Paint cans are not only functional for painting but they've become a new way to package almost anything from birthday and Christmas gifts to cookies and clothing. Clean, silver paint cans with lids are inexpensive and available at nearly any home improvement center--and they beg to have a creative application. If you want to express yourself by presenting a gift in a unique way or desire to dress up a bathroom or bookshelf, here are some ideas on how to take a plain paint can from functional to fun.
Paper
The easiest and quickest way to decorate a novelty paint can is to create a decorative paper label that will go around the can. Although a simple technique, the real creativity comes in finding just the right type of paper for your use. Handmade organic paper with a high fiber look makes a terrific wrapper for a gift presentation, and unique wrapping papers available at art and stationery stores can create a dramatic effect against the silver can. Kids will enjoy making paper to use for wrapping the can by painting or doing hand prints on watercolor paper and having you trim it to size for the can.
Once you have selected your paper, trim it to size and wrap it around the can. Adhere to the can using double-stick tape. Leave the can top plain silver or apply a bow to the top for fun.
Artificial Flowers
Artificial flower blooms will add a fun look to a paint can and is easy to do. Purchase silk flowers with large wide blooms such as daisies and mums. Cut the blooms off the stems and add a dot of hot glue to the center of the back of the flower. Press firmly to the sides of the paint can to adhere. Continue working your way around the can with blooms, crowding them together to make a full and festive look. Cover the can top as well, and wrap some greenery or vine to the handle of the paint can to finish the look.
Faux Fur
Whether you want to go stylish or funky, faux fur adds a unique touch to your gift-paint can or home decorative can used for storage or as an accent. Much like the paper application, purchase some faux leopard fur, zebra fur or even sheep wool and cut to fit. Secure one end of the faux fur to the can with a seam of hot glue, then wrap the material around the can securing the other end with hot glue under the seam. Cut a circle of the material to fit the can lid to finish the application.
Decoupage
Decoupage is a collage technique that allows you to adhere a variety of paper materials onto a surface. For your paint can application you can go in a lot of directions with decoupage. If you are using the can as a gift holder for a birthday, photo copy or print out photos of your friend throughout her life and decoupage to the can by applying a decoupage medium such as Modge Podge and layering your images to cover the can.
You could also make a word collage by applying significant words to the can in a collage manner. Apply the words cut from magazines at different angles over the can. You can use any kind of paper to decorate your can with this technique, including newspaper, colored wrapping paper, glossy pictures or even fine art prints. Follow directions on your decoupage medium, and remember to finish it off with a final coat of the glue to seal the whole piece to the can.
