Hi there!!!
Thanks so much for stopping by today and letting me share July’s edition of OLD NEW BORROWED COOL with you! Can you believe it’s JULY and half of 2013 had gone by already?! What’s more, for us here in Kentucky, almost half our summer is gone as well! We’ve been crazy busy as I’m sure you all have with wonderful summer activities like barbeques, sleepovers, swimming….and SUMMER CAMPS!! Yes, I just said those two magical words! Between my all my boys, one, two or even all three of them have been at some camp or another pretty much every week. My youngest had three back-to-back and he’s VERY excited that this week is all his own – ESPECIALLY since his dad and two older brothers are at scout camp!
That means he has his mama and his dog all to himself. I am pretty sure that’s a boy’s idea of paradise!
He’s looking forward to doing things like sleeping in, having what HE wants for dinner, going to a matinee of Monsters University and Thursday’s 4th of July fireworks. Speaking of the 4th of July, he’s been saving up his money to buy fireworks of his own – things like sparklers and popper and whatever else Mom deems somewhat safe. He loves seeing everything decked out in red, white and blue (including our house) and insisted that we make some kind of patriotic craft this week. And THAT, my friends, is where this month’s Old New Borrowed Cool comes in! What is better than a two-fer, right?!
Because my creativity seems to be at a halt with CHA prep work taxing my brain, I decided to head to my favorite inspiration source (you know what’s coming, right?)…yep – PINTEREST! I looked up “4th of July” crafts and I saw the cutest little luminaries made from empty cans! “HEY!” I thought. “I have all the stuff I might need to make those!” And with that I sent my little man off on a mission to round up all the necessary ingredients to get our craft on.
Now before I share with you what we did, please let me once again recap the premise for this blog series. Each month I'll bring you a new post that incorporates something OLD from my stash, something NEW that I might have just picked up and something BORROWED from wherever I can get it to create something COOL to share with you! It's just that easy.
This month’s final selections were:
OLD: My trusty, tried & true BIG BITE Crop-a-dile. How I love this thing. And when I remembered one of its original selling points was that it punched through METAL, I was stoked!
NEW: Okay. I’m going to confess. There isn’t much new here unless you count my cans of beans and veggies. So I am. Totally. They were brand new. And now the contents of each can is now sitting in my fridge!
BORROWED: A fun up-cycle idea from THIS POST on Pinterest. http://pinterest.com/pin/469429961129767577/ Oh, and my husband’s spray paints. Shhhh! Don’t tell him!
COOL: These adorable patriotic tin can lanterns that I am quite sure you can make with what you already have around your house, too!
After cleaning and washing out the cans, my son and I set about to drawing designs on them. We did a star, a firework burst (he really liked that one) and a USA. But truly you could do anything from a Maple Leaf for Canada day to a daisy for general summer and everything in between. These would be SO cute for a party!
After drawing the design, it was time for the hardest part of this project – the punching through the metal. While it wasn’t difficult, the can sometimes bends if you aren’t careful and the little shards that remain once you punch can go everywhere. My big tip is to keep your design a bit toward the top of the can as the crop-a-dile can’t reach at the very bottom due to the depth of its punching arm. I also removed its feet so it would fit in the can better.
Once the design is punched, it’s time to spray. I just cut a few plain strips of paper to wrap around the can and mask off where I didn’t want the paint to go and went to town. Repeat this step for each stripe and pretty soon you’ll have this….
Supply List: Tin cans, Spray Paint, Crop-a-dile, wire, Fiskars punches, Bella Blvd. Chipboard alphas, Sharpie marker, paper, tape.
I can’t wait to see what these look like at night! My guy is very excited about them and insisted I light them immediately though in the daylight you couldn’t see how cool they are bound to be! But it made him happy and that really was what this was all about!
So now as always, it’s challenge time. Get in there and create something with your little monkeys! Make some kind of craft that they’ll be excited about! And just enjoy spending time with them. The summer goes by so quickly – soak it up!
Have a wonderful July!
very clever idea! think I'll give it a try!
Posted by: Phyllis | July 02, 2013 at 11:07 AM
such a great idea for a 1 on 1 w/your son; thanks for sharing & all the best for save fireworks for the 4th of July!
Posted by: Susan Mac Donald | July 02, 2013 at 11:37 AM
Very cute idea, perfect for the holidays! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Kathy P | July 02, 2013 at 12:13 PM
so lovely, this is a great way to put lights in the garden on summer evenings!!
Posted by: helen | July 02, 2013 at 12:23 PM
I believe I have read that if you put water inside the cans & freeze them then you can use a hammer & nail to make your designs. The ice helps to keep the shape of the can (not everyone has a Crop-a-dile).
Posted by: Jude | July 02, 2013 at 12:54 PM
Love this idea. They turned out great.
Posted by: JoAnn B. | July 02, 2013 at 02:38 PM
I love this idea.Of course I'ma thinking Halloween-they're going to be so cool!
Posted by: BEth W | July 02, 2013 at 03:22 PM
Awesome! What a great use of recycling...
Posted by: Jenni Calma | July 02, 2013 at 05:00 PM
Great project, change the star to yellow and it could be used for August 15th Acadian Day here in the Maritime provinces in Canada or in Louisianna!
Posted by: Gisele | July 02, 2013 at 05:43 PM
Wow. Great projects. That crop-a-dile tool is cool.
Posted by: Jean Bullock | July 02, 2013 at 07:08 PM
Love this idea!
Posted by: Sue D | July 02, 2013 at 10:21 PM
Never thought about using the Big Bite . Much easier than nails and a hammer. Cute luminaries and great job.
Posted by: Dorina D | July 03, 2013 at 12:21 AM
WOW what a great idea, going to try this out, a much a safer idea would be to use those led tea lights, or batter operated ones that you can get in the candle section at Walmarts. Definitely a great project and great idea for any holiday!!!!THANKS!!!!!ALSO, THANKS for the idea of using the Big Bite, going to put my to use!!!!
Posted by: Valorie Matthews | July 03, 2013 at 02:40 AM
Great idea !! I love these ! Thanks for sharing !
Posted by: Julie A. Shearer | July 06, 2013 at 07:29 AM