Ribbon Organizer ~ Recycled Tin Can

Recycle a tin can into a pretty and useful ribbon organizer. Perfect for the craft room. This would also work great in the kitchen for twine or string.

Upcycled Tin cans - one used to organize ribbon and the other with a vintage shabby chic look used to hold crafting paint brushes

Here's a quick, easy, and inexpensive ribbon organizer for all your pretty ribbons! And, if you like crafting with tin cans, you might just love this adorable Pumpkin Buddy!

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I use tin cans for a lot of crafts around my house.  I love to punch holes in them using my Crop-A-Dile or a nail {if the area can’t be reached with the Crop-A-Dile} to make luminaries for various holidays or just for fun. 

While thinking about this a little deeper a few weeks ago {yes, I think deeply about holes, cans, and crafting. I thought that this method might work well for ribbon organization and with nothing left to lose, I tried it and it worked. 

We R Memory Keepers Crop-A-Dile 2 - Big Bite Blue
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We R Memory Keepers Crop-A-Dile Eyelet Storage
$23.00
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Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint Set, 18 (2 fl oz/59 ml) Assorted Matte Finish
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🧷Supplies

How-To Make a Ribbon Organizer

Colorful graphic with text ribbon organizer

All you need is a tin can with the label removed.  Make sure you wash out your can and that there are no sharp edges. 

tin can without label ready to be made into a tin can ribbon organizer

I used a line that was already on my can as the mark for placing a straight line of holes using my Crop-A-Dile.  If I chose to add more holes I could have used a nail to put another hole below the furthest point that my Crop-A-Dile would go. 

tin can ribbon organizer with holes punched in strip

So that the hole edges weren’t sharp I used my Crop-A-Dile to add eyelets to the holes.  This also gives the can a more finished look.

Metal eyelets for tin can ribbon organizer
tin can ribbon organizer with holes punched and metal eyelets in place

Next, I dry brushed my can with some pink craft paint {use any color you wish!}.  I applied 3 coats. 

Upcycled tin can ribbon organizer

When all was dry I used a rubber stamp and a gold paint pad to stamp on a butterfly. 

I had a little rub on crown left from a frame I made last year and put that on my can as well as the number 5 {stenciled on in white} and then rimmed in gold paint

I also rimmed the eyelets with the gold.

tin can ribbon organizer complete with ribbons drawn through metal eyelet holes

Add your ribbon spools to the can one at a time feeding the ribbon ends through the eyelet hole.

Side View of upcycled tin can ribbon organizer

Looking for other crafts like this? Check these out!

That’s it!  

Collage of Upcycled tin can used to organize ribbon

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29 Comments

  1. Hi, I must say this is a fantastic idea! I have a mountain of ribbon that could be organized with this! Thanks for sharing

  2. Jenn/Rook No. 17 says:

    So clever, charming and practical too. I love it Mary Beth! Definitely need to get myself a Crop-A-Dile.

  3. Christina at I Gotta Create! says:

    Absolutely BRILLIANT!!! I love this idea!!!!! And you did a beautiful job with decorating the can.
    <3 Christina at I Gotta Create!
    Wildly Original linky party is open.

    1. Thanks so much, Christina : )

  4. Susie @Bowdabra says:

    Mary this is AWESOME!! Finally a use for my Crop-A-Dile! We love ribbon over at the Bowdabra blog and would be thrilled if you linked this up in our Saturday Crafty Showcase. It runs Sat-Thur and our Bowdabra Designers pick their favorites to be featured on Friday. Stop over and share you awesome idea!

    Susie
    https://bowdabrablog.com

  5. What a unique and clever way to store ribbon! Love this idea.

  6. Kathy Moody says:

    What a great idea, and so cute, too! I love it. Your newest follower on Networked. 🙂

  7. Carol ( Answer Is Chocolate) says:

    This is such a genius idea. I love using cans for craft storage and hadn't thought of organizing my ribbon this way. Thanks for sharing at this week's BFF Open House.

  8. Mixed Kreations says:

    What a wonderful idea. I have been saving cans and decorating them and using them to get my craft room organized. I love this idea. Thank you for sharing.

    1. I'm glad it's an idea you can use! : )

  9. K @ Claiming Our Space says:

    OK, I need to get a crop-o-dile because this is great. Thanks so much for sharing on Tout It Tuesday. Hope to see you tomorrow.

  10. I love this idea! Recycling and organization all in one. 🙂

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  12. Great idea! I always have trouble finding the end on a ribbon spool. This is great!

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  19. Love this tip...thanks so much