Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Turning Soup Cans Into Pop Art Pencil Cups

Come on, could I pass up a chance to include this SNL clip? The answer is no. No, I couldn’t. In other words: soup, there it is.

Anyway, I’m beginning to think that Friday posts should be called Fast & *Almost* Free Projects since we had Sir Butterfly last week and now we have a little soup can craft that I did in honor of my good friend Andy Warhol (ok, so we’re only besties in my mind…). How cute are these guys holding some of Clara’s drawing supplies on her desk? The colors make me permasmile.

turning-soup-into-pop-art-pencil-cups

The first step was grabbing four of the limited edition tomato soup cans that Target is currently selling in honor of my buddy Andy. At 70 cents a pop, this entire project cost me $2.80 (since I already had the only other material I used on hand, but we’ll get there in a minute). First I emptied my cans of tomato soup into glass tupperware so as not to waste it (it’ll be lunch for the next few days, haha):

Soup 1 Emptying Cans

Then I carefully rinsed them out, doing my best not to soak the labels with water (slow and steady, baby). I let them dry out a bit upside down on a towel and even dragged a paper towel around the inside of each one to make sure no water was hiding in there.

Soup 2 Wiping Dry

Then it was cork templating time. Wait, maybe I should explain that a bit more. The reason for the cork was because each of the cans has an odd little edge about a quarter of an inch down from the top of the can. So while the top lip of the can isn’t sharp at all, there’s that little metal lip about a centimeter beneath it that I worried could result in Clara cutting her hand if she put it into the can and yanked it out quickly. So I did the safety-first mom thing and decided that by making a little cork liner for each can, it would completely cover that little edge that’s a smidge lower than the smooth top lip. The key was making sure the cork was tall enough to go over that lip, so there’s no way a little hand (or tongue, or toe) could rub against that part anymore, because the little cork “sleeve” would extend above it. I actually used a paper towel to make a template, like this:

Soup 3 Fitting Paper Towel

Then I used my paper towel template to cut some cork rectangles of the same size:

Soup 4 Matching Cork Piece

I used old cork squares that I had (leftover from this project) to create the long rectangles that could be gently curled (don’t be too rough with them or they can crack) and slipped right into each can.

Soup 5 Sliding Cork In

Voila. A little cork liner to keep anything from being sharp (they also look pretty charming, like those old cork-lined pen holders of yore). And the cork is super stuck in there once you get it in, so it’s above Clara’s skill level to somehow wedge it back out, which is nice peace of mind for a paranoid momma like myself.

Soup After Close With Cor

So that’s my little $2.80 Friday project. Don’t they look cute next to Clara’s little crayon-truck masterpiece?

Soup After Full Desk

Here’s hoping Clara grows just as fond of my BFF Andy as I have after years of studying him along with my other artsy friends like Klimt, Vermeer, Renoir, and Toulouse-Lautrec (FIT, represent – we were required to take a million years of art history, and only now do I appreciate that).

Any other fast and almost free projects going on this Friday? Any fun weekend plans? Any favorite artists? Oh and since I’m sure folks will ask, those awesome stick-like colored pencils are from a local shop here in Richmond called Mongrel. Since Clara’s three favorite “toys” are rocks, sticks, and sand, I couldn’t resist…

Comments

  4. Laurie says

    Home Goods definitely has those twig colored pencils. I bought some because they were all tied up in a suede ribbon and it made me think of the line in “You’ve Got Mail” when Tom Hanks tells Meg Ryan’s character via email “Don’t you just love New York in the Fall? If I could, I would send you a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils….” Perfect! I think I paid $5 for 10 pencils. Love the soup cans. You are a clever girl.

    Reply

  5. Melanie says

    I wish I knew somebody who lived in the States that could buy them for me and ship them to Canada! We are getting Targets in the near future (2013), but I adore the Andy Warhol cans.

    Reply

  6. Ashley says

    Wonder if the labels would last longer if sealed? Hmm, I may have to try this too! Super Cute!!!!

    *Target had those wood pencils too! I bought some for my sons bday 2 months ago :) Gotta LOVE target!!!!!

    Reply

  7. Stephanie M. says

    Love the cans, so cute and creative!

