Keep your plastic grocery bags ready for reusing or recycling inside a re-purposed coffee can! We used a scrap of vinyl wallpaper border to coordinate with our vintage kitchen decor, but you could use anything you have on hand. Use up some of your own scraps to be thrifty!
For each can-ister you will need
1 2lb7oz (or any size) empty metal coffee can, clean and clear of labels
vinyl wallpaper/wallpaper border, enough to go around the can
matching spray paint, suitable for plastic, to paint lid (optional)
coordinating rick-rack, enough to go around the lid and the opening
4 rubber protectors, to protect countertop
compass, or small can with approximately a 3-inch diameter, to trace lid opening
marking pen, ruler, tape measure, tacky craft glue, scissors
With compass, or small can, trace a 3-inch diameter circle in the center of the plastic lid that comes with the coffee can. Poke the end of the scissors through the center of the circle and cut out along the traced line. Discard the center piece. If desired, paint the lid a matching color with plastic-suitable spray paint and allow to dry thoroughly. If necessary, spray paint again and allow to completely dry.
With the tape measure, measure from the top of the coffee can, just below the metal band, to the bottom of the coffee can, to the top of the metal band on the bottom; this will be the HEIGHT of your wallpaper strip. Next, measure around the can and add 1/2-inch (overlap). This is the LENGTH of you wallpaper strip. Cut the wallpaper to these measurements.
With tacky craft glue, adhere the wallpaper piece to the coffee can, overlapping and gluing the last 1/2-inch. Adjust as necessary, and allow to dry.
Snap painted lid onto can. Using tacky craft glue, adhere rick-rack to the top of the lid, as shown in the photo. Allow to dry. Do likewise around the outside of the cut-out circle on the top of the lid. Allow to dry.
Once the rick-rack is completely dry, flip the can over and adhere the four rubber protecors to the bottom of the can. Flip the can right-side up and fill with plastic grocery bags.
To use, pull one bag through the opening as needed; refill as necessary.
Sources: Wallpaper border; Chesapeake: rick-rack; Wrights
Click here to print a copy of these instructions;Download Craft pdf Template-Plastic Bag Canister
