Paint Can Gift Box

This week I was featured on Practical Scrappers, making an altered paint can to show a creative way to package a small Christmas gift. Start with an empty (and clean!) quart sized paint can. I found mine at a local hardware store but have seen them at the big box home improvement stores as well. Measure your can and cut cardstock to fit around it. My can was just over 13 inches around, so I used two pieces, overlapping the paper just slightly and leaving one seam in the back and one seam directly in the front since it would be covered up anyway. Apply a thin layer of ModPodge to your paint can using a foam brush and apply a thin layer on the back of the cardstock. Adhere the cardstock to the can, smoothing out air bubbles as you go. For the "fur" trim on Santa's suit, I cut a strip of quilt batting, but you could also use white felt instead. I adhered the batting with a glue gun and added a "belt" made from black velvet ribbon. I cut another piece of batting to fit the lid of the paint can and adhered it with ModPodge. I embellished the lid with some trim, a tag, and some jingle bells. Don't forget to include a paint can key so the lucky recipient can open their gift! I was able to get the hardware store to throw in the key for free when I bought the can. I embellished the key with more ribbon and another jingle bell.


The quart size can is perfect for holding a gift card, packets of drink mix or tea, homemade snack mix, candies, or cookies. The possibilities are endless and it's a great way to give a gift! Kids and adults alike love prying open the lid to reveal the goodies inside.