Upcycle Coffee Cans

Does your coffee come in a metal can? Or even a plastic one? There are tons of ideas on how to re use those cans so that they aren't piling up at the garbage dump.

Here are some ideas for upcycling those coffee cans that we were able to come up with:

Paint them or Decoupage for giving gifts: Remove any labels and wash the outside so that the paint will adhere evenly.Then using spray paint made for either metal or plastic (depending on what type of coffee can you have) spray in a color that you like. You can use these spray painted cans to put gifts in to give to people for holidays or other special occasions.If decoupaging use a type of glue recommended for decoupage and use it to adhere the paper that you want to decorate your can with.

Use to absorb moisture: Take a coffee can, fill with charcoal briquets, punch holes in the lid and place in a closet that stays damp in order to absorb moisture.

Turn into a lantern: Using a drill or other tool punch holes in a pattern on your coffee can (this idea is only good for metal cans). Place a candle inside and light for a pretty candle lantern that you created yourself.

Yarn or Twine Storage: Punch a hole into the lid of a can and place the end of your yarn or twine through it. Then put your yarn into the can and put the lid back on. This will help keep your yarns from getting tangled and help you to always find the end of it.

Make a Kitchen Compost Bucket: Place an empty coffee can on your kitchen counter so that you have a place to toss kitchen scraps in between your trips out to the compost pile.

Emergency Traction Can: Keep a coffee can filled with clean litter so that if you ever find your car stuck without traction  you have litter on hand. To regain traction take the can and litter and sprinkle it where you need to in order for your car to regain traction.

Use as a Planter: You can paint your can in any color that you want, then punch some holes in the bottom, put about 1" of gravel in order to keep the holes from becoming blocked, fill with potting soil and plant some pretty blooms in your new planter.

There are tons more ideas for using coffee cans. So fire up your coffee maker and get to using those coffee grounds so you have a free coffee can to reuse around your home. Have more ideas? Please share them with us in the comments!