Green Crafting: Eco-Friendly Burlap Paintbrush Holder

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With all the load-shedding we have in South Africa, tinned food has become part of our staple diet. I’m not a big fan. Neither is my waistline. But it does mean I have a whole bunch of empty tin cans that can be upcycled into all kinds of things. Like this eco-friendly burlap paintbrush holder. Not only was it easy to make, but it’s perfect for storing paintbrushes, pens, pencils, crayons, and even driftwood scraps. It could even double up as a succulent planter, rustic vase, or utensil holder. And the burlap texture takes it to a whole new level of awesomeness, don’t you think? Plus, it’s friendly to our planet and keeps my crafting space tidy too. Sustainable, inexpensive home décor at its best. To personalize the revamped tin, I added feathers and a clay bead. You can use whatever makes you happy and fits with your décor style. In this easy repurpose tutorial, I’ll show you how to make a burlap Paintbrush holder using an empty tin can. But before we get there, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. And don’t forget to subscribe so you’ll never miss a post!

What you Need

• Empty tin can
• Burlap/hessian fabric
• Glue
• Craft paint
• Mod Podge
• Paintbrush and/or sponge
• Permanent Marker
• Decorative items (beads, feathers, tags, etc.)

How to make a burlap paintbrush holder

Making a burlap pattern

Remove the label and any glue residue from the tin can and give it a good wash in warm soapy water. Leave to dry. Place the tin can bottom down on a piece of burlap and trace around the edges with a permanent marker. Use a pair of scissors to cut around the marks and test fit on the bottom of the tin can. Trim away any excess. Lay the tin can on its side and line one edge of the burlap or hessian fabric up with the bottom edge of the can. Wrap the fabric around the can, overlapping the long, wrapped edges by a few centimeters. Trim the burlap by cutting between two threads. This helps keep the cutting lines straight. For the top edge, measure about 4 cm (2”) from the top of the tin can and cut as shown below. Once the pieces have been cut, pull a few strands along the top edge to create a fringe. Most burlap has an open weave, so if you don’t want the shiny metal to show through, paint the can first before covering it with the cut burlap pieces.

How to cover a tin can in burlap

My favorite glue for something like this is Super Glue (aka Instant Glue). It dries super fast and bonds well to all kinds of surfaces. Sadly it’s not biodegradable, so I try to use as little as possible.

Put a small drop at the top and bottom of the can to hold the fabric in place. Wrap the burlap around the can before adding a thin line of glue to secure the overlapping edge. For the bottom, a few dots of glue around the edge did the trick. Flip the top, frayed edge over as shown below. If you love the natural look of burlap, you can probably skip the next step. Since my can will hold paintbrushes, I didn’t want any wet drips to stain the burlap or have to deal with grubby finger marks in a few weeks.

Painting and sealing burlap

To paint and seal the burlap cover, I used black and white craft paint mixed with matte Mod Podge. The paint adds color, while the Mod Podge creates a waterproof layer that should protect the “burlapped” holder from unintentional splatter. Use a paintbrush or sponge to apply the paint. The sponge makes it easier to squish the paint into hard-to-reach places, while a paintbrush covers large areas quickly. Because burlap has loads of texture, I applied three coats to get the coverage I wanted. And for a final artistic touch, I made a clay token and added gorgeous feathers. You may recognize them. They’re leftovers from making this boho air plant holder. Leave the paint to dry completely before using your new eco-friendly paintbrush holder. Not bad for something that used to house baked beans. Feathers and all. Hopefully, it will keep me from leaving my paintbrushes all over the place too.  Now I just need to figure out how to make a fair version for these mini paintbrushes.

BTW, if you’re anything like me and have a few dried-out, crusty paintbrushes lying around, this tutorial will show you how to turn them into hooks. What do you think? Have you upcycled any tin cans? I still have a whole bunch that need a makeover. So if you have any DIY tin can projects you want us to try, give me a shout in the comments.

If you like the idea of making an eco-friendly burlap paintbrush holder, don’t forget to pin it for later.

Sharing caring And if you have a whole bunch of tin cans to upcycle here’s a few more ideas to get you started. Oh, and if you’re looking for some of the things we used, we’ve got you covered. Disclosure: Clicking on the links below, means we may receive a commission from Amazon. But don’t worry it won’t come out of your pocket, and it helps us make more amazing crafts to share with you ;-)

If you prefer to buy rather than DIY, perhaps these beauties will appeal.

And as always, wishing you a wonderful, crafty week filled with laughter and love Thank you for popping in for a visit.