Recycled crafts are always a winner around my house and this easy Tin Can Christmas Tree Activity for kids was the perfect way to upcycle some cans and provide the kiddos with a design challenge!

I have to admit this is my favorite Christmas DIY post yet. Not only did I have fun creating it but my daughter actually loved doing the activity!

This idea was inspired by the tin can robot idea that floated around the craft circuit a few years ago, originally published in Parents Magazine I believe….only this involves a Christmas twist!  The fun part about this is that tree decorations are removable/repositionable. Have the kids decorate them, take the decorations down and start all over again.

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Tin Can Christmas Tree Activity

Materials

• 3 empty, clean tin cans, small, medium, and large. Think tomato paste, tomato sauce, and 20 oz diced tomatoes
• Primer Spray Paint
• Green Spray Paint 
• Adhesive backed Magnet Sheets
• Scissors
• Pom poms
• Yarn cut into 18” pieces
• Glittery Pipe Cleaners
• Hot Glue
• Toothpicks
• Hammer and small nail

Instructions

• Step One Spray paint your cans. Start with one coat of primer and then paint with one to two coats of green paint. I used Rust-Oleum Satin Leafy Green for a softer green touch.
• Step Two Make a small hole in the top of the smallest can for you to insert the star. I did this last, but better to do it before gluing the cans together.
• Step Three Hot glue your cans together into a tree shape

• Step Four Cut your magnetic sheets into pieces. Small roughly ¼” square pieces will work best for the mini decorations.
• Step Five Remove the paper backing from the small magnetic pieces and stick them to pom poms and yarn. For the yarn I suggest sticking a magnet every few inches so you can wrap the trees.

• Step Six Make a star for the top. A couple options depending on what you have on hand: bend a glittery pipe cleaner into a star shape, coat a wood star/snowflake shape with glitter and let dry. When finished glue the star onto a toothpick.
• Step Seven Put all the decorations and the empty “trees” on a table and let your kids have a ball decorating them!

You’re done! You can display these around the house or remove all the decorations and let your kids decorate them as many times as they want. Make sure to save the activity for next year!

Looking for cool art and design toy ideas for your kids this year? Check out our gift guide: STEAM Gift Guide: Smart Toys for Little Designers