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How to Reuse Cookie Tins with Mod Podge

Do you end up with a lot of tins leftover from holiday goodies? Mod Podge them with fabric – it’s the perfect way to reuse cookie tins. SO easy!

Skills Required: Beginner. If you have prior crafting experience, it will be easy for you to cut fabric and apply it with Mod Podge. The only challenge you might have is darting for containers that need it, but I have tips for you.

Repurpose old cookie tins with fabric and Mod Podge

With the holidays over, you may have a very important question: how to reuse cookie tins? Our family seemed to get loads of nice tins this year for Christmas filled with cookies, nuts, and other goodies.

I really hate to throw nice metal containers out – they are way too perfect for recycled craft projects!

So I don’t throw them out.

I keep the tins and decoupage them with leftover fabric. In case you were doing the math in your head, that is a grand total of $0 spent. If you’re wondering what to do with old cookie tins, this is a great idea. Here’s how I did it.

Gather These Supplies

  • Recycled tins – any size and shape
  • Fabric leftovers – larger enough to cover the container
  • FolkArt acrylic paint – Pure Titanium (optional)
  • Mod Podge Gloss
  • Paint brush
  • Scissors, craft knife or rotary cutter
  • Ruler
  • Pencil
  • Ribbon
  • Buttons
  • Craft glue
Painting a cookie tin lid with outdoor paint

This first step is optional. If you want to reuse cookie tins with dark patterns on them or your fabric is kinda thin, you might want to paint the container with acrylic paint.

I did that with the green and black container above so that the pattern wouldn’t show through the fabric.

Spreading Mod podge over blue fabric on a work surface

The next step is to prepare your fabric with Mod Podge. This will make it easier to cut without fraying, and easier to apply to the container smoothly. Simply paint a medium coat of Mod Podge on the fabric and let dry.

Cutting Mod Podged fabric with a rotary cutter

Once the fabric is dry, cut one edge to be straight. You will use this as your reference.

Wrapping fabric around the body of a metal cookie tin

Place your fabric on the cookie tin and measure where you need to cut at the top. I didn’t even use a ruler, but you can. I just marked it with my finger. Once you do this, cut to fit the container.

Rolling fabric around the center of a metal tin covered in Mod Podge

Place a medium layer of Mod Podge on the container and then carefully wrap the fabric around, smoothing as you go. Let it dry for 15 – 20 minutes.

Placing Mod Podge over the top of purple fabric on a tin

Paint several coats of Mod Podge on the outside to seal. I didn’t paint onto the tin, but you can. I just wiped the Mod Podge away if it got onto the tin.

Yes, I am a messy crafter. But if you’re going to reuse cookie tins, it might get a little messy, and that’s part of the process!

Mod Podging fabric around the edge of a cookie tin lid

The lid is WAY easier than you think. Place the lid flat onto the back of the fabric and trace with a pencil. Now you have a circle on the fabric. Cut about 1/2″ extra around the circle on the outside – so you are cutting a larger circle than you traced.

Why did you do this? Because you are going to Mod Podge the circle to the top and then cut the overhang and fold it down. You can see how I did it in the picture. Do it all the way around the lid, cutting and Mod Podging. Trim off extra with scissors.

Placing ribbon around around the lid edge

Add ribbon to the rims of the lids and buttons to the tops. If you want to. Your dream of recycling cookie tins is complete.

Repurpose old cookie tins with fabric and Mod Podge

You now have fancy containers, and you can feel good because you’ve done a recycled craft. You can reuse cookie tins for all sorts of things, but I like them in the craft room. Enjoy!

Yield: 3 tins

Repurpose Cookie Tins

Repurpose old cookie tins with fabric and Mod Podge

Are you wondering what to do with old cookie tins? Learn how to repurpose them using Mod Podge and fabric! It's easy to decoupage on a tin surface.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Active Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $0

Materials

  • Recycled metal tins
  • Fabric scraps - larger enough to cover the container
  • White craft paint or spray paint
  • Mod Podge Gloss
  • Ribbon
  • Buttons
  • Craft glue

Tools

  • Paint brush
  • Scissors, craft knife or rotary cutter
  • Ruler
  • Pencil

Instructions

  1. If your fabric is thin, prepare the metal tins by paint them with white craft or spray paint. This is so the tin design doesn't show through the fabric.
  2. Prepare your fabric with Mod Podge. Paint a medium coat on the fabric and let dry.
  3. Once the fabric is dry, cut one edge to be straight. You will use this as your reference.
  4. Place your fabric on the cookie tin and measure where you need to cut at the top. Use a ruler if necessary.
  5. Cut the fabric to fit the container.
  6. Place a medium layer of Mod Podge on the container and then carefully wrap the fabric around, smoothing as you go. Let it dry for 15 - 20 minutes.
  7. Paint several coats on the outside of the tin to seal.
  8. Place the lid flat onto the back of the fabric and trace with a pencil. Now you have a circle on the fabric. Cut about 1/2" extra around the circle on the outside - so you are cutting a larger circle than you traced.
  9. Mod Podge the circle to the top. and then cut tabs in the overhang with scissors. Fold the tabs down and Mod Podge into place.
  10. Add ribbon to the rims of the lids using craft glue. Add buttons as accents if you like. Let dry before using.

Notes

This project ranges in price - I had all the materials on hand and the tins were recycled.

Did You Make This Project?

Please leave a rating or share a photo on Pinterest!


Are you wanting to recycle more items in your home using decoupage? Check out these other project ideas:

Anonymous

Monday 17th of September 2012

Great idea, thanks.

Trea

Friday 11th of May 2012

Great idea! I am decorating a "new to me" house, and doing my master bath in zebra with red & turquoise accents. I also keep all my old tins and have used paper in the past, but this will work great! I also want to do the wall behind the garden tub with zebra...think I could mod podge it on the wall?

Amy Anderson

Friday 11th of May 2012

Hi Trea! You can definitely Mod Podge to the wall! Just treat it like you are Mod Podging to wood. Also, if it's right behind the tub and could be exposed to water you will need a waterproof sealer to go on top. Good luck!

Sarah

Tuesday 24th of April 2012

What a simple way to make something personalized! Thanks for the idea, I would love for you to share this at my link party!

mrslauralynn

Monday 23rd of April 2012

Great idea, I have some tins I want to reuse and was just going to cover them with fancy paper, I never thought about using fabric but I will use that instead now - thank you :) It's also a brilliant way to use up all the left over pieces I have lying around!

Alderberry Hill

Friday 20th of April 2012

How convenient! Great project!

Make the Scene Monday @ Alderberry HillAlderberryhill.blogspot.com

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