Simple Vases - Vintage Tins & Painted Cans

More simple vases, and this week I thought I'd have a look at some different ways to use tins. I have a bit of a thing for vintage tins and could easily fill shelves and cupboards with old biscuit tins and tea caddy's.

You can often find decorative tins in charity shops, car boots and antiques fairs, but if you're not the thrifting type, you can still get hold of classic british brands in the supermarket (think Colmans, Lyle and Tate and Brasso).  Don't forget to check the world food aisle too and look out for eye catching designs when you're on holiday.

I like to fill mine with buttons and beads and assorted habadashery bumpf, but they also make great containers for flowers and plants. A row of herbs planted in tins makes a pretty and practical display on  a kitchen window sill or shelf.

Not to worry if you can't find tins with pretty designs on them. Make do with good old baked bean cans, remove the paper labels and paint in matte pastel shades and you still have rather fetching simple vases. 

Or you could enhance their metallic sheen with a spritz of spray paint. The copper and bronze shades used here look great. Make sure to spray in a well ventilated area, hold canister about 10-15cm from the tin, taking care to move both tin and spray to achieve an even finish. Leave plenty of time to dry.

To introduce pattern, wrap the cans in clashing or co-ordinating giftwrap or wallpaper. The uniform shape and size of the tins used here brings a bit of harmony to this cheerful mix of colours and designs.

A cheap, fun and (perhaps with the exception of the spray paint) environmentally friendly way to decorate your tables.   

Images: Dear Designer; House and Home; Country Living; Sweet Paul; Jane Weddings; Bumpsmitten