Popcorn Tin Dog Food Canister

How many have seen these simple dog canisters and thought.... "Brilliant!  Keep the food next to the dish, and no more lugging big containers and/or bowls!"

Yep... I thought that too!  Till I saw the prices!  Whoa, Nelly!  $45 - $54 for a tin!

So, I found a substitute.  Another Popcorn Tin!  A friend of mine (thanks, Courtney!) brought me a couple of popcorn tins.  A coat of spray paint and a few letters... and now I have this!

Some things I learned:  

*Primer would've been a good thing to start with.  I didn't use it and some of the paint is scratching off over time.  

*Tape the top rim (where the lid meets the can) to prevent painting.  The extra layer of paint makes the closing of the lid just a tad tight.  It still works, but needs a little extra struggle.

*The bigger the popcorn tin, the better.  (Good excuse to buy some soon!)

*I hope to find a cute pull handle to attach to the top one day to make the lid easier to lift.  

Other than that, it's super simple.  :)

Popcorn Tin Laundry Bin

I saw a neat idea in a magazine once where someone used a ceramic jar to hold dirty towels in a kitchen till they can get them to the laundry room.

Our kitchen is a floor away from the laundry room, and somehow towels just pile up while awaiting *someone* to take them upstairs.  

So... I found a solution.  I didn't have a large ceramic jar to sit on the ground out of the way.  Instead, I used a small popcorn tin and painted it.  Added a few vinyl letters... and Wah-lah.  It almost blends into the counters, and it hides the towels!