Upcycled Tuna Can Flower Trinket Box

 
One of my favorite custom embellishment techniques is the look of 3D flowers on clear plastic film. This process involves applying flower designs on rice paper or plain napkins to clear plastic film using Mod Podge - a decoupage glue and let dry. Then cut out the film designs. Heating it, and molding, embossing and layering the cut-outs into 3D shapes with a raised effect! For my craft, I'm using an upcycled tuna can and transforming it into a flower trinket box using this technique.

But before I get started with my tutorial, welcome to this month's Creative Craft Hop, hosted by Sara @Birdz of a Feather! If you're coming from Jenna @ The Painted Apron, hello! Wasn't her sunflower snack jar fabulous! Jenna is so creative!

Materials Used:

• Tuna can
• Ruler or tape measure 
• Faux leather fabric
• Wood circle - (top)
• RapidFuse - all purpose quick drying adhesive
• Flower image - free clipart
• Rice paper
• Printer (HP Laser Jet)
• Scissors
• Clear plastic film sheets 
• Mod Podge (Matte) - paintbrush
• Parchment paper
• Microfiber towel (for smoothing)
• Candle (open flame) - matches
• Embossing tool/Pad (foam) 
• Crystal-like ball  (top handle)

Let's begin with the tuna can, faux leather and wood circle, first. Make sure the tuna can is thoroughly washed and clean.  Free of any paper and glue and dry.

Measure how tall (2") the can is and the circumference (12.5" around) of the tuna can and using those measurements, cut out a strip of faux leather to fit the can. Then place enough adhesive along the metal to attach the fabric.

Starting at one end .  .  .

and going around the can to where you started with applying the faux fabric.

For the top, place the wood circle on .  .  .

the back of the fabric, using a pencil to draw two images of the wood piece to cut out. One for the top and one to cover the bottom of the tuna can.

Then glue on the faux fabric pieces to the wood top and bottom of the can.

Next, download or copy the flower image in Word. I needed three sizes - the largest (6.5") with the petals curving over the top and adjusting the two other sizes to 5.5" and 4.6." Then print the images on rice paper using a laser printer.

Next, place a sheet of parchment paper on your work surface and lay a sheet of clear plastic film on top. Then paint on an even layer of Mod Podge to the clear plastic film and lay the flower designs face down onto the Mod Podge. This will create a glossy, porcelain-type effect on the flowers when dry.

Flip the film sheet over and .  .  .

use a microfiber towel to smooth out the film on the flower design. Let dry.

Once dry, add an additional layer of Mod Podge on each flower and  .  .  .

let dry.

It's amazing to see the flowers dry clear. It's now time to cut out each flower.
Cut out the individual flowers and make small cuts along the flower petal design toward the center to help shape it. Then warm the petals with the flame of a candle - being careful not to get it too close. 

When the flower design is heated, it will magically curl and .  .  .

can be shaped into dimensional flowers using an embossing tool and foam pad to help shape the flower.

Be sure to shape the petals on all three flowers so that they are curving over the edge of the top.

Once the petals are shaped, begin gluing the flowers on top of each other. Start with the largest one glued to the faux leather fabric top, first.

And then, the other two on top of each other while .  .  .

staggering the petals between each layer.

And finally, glue on the crystal-like ball to the center of the flower for a handle.

Isn't this flower trinket box really cool for trinkets and what-nots!

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial on making a Flower Trinket Box using an upcycled tuna can! Up next is Ann @ The Apple Street Cottage sharing her very creative and unique way of making firecrackers from essential oil tubes! Be sure to stop by each and everyone in our creative group listed below to check out their exciting and inspiring project! And don't forget to pin, too!

Vintage Dresser Re-Do with Chalk Paint | Carol | Bluesky at Home

Sunflower Snack Jar  | Jenna | The Painted Apron

Upcycled Tuna Can Flower Trinket Box | Gail | Purple Hues and Me

Firecrackers' From Essential Oil Tubes | Ann | The Apple Street Cottage

Crochet a Modern Geometric Diamonds Blanket for Cozy Vibes Year Round | Marie | Elle Marie Home

Watermelon Summer Sign | Tammy | Patina and Paint

Easy & Affordable Coastal Farmhouse Wood Bead Wreath | Niki | Life As a Leo Wife

Easy and Fun Patriotic Painting Ideas for July 4th | Donna | Modern on Monticello

3 Ways to Craft Simple Greeting Card Art | Cecilia | My Thrift Store Addiction

 Dollar Tree Wreath Tutorial |Terri | Decorate and More with Tip

Flower Leaf Cord Wrapped Basket

 

Here's a fun and quite unusual looking DIY basket that's ideal to make for spring, Easter or just about any decorative theme! Perfect to share on this month's  Creative Craft Hop hosted by Sara @Birdz of a Feather!  If you are visiting from Terri @Decorate & More with Tip, WELCOME! Wasn't Terri's Texture Bunny Wall Plaque adorable!  Getting back to my basket, don't you just love the cool effect of the curved "flower leaves" that enhances the basket! Want to know how I made this? Just follow along with me!  

