Whether it’s a child that likes to do artwork, or an adult that enjoys crafting, you’ll need an organizer for all your supplies. There are many organizers you can purchase or make for storing everything from beads to brushes, but if you drink coffee, you’re all set to create an organizer you can carry around. This particular organizer is made from things you probably already have so you won’t have a lot of money invested in it. It’s so easy to make, that with a little adult supervision, kids can make one of their own.
Although the art caddy can be made from most any size coffee cans really large ones will make the finished caddy huge and bulky. Smaller cans work well, though, to create the caddy that will hold all your needed supplies. Get six cans and a piece of cardboard to begin making the organizer. The cans can be painted or even covered in cloth.
To paint the cans use special paints, made for metal objects, or use sandpaper to rough up the outside of the cans before painting. To cover the cans in fabric simply glue the cloth onto the cans. Ribbon or roping can be used, around the bottom and top, to hide the raw edges if necessary. Make each can exactly alike or make each one different by painting them various colors or using six different pieces of cloth. You can also use decorative paper to cover the cans.
After the cans are prepared use a piece of cardboard to create the handle for the caddy. The cardboard you choose should be very thick. Paint it, cover it with cloth or paper, or just use it as-is. Set three cans on a table, side-by-side to decide the size of the cardboard. Stand the cardboard up in front of the row of cans. The cardboard should rise above the cans by a few inches and should be at least a wide as the row of cans is long. So, the cardboard piece should reach from the end of the first can to the end of the last one.
The bottom and the sides of the cardboard should be straight but you can cut across the top if you want. Round off the corners or create a different design. Cut a handhold in the cardboard piece, a couple inches down from the top. The handhold can be nothing but an oval or you can make something a little more fanciful. The handhold should be wide enough so that all four fingers can easily fit inside the opening.
After the cardboard piece is finished begin gluing on the cans. Hot glue works fine to hold the cans for the moment. With the cardboard standing up, and the handhold up at the top, begin gluing three cans to each side. Butt the cans together so that they are right up next to each other on each side of the cardboard. Further secure the cans on the caddy by wrapping a piece of wired ribbon around them. The ribbon ends can be hot glued together to keep them tight. Or, you can wrap the wire ribbon around the arrangement then tie a bow.
The finished caddy can hold a lot of supplies. Each can is able to contain many different items. Use one can to hold all your paintbrushes, another to hold a full set of colored pencils and assorted pens. Another can could hold rulers, craft knives and other implements. Still another can could be filled with various adhesives and glue. No matter what type of things you’re organizing you’ll have plenty of room for all of the items you need.
Use small soup cans instead of coffee cans to make something similar for young children. You can even use potato chip cans to make the caddy. Cut the top half of the can off and secure the bottom half to the cardboard piece. Even though really large cans create a huge organizer these extra-large caddies can be helpful to hold cleaning supplies, kitchen utensils and similar goods.
Start saving your coffee cans, chip cans, and soup cans so everyone in the house can have their own brand new art caddy. Each person can make their own so they’ll each look different. The caddies are very sturdy, cheap and easy to make, and can be used for years to come.
Reference:
- Purchase coffee in cans here: www.amazon.com
