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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

  1. Crazy Girl says

    hi Sherry,

    Nice post and great idea, very very cute containers for all my pens, pencils:) And I will do this on this Friday! I decide to paste me photos on the outside of the can:) Is it a good idea?

    Reply

  3. Megan A. says

    I’ve got a big container of tomato soup and some really cool empty cans ready to store stuff. Thanks for the idea! (Plus, coupons.com has a $0.40 off 3 cans coupon right now… making it even cheaper!)

    Reply

  4. Mary says

    I purchase plastic the smallest diameter plastic tubing available at Lowe’s and slit it down the middle then use it to cover the raw metal edge left behind from opening the can. It’s clear so you don’t notice it unless your looking for it. I would suggest gluing it in place if you are using it for your littles crayons or pencils.

    Reply

  6. Ashley Bussiere says

    Well I grabbed some, cleaned them and, mod podged them using an “x” stroke…and they look beautiful! There’s a protective “plastic-ey” coat on them, so there’s no way to get that paper off or messed up.

    Thanks so much for the heads up!

    Reply

  7. Courtney says

    I bought some of these after I saw your post and I am thinking of spraying a clear coat of something over the labels so the labels don’t get ruined (torn, etc.). What would you recommend?

    Reply

    • Courtney says

      Thanks! I plan to try it on a non-cute can first. I just love your blog. I am a new fan; I discovered you guys by accident about 2 months ago when I was Googling “concrete staining.” I have been a faithful reader since that day and now my husband even likes to check your site before we take on a new task. Thank you so much and keep up the good work!!! I just love all your ideas! :)

  8. Ellen says

    I love this idea so much and will copy it ASAP. I saw those cans on Saturday and wanted to grab a cart of them but thought, “Am I really going to eat that much tomato soup?” and “What would I ever do with the empty cans that’s worthy of buying them in bulk right now?” Now I know. :) Thank you for the inspiration!!!

    Reply

  9. Celia says

    I love this project and have some Mod Podge at home to finish them off but they did not have them at our Target — bummer!
    So disappointed but I did put up a Warhol picture as our screensaver for the time being…

    Reply

  10. LaSha Redmond says

    I saw these too and had to have them! I got four different cans and nailed them to the wall in our office which the colors go perfectly next to our wall map. Now our pens, highlighters and supplies have a nice little home!

    Reply

  12. Lauren Douglas says

    Thanks for this post! :)
    I love Andy Warhol – I’ve got his name on a tattoo on my left inner wrist. (It’s his mom’s writing, but his name.)
    Ugh, I about CRIED when I saw these. CRIED, I tell you.
    Thanks again!

    Reply

  13. Nicole | Chic Cheap Nursery says

    Soup, there it is! Cup O Soup skits are my favorite!!! Well… all SNL skits with Justin Timberlake are my favorite ;)

    Great little diy Sherry! And I had no idea Target was selling those Campbell’s cans. Must go to Target ASAP!

    Reply

  14. Aleah says

    So I finally went in search of these adorable cans. Have they been selling out? Or maybe they aren’t in the regular old soup can area of target? I almost cried when they didn’t have any! Thanks for any input!

    Reply

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