    I have a question I’m sure you’ve been asked before…has Clara ever attempted to color on her table? My hubby built our daughter a play table for her first birthday in February. I had JUST painted it white a little over a month ago and she (now 19 months) decides it looks like a nice coloring surface! It’s totally not a big deal as I can paint over it but I’m sure she’ll do it again so I’m tempted to just let her go at it and then poly over it for fun.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We have a nice big pad out there and have actively caught her going off the pad a few times (sometimes accidentally, sometimes on purpose) so if we catch her in the act we ask her to keep her pretty drawings on the paper so we can keep them and frame them and explain that if she draws on the table we have to wipe them off, so we’d love for her to stay on the paper. Seems to have stuck after a few times of saying it, but thankfully a magic eraser gets off any random scribbles that happen to go off the pad.

      xo
      s

  8. Brenna says

    Love this! Oh how I wish Target would hurry up and open in Canada already! Spring 2013 is just too far away!

    I think a trip across the border for some 70 cent cans of soup is probs a touch on the crazy side…

    Reply

  9. Diana says

    I managed to carefully peel the labels off the cans. Out here in California, the labels are glued with a soft glue only on the edge where they meet. The whole thing came off intact with no issues.
    My plan is to find some very small frames, cut the labels down to the front portion, and hang them on the wall between my kitchen counter and the upper cabinet.

    Reply

  12. Camilla says

    Great idea! I may have to grab a few of these cans next time I’m at Tar-jay. By the way, Target also has those stick-like pencil crayons…part of their Kid Made Modern collection, I believe.

    Reply

  13. Ally says

    What a sweet little project, for an even sweeter little girl :)

    I see under things you’re “DIGGING”, there is a Hanging Egg Chair? Has your current NON-hanging egg chair let ya down, $herdog? :)

    Happy Weekend, Youngsters!

    xox

    Reply

  14. Kate says

    Art History majors represent!! Another awesome artist (especially from drawing home inspiration from): Josef Albers. Awesome color palette inspiration.

    Reply

  15. Chris says

    I don’t know if someone already got this detailed because I didn’t read all the comments, but there are, as mentioned by at least one other person, can openers that take the whole top of the can off, even the pull-tab type, so you can eliminate that awful sharp edge. Pampered Chef makes one and I’m sure there are others out there. I always use mine because I can’t get all the soup out otherwise–that sharp edge is in the way and cuts up my rubber spatulas.

    Reply

  17. Kiki says

    I love this! I’ve seen those Andy Warhol cans on Pinterest, blogs, and Instagram but never thought of a cute way to use them.

    We store our felt tip markers in old glass jars. Maybe that’s not so great for little kids (or even a klutz like me) but at least they look good.

    I’ve been loving all these Friday projects! Fast, free, and easy are my requirements for a good DIY project. :)

    Reply

  18. eileen marie says

    ONLY JT could dance in that get up-love those skits! Love this idea (I need some pencil cups for my desk at work) -You guys know you cause a rush on products immediately after you feature them, right? I am totally gonna score some of those tomato soup cans (everyone loves grilled cheese & tomater soup, right?). I’m a big fan of Warhol as well; we have Mao at the AI her in Chi-town. Oh, and I love when you change that sidebar of Amazon products you love.
    PS: Totally went to Menard’s after your tip -I had been ogling those tulip chairs on Amazon forevah. Scored ’em for $30 a pop! I can already picture them on the patio of the house we have an offer in on! (Wish us luck -we’ve got ’em down $19K on the price. Almost.within.our.reach.)

    Reply

  20. Laura says

    How in the world are you guys keeping Clara’s table so clean?! Does it just wipe clean or have you guys had to give it a fresh coat of paint from time to time?

    Reply

  27. Cubic zirconia Jewellery says

    I especially liked the way you summed them up.If you show your true colors you will surely stand out in the crowd as we are all unique individuals and others will just find you interesting for who you are! I must go to get some.Thanks.

    Reply

  29. Eliza says

    Such a simple project and I do love the ways the cans look with Clara’s truck. FYI: my mom bought my sons a super cute picture book about Andy Warhol written by his nephew. It’s called My Uncle Andy and Clara may like it now (or later)?!

