Easy DIY Patio Recycling Bin

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, in May, my friend Jenny and I threw a huge surprise 30th birthday party for our husbands. They're best friends, so what better way to celebrate than together? :)

We did lots of crafts in preparation for the party. I also used it as an excuse to finally make the patio recycling bin I've been planning on making since I finished our budget patio makeover last year. 

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Materials:

• Metal trash can
• Vinyl
• Transfer paper or contact paper
• Silhouette

How to make a stylish outdoor recycling bin:

I bought this metal trash can from Ikea last summer, and it's been sitting in the garage waiting for me ever since.

This was my first project using my Silhouette Portrait, and I'm glad I picked something super easy to start off with! I ordered vinyl from My Vinyl Direct. Since it was my first Silhouette project, I just chose a simple font and used the cutting feature to cut the letters out on the vinyl. After weeding the letters, I used contact paper as my transfer paper to place the letters onto the lid.

I wanted the letters to curve around the lid, so I cut each letter out individually on the contact paper and did my best to center them. Then I removed the backing, placed each letter down, and carefully smoothed out the contact paper. Then I slowly lifted the corner of the contact paper, making sure the letter remained on the lid as I removed the contact paper. I smoothed each letter onto the lid with the Silhouette scraper when I was finished. 

Tah dah! I think it turned out okay for my first try! What do you think?

This will go perfectly next to my DIY bar cart! It will be great for beer cans/bottles when we have outdoor get togethers with friends and family!

Pardon the terrible picture below. I was in quite the hurry on party day and had to snap a few pics before we were finished setting up... but you get the idea!!!