There are almost as many tin can crafts for kids to make as there are free tin cans. It's one of the most abundant craft materials around and keeping the tin cans out of our landfills is a green thing to do. So, give them to your kids to create unique and fun projects for the home, garden and to give as gifts. Here are a few tin can crafts for kids to get you started, just be sure to file down the sharp edges on the cans.

*Tin Can Lanterns

Fill a clean tin can with water and place it in the freezer until frozen solid. Place the can on its side and use a hammer and nail to punch a design all around the can. Punch two holes opposite each other near the open end of the can to attach a carrier. Allow the ice to melt and attach a piece of wire to the two holes near the top. Place a candle inside.

*Pencil Holder/Desk Caddy

Tin cans make the perfect pencil holder or desk caddy. Short cans such as tuna cans are perfect for holding rubber bands and paper clips, while the tall ones can hold pencils, rulers and scissors. They can be painted, covered with paper or fabric, decoupaged or treated with a crackle finish. You can even get fancy and gold leaf them or cover with lace and ribbons. Use clip art, stickers, photos, braid, tinsel, pipe cleaners, match sticks or popsicles sticks to decorate and personalize them for gifts.

*Garden Toad House

A very easy tin can craft for kids to make is a toad house for the garden. Cut an opening in the top side of the can large enough for a toad to get through and sand the edges smooth. You can decorate the toad house with decoupage, paint, stickers, plastic flowers or anyway you like as long as you seal it well against the weather. Turn the can bottom side up and place in the garden. It won't be long before a toad moves in.

*Hobo Stove

A coffee can makes a great hobo stove using the bottom of the can for the cook surface. Just turn the open down and use a punch type can opener to punch three holes in the bottom side for a flue. On the open end make two cuts four-inches apart and four-inches deep. Carefully fold the cut area toward the inside and hammer flat. Place the can on the ground with the flue side up and place small stick and twigs in the opening at the bottom and light. The fire will heat the cooking surface enough to fry bacon and eggs.

*Tin Can Phones

We all played with tin can phones when we were children and this generation will enjoy them too. Just punch a hole in the center bottom of two cans. Cut a ten to fifteen-foot long string and thread the ends through the holes from the bottom of the cans. Tie a large knot in the ends of the string. Talk into the can and a friend on the other end will hear you as the sound is carried by the string.

*Tin Can Stilts

Punch two large holes on each bottom side of two cans. Measure from your hands (hanging at your sides) to your feet and cut two ropes twice that length. Run the rope, such as a jump-rope through the can and tie the ends securely. Place your feet on the cans and hold the ropes in your hand, lifting your feet as you walk on your stilts.

*Tin Can Bird Feeder

Remove the plastic lid from a clean coffee can and cut a large off-center hole in it. Below the hole hot glue a short piece of dowel or a broken pencil for the bird to perch on. Half-way down the side of the can punch a small hole and run a doubled piece of fishing line through it. Pull the line to where you can work with it and run the ends through a button and tie securely. This will create the hanger. Fill the can half full of bird feed, replace the plastic lid and hang in a tree.

*Tin Can Flower Pot

Punch a few drain holes in the end of a clean tin can. Spray the can, inside and out, with a spray sealer and allow to dry. Once dry the can is ready to be decorated with paint, stickers or decoupage. Spray with sealer again and pot a plant or start seeds for your garden. You could make several of these and line them up on a fence, wall or porch railing.

Keep those tin cans out of our landfills and let your kids turn them into nifty crafts. Not only will you be helping to save the environment, you'll give your kids many hours of creative fun. Feel free to try one of these tin can crafts for kids or let them think up their own.

Learn more about this author, Pamela Kay.
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