Ceramic Candle Lantern Update

Breathe new life into a discarded candle lantern by changing the finish and giving the handle a brand-new macrame look! For this project, I'm using Krylon's Stone Coarse Texture spray paint in a charcoal sand color and something called  S'getti String in silver sparkle. It's a round, hollow tube made from PVC plastic. This cord is used to make crafts such as key fobs, lanyards, jewelry, and other accessories and is perfect to macrame on a handle.
      

I rescued this candle lantern among other things from my neighbor's moving pile of trash! You can clearly see the fibers on the handle are dry rotted and the ceramic finish looks cracked in places. Other than that the candle lantern is in pretty good shape -especially after a really good cleaning!

I remove the handle before cleaning and once the lantern was completely dry, stuffed the interior with a plastic bag stuffed with newspaper to prevent the textured paint from getting on the finish inside which was in good condition.

Then placed the lantern in a cardboard box outside to spray paint.

The directions on the can said to wait 15 minutes between coats and dries in 30 minutes  and can be handled in 5-6 hours.  No way was that true for me. I left the spray painted lantern outside in 90 degree weather for 3-4 hours before it was dry and then it was still quite tacky. And I put it inside overnight before handling the next day, too.

Drying upside down.

To macrame the handle, I had to pull off the woven rotted fibers from the wire which was in very good shape to reuse.

And then painted the wire handle a very light metallic gray to match the color of the cord. (not shown)

The next step is to determine how much cording is needed to macrame the wire handle. Since I had already macrame a wire pumpkin, I went with the measurements I use there. That is: find the length of the handle and  to multiply 4-6 times the length of the handle, and then double that amount. So from end to end of the handle, the lenght was rounded off to 20 inches. Multiply that by "5" = 100 and double that - 200 inches. Since the cord was rather thin, I used two, 200" length of cords.

For this handle, we will be making a square knot using the two folded cords as one cord. Begin by folding the two cords in half and placing the middle of the folded cord at the curve of one of the end hooks. Then tie the cords in a simple knot around the wire and push it at the curve near the end.

Next, pick up the left cord and make an "L" shape across the wire and under the right cord.

Then take the right cord under the wire and over the left cord (L shape) and out.  

Pull the right and left cords tight with the wire in the center to complete the first half knot.

Then mirror the process working with the opposite side cords, creating a backward "L" shape across the wire and under the left cord. Then take the left cord under the wire and over the right cord and out pulling cords tight.

Continue tying the square knot along the wire handle until reaching the end.

Once you reach the end, tie cords in a double knot, cutting off excess cords. and securing ends with a quick  drying  multipurpose glue.  Then push the cords together to expose the hooks and attach to lantern.

                                                                     

The stone finish and macrame handle gives the perfect finishing touch to a worn out look. 

Perfect for anywhere outside - patio, porch or backyard! Anywhere that needs an extra outdoor glow.. 

Light your patio or outdoor space and create a charming unique piece of decorative lighting. Simple add an LED remote control light inside this lantern and watch it illuminate throughout the openings all around.

I hope you enjoyed how I updated a discarded candle lantern that was destined for the trash into a beautifully stone finish with a macrame handle! Created especially for this month's Old to New Challenge Blog Hop! I've joined a group of creative bloggers to bring you a themed monthly challenge blog hop on the 2nd Monday of each month, hosted by Beverly @Across the Blvd.

                           

Meet this month's Co-Hosts: and their awesome projects:

Beverly | Across the Blvd

Gail | Purple Hues and Me

Niki | Life as an LEO Wife

Julie | Sum of Their Stories

Be sure to click below to see the Creative Ideas from the co-hosts!

New Life for an Outdoor Side Table

Ceramic Candle Lantern Update

What will it be? A Cabinet Door Upcycle

Upcycle a Pretty Paper Bag into Greeting Cards