How to Make a Tin Can Advent Calendar

Materials Needed:

• 24 recycled tin cans, cleaned
• red spray paint
• 24 numbered stickers
• 24 pieces of wire, approximately 12 inches each

• 12 lengths of twine, approximately 12 inches each
• drill
• log with nails for hanging

Decorate the Cans and Fill

The Advent calendar is made with recycled cans. Make sure to completely clean the cans before you use them for the project. First, spray-paint the outside of the cans. Once they're dry, drill holes in the sides of the cans. Take the pieces of wire and stick each end through the holes in the cans, bending the wire so that it creates a handle. Add a spiral on the each end of the wire by wrapping it around a pencil. The white-vinyl numbers in the pictures were cut on a Silhouette machine, but any set of numbered stickers would work.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-

Create a Display

Hammer long nails through a board, a piece of driftwood or a large branch. Attach half of your cans to the nails. Loop a length of twine through the handle of half the cans and then hang them from the wood to add a second row.

Fill the cans with a tiny sweet or trinket for each child and then a slip of paper with an idea for a family activity.