    Reply

  31. Heather W. says

    Sherry,

    Just a couple of questions… Has anyone else noticed the white frames at Target are almost all on clearance?? I bought 8 so far. I hope that doesn’t mean they are going to quit selling them and also are you not going to keep the state art that you made and that was on your video? They are so cute…. Just curious.. Love the cans and ran out and bought two. Hope to frame them with my clearance frames hahaha.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Wahoo! I love target frame sales! As for the state art, we gave it to friends of ours who are also from there. They helped us with book stuff and watching Clara, so it was the least we could do!

      xo,
      s

  32. E.S. Ivy says

    Found your website through All about Orange pointing me to the Homegoods Stylescope quiz which suggested your blog. *Loved* the pictures of both your houses. I have a screened porch with yellow walls and a blue ceiling that reminds me of one of your sunrooms that I love! But it doesn’t have any furniture yet…that’s way down the list unfortunately. But just the blue ceiling alone can make me smile.

    Reply

  33. Amanda says

    I pre-ordered my book. So excited for that!

    I love your blog, but I want more! I was wondering if you have some blogging friends you’d like to give a shout out to and recommend some other home design/ rennovation blogs outside of Bower Power. (another of my favorites.) or a link to a post you may have already done about this would be cool too.

    Thanks

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes, there are tons of blogs that we read! On the sidebar we have a tab on our sidebar that says “blogs we love” (see it near our smiling faces). Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  34. Melissa says

    Don’t know if this ? was ever answered but you can ignore the pull top and use the schmancy (ours is pampered chef) can openers. I do it all the time so that the opening will fit one of those press-in-the-top of-the-can strainers. (which only exist because you can’t drain the can using its own lid with that kind of opener)

    Reply

  35. Cassie says

    Love the project! Also, thought those little chairs were so cute when you guys bought them and they look so great staged like this. You have an eye for neat pieces! There are some cute scoop-backed kids chairs on sale for $29.99 at West Elm if you need more chairs for some reason (randomly saw them while shopping and thought of Clara’s little play table).

    Reply

  36. Jen C says

    At first glance at the 2 pictures I thought, “Oh no, why would she put Clara’s toys in a rusty old can?” and “Ewwww, there was actually food in those old cans?” haha The top of the cork liner looked like a rusty edge to me. I’m happy to see that they are new food in retro labeled cans.

    Reply

  39. Rebecca says

    I bought a few in each color a few weeks back with similiar ideas, for repurposing in the house, not for soup. I took the labels off, trimmed alittle and made four frames with them in it, reminicent of a more Warhol style witht he pattern of four in four different colors.

    Reply

  41. claire says

    yeah, all i could think of was warhol, but it is really cool to see some different colors on those cans. very creative! i want to make one with my school colors :)

    Reply

  42. Theresa says

    They make a can opener that removes the entire top (abaout 2 mm worth) and doesn’t leave any edge or lip like other can openers. I use it on the big Progresso soup cans (which have a pop top). After cleaning, drying, and removing the label, I bake stout bread in it. Because I’ve removed the lip, the bread slides right out and can be cut into even circles. Leaving it in the can and covering it with a wax paper square and bakers twine makes for a pretty wrap for gifting.

    Reply

  43. Kristin says

    “FIT represent” – I didn’t realize that you were a fellow FIT-er! Did you have the Art History prof that wore the Islanders jersey (sorry, his name escapes me)??

    Reply

  45. Emily@ Tales of Fruit and Cake says

    Not that I’m stalking your life or anything, but I was in Phi Sigma Pi, like John (Gamma Pi chapter) and my cousin- who is more like a sister, went to FIT 2000-2004 and is now a scenic artist.

    I’m totally running to Target right now, because those soup cans are awesome!!

    Reply

  48. KaraHadley says

    Not only do I love this project, but I’m finishing up my art history major now with a modern art class. I have discovered a new, deep love for Toulouse-Lautrec and Gauguin.

    Reply

  49. Alex says

    Sherry are you seriously from Parsippany, NJ??!!! I totally am too! Went to Northvail Elementary, Central Middle School, and PHS!

    Reply

  50. Joanna Hetzel says

    Wow those stationary pots are so cute and creative, I love the contrasting colours on the labels. Unfortunately, I live in the UK nad we do not seem to have colourful labels on soup cans like these. i migtht have a wonder around the supermarket later and see what nicely looking tin labels we have here. Thanks for the great idea!

    Reply

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