I love doing paint cans as gifts. I've done about 4 or 5 so far. Here's one of the first one's I did:
Paint Can 1
Top View
Side View
And here's one I did for my sister over 6 months ago:
Gift Set
Front View
Side View
Top View
Matching Card
So like I said I went to a baby shower Monday night (you can see the card I made here) and I did another paint can to put the gifts in. I kept it rather simple as I made it a few hours before the shower - *and* I took pictures at each step so I could share it w/ y'all here! I hope this helps someone!!
You can buy *clean* empty paint cans in most large hardware stores - I got mine at Home Depot. I know other ppl have been able to order them through their local HW stores (tho I *think* you have to order a large amount to get a good price). They're usually in the paint section - I found mine pushed back on a shelf and covered w/ dust - there weren't very many and I ended up buying out what all they had on hand!
The cans come w/ a lid and a handle (not attached). I was able to get the opener for free from my local HW store (the ones at Home Depot have those ugly orange plastic handles - I prefer these kinds).
**Make sure the can is *clean* and wipe off any dust/residue for the CS/Paper to be able to stick.
**I don't have a template for this - I just do my own thing (I've actually NEVER used a real template for anything - I just go by the seat of my pants!! LOL). I'm sure if you did a search on SCS you could find one - however I find it's just as easy to do w/out.
I took a sheet of CS and trimmed along the long side (so it ended up being about 11" x 7 3/8") so it would fit the paint can. I then held the CS against the can and pressed w/ my fingers where the bumps for the handle goes (I've also done it where I marked it w/ a pencil - either way works).
Once I have a good idea then I either use a circle punch or my Coluzzle to cut out the area where the handle goes. I *never* get it perfect the first try - I punch/cut then hold it back up to the can, then keep punching/cutting until the "notches" are far enough along in the CS that it sits flat against the can.
Once I have the cuts the way I want I can stamp the CS.
Once I have the first piece stuck on I do the same thing for the back piece. I usually trim a little off the sides of the second piece so that the "seams" are even w/ the handles.
To adhere the CS I use sticky strip (red liner tape) on the ends and a SU Glue Stick in the middle. This makes it stick wonderfully!!
The lid is a little tricky. Unless you have a larger circle cutter (or the big Coluzzle circle template - the one that comes in the Coluzzle starter kit isn't big enough) it's hard to get a big enough circle of CS to fit the lid.
For this I tried something new. I laid the lid on a piece of CS and traced it out w/ a pencil. I then cut *inside* the line I made. I had to keep trimming it till it fit in the lid but in the end it worked!! (For something like this I *would* use a template as I could just print off a circle and then use it to trace. In fact I'd do one myself but I don't have the time to fiddle w/ it to get it the right size!! So if someone has it if you could share that'd be great!!)
The handle I covered it w/ Sticky Strip - I just ran it along the handle and pressed it down and the red liner popped up on it's own - took just a few seconds. I then wrapped it w/ ribbon (as opposed to tying tons of pieces of ribbon on it). I did the same thing w/ the opener - covered it w/ sticky strip and wrapped it w/ ribbon.
Getting the handle on the can is a little tricky. The first half goes in easily - but the second doesn't b/c of the way it's shaped. Use a pair of pliers and just ever-so-slightly bend the end of the handle so that it slips into the hole - doing it this way is a snap!!
Like I said I kept it rather simple. I stamped the hands from I'm Here w/ Regal Rose Craft Ink and embossed them w/ Glassy Glaze EP. I then used the oval Coluzzle to cut them out (easier to cut *after* I've stamped instead of trying to line up the hands properly on an oval shape). I then stamped the baby's name w/ the Brushstroke Alpha and sponged the edges. I matted it on Choc Chip CS and cut that out w/ scallop scissors. The brown and pink polka dot organdy is from Jacksonbelle's e-bay store.
For the top I did the same thing - stamped and embossed the hand, then cut out w/ the circle coluzzle, matted it on Choc Chip and cut w/ scallop scissors. I stuck the Regal Rose CS (after I added the ribbon and whatnot) to the lid the same way I did to the can - sticky strip here and there and a SU Glue Stick applied liberally!).
The flourish along the bottom of the can is from SU's Sweet Shapes set.
The opener is tied to the can w/ a bit of ribbon and easy to take off to actually open the can.
I was able to cram a knit blanket, hooded towel and wash cloth, 3 burp cloths and 2 bibs in here (all pink of course!!). I had to hold the lid down and hammer it shut and everyone was shocked at how I got it all in there (it only took me about 3 tries LOL!!)
