Tin Punch Candle Holder

Donna
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 555 Posts

Finished candle holder with lighted candle. Repurposing used cans from soup to cat food, these tin punched cans make adorable, homey holders for candles on tables or in a centerpiece.

Total Time: Less than an hour after you've frozen the water

Supplies:

tin cans from your recycling bin
paper/scissors
nail
hammer
water
candle
bath towel

Steps:

Clean the can and remove the label off of a used tin can (I used the little cat food cans for this particular project, but with the larger cans you can make more elaborate designs or even names or words like "joy".
You may use the back of the label (if you removed it carefully) but sometimes that paper is thin and gets wet too easily so I recommend you make two labels the same size as the original can label to make another heavier duty card stock template. I remember this step after my original label got wet.
Fill the can with water and freeze solid even if that means overnight.

step 3 can with frozen water next to template

Draw the same design on your paper templates. The second template is just a spare if you rip your original. If you are crafty enough to free hand a design you needn't even do this step.

Once your template is drawn and your water in your can is solid ice, tape the template back on the can.

I fold up a thick towel to hold my can immobile while I hammer.
With one or an assortment of nail sizes, hammer little holes along your template lines. A variety of sizes and how deep you make the holes makes interesting light shows at the end.