge
• Photograph of child printed out on paper
• Mod Podge

Directions for Tin Can Craft

1. Paint your tin can with one color of acrylic paint. (You can also use tempera paint, but you might need a few extra coats to get full coverage.) Let the paint dry.

2. Print out a photograph of your child onto regular paper from your printer. (You could use photo paper, but, because it is thicker than regular paper, you’ll need to really work to adhere it securely to the can.) Make sure the photo is small enough to fit onto your tin can. Tear the photo from your paper to give it a worn look. Use Mod Podge to adhere the photo to the painted tin can. (You can paint right over the entire photo with the Mod Podge- it will dry clear.)

3. Once the Mod Podge coat over the photo had dried, use a sponge to sponge paint another paint color all over your tin can and around the edges of the torn photo. Let it dry.

4. Add a final coat of Mod Podge over the entire tin can and let dry.

You can use your personalized tin can craft as a pencil holder, a vase for homemade flowers, or even a planter. What a special homemade gift for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, or Christmas!

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