Faux Zinc Candy Jar Top Made With a Tuna Can

If you have followed my blog for a while then you probably remember the post I did where I made a lantern using – a tuna can!  Well this project is another way I have found to re-purpose a tuna can.  I created a faux zinc top for a glass candy jar that was missing a top when I bought it at a thrift store.

I clipped this photo from the Ballard Design catalog awhile ago.  I went to the site and they don’t carry it anymore, but I wanted to show you where I got the inspiration to make the faux zinc tuna can top.  When I first saw these French Candy Jars when paging through the catalog, I immediately thought – that could be made with a tuna can.  I finally found the perfect size jar to do it.

I collect glass canisters like the one below.  I have them in my kitchen displaying candy and wine corks.  I also have a few in my bathroom -where I have shells I collected on vacation, soap, and bath bubbles displayed.

Since the glass jar was missing its top, it was only $1.5; the paints I had on hand.

What you will need:

1. Drill a hole in center bottom of the tuna can. The bottom will become the top of the candy jar top.  If you don’t have a drill you can use hot glue to attach the knob to the can.

2.  Paint the tuna can black and let it dry.

2.  On a foam plate squirt a dollop of white, black, and silver paint keeping them separate, but close together.  Squirt a dollop of clear glazing liquid in the center.  This will help keep the paint from being too opaque once applied.

3. Use a sponge or a sponge stencil pouncer and press it into the middle of the paint/glaze. Swirl it around just a bit and then wipe it over the surface of the tuna can.  It doesn’t have to be perfect – you want to see all the colors as well as let some of the initial coat of black show through.  Let dry.

4.  Once it is dry repeat the process adding more white and glaze to the mix.  Swirl it around the can and top. Let dry.

Once it is dry it should look something like this-

5. This step is where the aged zinc effect will take place. Dip a sponge into flat white paint and swirl it evenly around the can and the top.  Make sure to get some of the paint into the crevices of the can.  Place on the paper plate.

6. Spray the just applied flat white paint with water – not a lot, but just enough so the paint softens and runs a tiny bit. Let dry.

If you don’t like how it looks, just keep repeating the steps – the more layers the more aged it will look.

7. Attach the knob to the tuna can.

$1.50 thrift store purchase has now become something that you would find at a Paris flea market.

On another note I am now a contributor over at Mom It Forward. I was given the challenge to make something for Spring that used Mod Podge and craft paint.  I re-purposed some brown paper bags into placemats.

You can see the full tutorial over at Mom It Forward.

Tagged as: Ballard Design Catalog Knock-off, DIY Craft Tutorial, Faux painting tutorial, Faux Zinc painting technique, Recycled Craft Projects, Repurposing ideas