Last Updated on February 14, 2023 by Ellen Christian
Wondering how to stencil on tin? Learn how to paint on metal without bleeding and and how to paint designs on metal with this simple hack.
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How to Stencil on Tin
My Grandmother is the last person on my Christmas gift list that I need to find a present for. She is 92 and in a nursing home so it isn’t easy to find something that she wants and needs for Christmas.
I love giving homemade Christmas cookies and candy for the holidays but since she is diabetic, I don’t want to give her treats that she shouldn’t be eating.
Since I know that she loves sugar free hard candy, I decided to stop at the candy store in our mall and pick some up for her.
I found a great selection of sugar free candies for her at the mall but I wanted something pretty to put them in. Since I was mailing them, I didn’t want to put them in a basket.
I wanted something that would keep them safe during the journey to her and look cute when she got the present. I decided to stencil a tin to put her Christmas candy in.
These are the supplies you’ll need:
- Tin
- Painter’s tape
- Sharpie Fine Point Markers in the colors you want your letters
- Sharpie Fine Point Metallic Markers for the snowflake
- Acrylic paint in antique white
How to paint on metal with stencils
The first thing that I did was tape off the border of the tin using painters’ tape so that when I painted it, the edges were crisp and clean. if you are going to paint the entire tin and not just a square on one side, you will only need to tape off the hardware. Using acrylic paint, paint the area that you want to stencil. You may need to paint it with two or three coats depending on how well it covers the surface.
Let the tin dry completely and remove the painters’ tape. Make any needed touch ups to the acrylic paint.
Since I’m filling my tin with candies, I wanted to stencil something on the front that fit that theme. I decided that “Sweet Treat” would work perfectly.
So, I used peel and stick stencils so that they would stay in place on the tin. I very carefully colored in the letters using red and green Sharpie Fine Tip Markers. It is so much easier to stencil small areas using Sharpies than it is with acrylic paint.
To fill in the blank space in between the words, I drew snowflakes. I am not an artist so they are drawn stick figure style using the silver metallic Sharpie Marker.
If you have more artistic ability than I do, you could draw a Christmas tree, angel, nativity scene or any other type of holiday picture.
Visit Staples this holiday and purchase the 12 count multi-colored pack of Sharpies and the Sharpie Metallic Assorted 4 count. Depending on what you’re drawing, you’ll want to pick up the new Neon 5 count pack as well. The Metallic and Neon are on sale for only $5 and the 12 count is on sale for $6! This is a great time to stock up on Sharpies!
Finally, here are a few Christmas party favors you can make.
Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.
Sharpies make crafts so much more colorful and bright! I love the idea of stenciling on tin – I have never thought about it before.
I don’t think I ever considered stenciling on tin before- what a great way to customize holiday treats! I love this concept and I think it adds such a nice personalized touch to holiday gifts. Thanks for sharing a great tutorial!
Sharpies are awesome, I used them for avariety of purposes, even covering up a chipped nail.
This is such a great idea! What a fun way to be festive.
Adorable! My kids would love the little tin! Cute idea.
I adore this project and it turned out so well. I can totally see this filled to the brim with Christmas cookies.
I just wrote a blog post about the fact that thoughtful gifts are so wonderful to receive and give at the holidays, and your post totally just drove my point home. I’m sure your grandmother will love the fact that you put such time and effort into making her this beautiful present! And if she’s in a nursing home, she will really appreciate a small present that won’t take up her entire room.
By the way, I really love the premise of your blog. I’m all about being eco-friendly and green, so this seems like a place I’ll be visiting quite frequently. 😉
Thanks so much, Casey. I’m so glad you enjoyed the post!
this is a great way to repurpose tins you may have around your house. And I am a sharpie addict….we have TONS!
That turned out so cute. Such a cute gift idea for your grandmother! Staples is such a fun store.
This is such a cute idea! I’d love to make one for my grandson so he can put some of his favorite little items in it!
There are so many possibilities with this technique. Fabulous, Ellen!
That turned out great. I really like sharpies!
You had me at Sharpies and Stencils!! Love this! Definitely a great craft to give as a gift!
such a cute and fun idea- love sharpies!! i need to go get some new metallics
Great idea to decorate a tin! Very cute!!!
I just picked up a ton of Sharpies, I love crafting with them. Such a neat project!
i love sharpies. and i hoard them. there’s no need to share. esp the metallic ones. those are special!! these are wicked cute ellen!
What a neat idea! I never thought about using sharpies for stenciling stuff. The tin turned out very cute!
What a fun way to customize a tin for a gift. And, it’s great because you can use it later..for pencils, for lunch, whatever you see fit.
Great stencil project. Looks great! The amazing things you can do with a Sharpie and talent! 🙂
I love that tin! These would be so cute as gifts with some homemade goodies inside.
That turned out so awesome! And so festive! You are so cleaver and creative.
OH my goodness you are so creative! What a great idea. These would make excellent gifts.
That turned out so cute and is perfect for storing holiday goodies!
What a cute idea! We always have a ton of Sharpies floating around the house. I buy them whenever they’re on sale buy-one-get-one-free at our local grocery store!
Fun idea and so easy! I love Sharpies… can’t have too many!
I love my Sharpie markers! That tin is so adorable. Thanks for the how to. I might try this over the weekend.
So cool! I never would have thought of using sharpies with stencils.
Cute, nice idea for a custom lunchbox!!
this seems so easy, and would be a great project for my daughter and i.
Very cute! I love the font of those stencils! I’ve been super into stencils lately. I haven’t tried the sharpies on any though! Great idea!
I love sharpies, and using them on everything. I constantly use them to touch up shoes, and in every color!