Recycle your tin cans to make these pretty votive candle holders. You may spray paint them gold to dress them up, or leave them plain for a more primitive look. My boys especially enjoy hammering holes in the sides of the cans. The secret to helping the cans retain their shape is to fill them with water and freezing them before pounding the holes.

  
Supplies You Will Need to Complete This Craft:

• tin cans with lids removed and contents emptied
• hammer and nails
• spray paint (optional)

Do It Yourself By Following These Simple Steps:

Rinse empty cans clean, draw desired design directly onto label (see next step), then fill them with water and freeze overnight.

Using a black marker, draw dots in your desired design on the label. We used a simple asterisk on front and back, but a straight row of holes around top and bottom also looks nice. You’ll want to keep your design on the upper 2/3 of the can to prevent wax from dripping through the holes. Otherwise, put your candle into a clear glass holder before placing it inside the lantern.

Using the marker dots as a guide, hammer a nail through each dot. Remove the nail and use to hammer successive holes. The frozen ice inside the can will help it retain its shape. We used masonry nails, but any sturdy nail with a wide head will work.

Remove label and rinse can in warm water until ice block slips out. Dry the can, spray paint the outside (if desired), then place a votive candle inside. Light it and watch the punched design dance upon the walls.