
Gather Together:
tin cans, preferably with a lid
-maybe you have some fun + colorful tea or candy tins in your kitchen cupboard
One of my cans is shallow, the other quite tall.
This is something to consider before proceeding with your project as you need to be able to “set” your grommet—are you able to reach easily into a taller tin to do this?
*** see tip below for taller tin cans
¼" grommets + setter
- you can find these in the sewing shop or also at the hardware store

Safety goggles
Drill + bits (3/16" + 5/16" bits)

Determine where you want your grommet hole to be.
For the smaller round bucket type tin I wanted the hole in the lid.
For the taller candy tin I wanted the hole in the bottom.
Use a smaller drill bit (3/16") to “start” your hole.
Then use a 5/16" bit to make the hole larger and ultimately the size you want your hole to be, so that your grommet will easily fit into it.
I used these drill bits based on the size of the grommet I would be inserting into the drilled hole.

Sometimes with these types of food tins the metal is quite thin + when you reverse your drill back out of the hole it will buckle the metal a bit and leave sharper edges. Having a piece of wood for the tin can to fit over will eliminate this problem, as the drill bit will then also be reversing out of the more solid wood piece and will not be pulling at the tin as much.
Make sense?
Insert your grommet into the top or "right" side of your tin lid.

Now, flip the lid over to the wrong side.
Grommet setting for a tin with drilled hole in top lid:
Flip the lid over and using the grommet setter and tool, set your grommet.
Do not do this on your lovely kitchen table. An old piece of wood is a good thing to use.
Or go out on the stoop and pound away.
Grommet setting for a taller size tin with bottom drilled hole:
Place the drilled hole over the grommet setter (peek through the open top to line it up).
Reach in and carefully place your grommet tool.
***On top of your grommet tool place a short small piece of wood inside -you will need to hold the piece of wood steady with your hand.
Why?
Because you will not be able to reach your arm in AND try and set the grommet at the same time. Nope.
The wood acts as an extension of your arm.
Then using a rubber mallet or hammer, pound on top of the piece of wood to “set” the grommet.

See how nice the "set" grommet looks?

If you wish to hang your tin on a hook, you will need to drill a hole in the backside.
This hole does not need a grommet.
Insert your spool of ribbon or ball of string.


{this crafting segment was made possible with the assistance of craft man}
Variations...crafting is always about the variations:
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paint your tin with a paint recommended for metal surfaces
-
drill holes in the side of your tin to add a wire or ribbon handle, similar to
these
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the taller tin even has room to store a pair of scissors inside
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depending on the metal you can also use the tin as a mini magnetic message board
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use a vintage advertising tin with an interesting color or design
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embellish the tin further with other found objects