Trash Can Toy Box

Directions are given for the project shown in photo above but you may use your own ideas and colors. Get creative.

Materials: 1 metal trash can; white gesso; paint brush; chain; acrylic paints (colors desired); felt amount needed for desired accents as well as lid and inside bottom of can; glue.

Instruction:

1. Prepare the metal for painting with one or two coats of white gesso on both the inside and outside of can. Also, apply gesso to a length of heavy chain.

2. Using acrylic paints, paint the inside with two coats of white and the outside with three coats of red.

3. When paint is dry, cut felt strips to circle the top and the bottom of the can and cut strips to make vertical stripes on the sides of the can. Cover lid with pie-shaped segments of the felt.

4. Cut two circular shapes of felt to fit the inside of the can and stitch a padding of another material between the felt layers. 

5. Glue felt strips to the inside rim of the can.

6. Paint the chain with a variety of colors of acrylic paints, and weave felt strips in the links to help muffle the sound. 

7. Wrap the can's handles with yarn and glue the yarn in place.

You can make one of these for each of your children's or grandchildren's rooms. Personalize them by cutting their names from contrasting colors of felt.