Here is another recycled craft idea. I’m always on the look out for interesting things to make out of the unexpected. I found some disposable cookie sheets at the Dollar store and have held onto them a while until inspiration hit. And then one day, it occurred to me that maybe they might make some great faux tin tiles.
For this project I used:
2 disposable aluminum cookie sheets
Free patterns from my pattern page*
A knitting needle
Paintbrush
Various metallic acrylic paints
Spray primer
A cork bulletin board
Thumb tacks
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Begin by measuring out and cutting (3 ea.) 7″ squares from each cookie sheet. Use a ruler to measure them and mark the cookie sheet by pressing a knitting needle along the ruler, then simply cut them out with scissors. Then take the ruler and score 1/4″ from all four sides of your square using the knitting needle.
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Use the scissors to clip a notch in each corner. Then fold the metal over carefully along your scored seam. This will create a smooth finished edge for each tile.
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I then drew out some patterns on paper. Laying the metal tile on top of a folded towel, I used a knitting needle to press the design into the metal. For your convenience, you can download the free patterns from my pattern page.
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Here the metal tile is shown with the pattern scored into it. Keeping the tile on the folded towel, then use the end of a paintbrush handle to gently rub indentations into the metal where you want them. The more you rub, the deeper they can be, just be careful not to use a ton of force as the aluminum is very thin metal.
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Once the piece is indented to your satisfaction, it is time to paint it. You could certainly leave it unpainted at this stage, but I’m all about color. I first lightly sprayed each piece with a layer of primer. Once that was dry, I began by painting the indented areas using metallic acrylic paint.
Once all the indentions were painted, I added a base color to the raised areas. I then added details by watering down some metallic acrylic black paint and adding it to lines and edges of the indentations, giving it an antiqued look.
I used the same color scheme for each tile, so that they all worked together.
There are many ways to display your finished tiles. I chose to use a cork bulletin board and lined them up carefully, pinning them down with thumbtacks. This resulted in a great piece of wall art that will definitely surprise anyone when you tell them it started out life as a couple disposable cookie sheets.
For a great video on this embossing technique, look here!
Other disposable cookie sheet ideas include:
Faux Punched Tin
Enchanted Fish
Sleeping Mermaid
Want more great recycled craft tutorials? Check out my tutorial page – over 100 detailed tutorials!
{ 102 comments… read them below or add one }
I found this on Pinterest & had to come see how? It’s beautiful, so creative, clever, love it!! TFI
I really like this project!
I’m having some trouble finding the patterns though. The pattern page only links back to this page.
Could you please post a link directly to the patterns?
Hi Sally!
I made some adjustments on the site last night and apparently lost the link to the patterns. I added it back in. You can find them here: http://suzyssitcom.com/faux-tin-tile-patterns
Would love to see what you make from them!
Oh I do love to work with tin and aluminium! Thank you so very much for taking the time to make such great tutorials.
I was wondering why you prime the tiles and then apply metallic paint? I have been making a lot of Xmas ornaments from soda cans and find that they are just so nice and shiny if I simply use Sharpies or some other permanent marker on them, then spray varnish to seal.
Lis
Sharpies are definitely a good choice, and you are right, you don’t have to use primer for them. I love the look of metallic paints, so in order to add them, it requires primer. Otherwise, they peel right off.
Thanks so much for stopping by! There will be lots of new patterns in the future!
suzy
We must have been sisters in another life…
I got here through a Favecrafts Quilting link for your Windmills at Night pattern and haven’t left… this cookie sheet bit is a source I never thought of for embossed tin/metal art, and I’m usually the one that looks at stuff for ‘not for purpose intended’. D’oh!!!!!!!!!! Wish I would have bought this clue a long time ago… and you do it so well! Kudos dear, and thank you! You do such great stuff!
Hi Deb!
Thank you for your kind words! You totally made my day! The cookie sheet art is my current favorite project.
And I’m so glad you found some things on the Sitcom that you would like to try. Please send photos if you create something based on one of my projects or patterns and I’d love to feature you!
Susie don’t tell my husband, but I think I just fell in love with you! So many ideas so little time!
Thanks for the kind words, Cecilia! You totally made my day!
This is a brilliant idea, I love when you can recylce an ordinary thing into an extraordinary masterpiece. Thanks for the beautiful step by step tutorial.
Beautiful! I’ve embossed small pieces of aluminum can before, but I just never thought to take it on as a large scale project!
I have looked unsuccesfully in several places for similar cookie sheets. Where did you find these sheets? I think this could be a good lesson for school if I can find some. Budget money is scarce this time of year.
Hi!
The best place to find disposable cookie sheets without patterns in them is Party City or any other party supply store. In fact, lately I’ve been using the disposable aluminum lids that they sell for buffet tables. They are inexpensive at less than 80 cents a piece.
Hope that helps! If your class makes the project, I would love to feature them on the Sitcom!
Suzy Myers
What a cute idea! I need a temporary backsplash since I can’t do any permanent changes to my apartment. I will definitely be giving this a try !
Excellent tutorial, pinned to several of my boards!
Hi,
I wanted to know if sharpies would work instead of the metallic acrylic paint. I am trying to do a project with kids.
varsha
Possibly. I will have to experiment and let you know. Seems that it might be a good solution. Also- color isn’t a necessity. The tiles look great just simply embossed.
Hi susie I keep coming back to this project . So beautiful .
I would love to know the brand & color of the paints you used on this project they would really look wonderful in my Kitchen, I can’t find a Back-splash I like I have the pattern I want to do searching for the colors I like has been more trouble than its worth….
The colors you chose will match and do the project i want to do pop.
Have a good one.Ann/alba
Hi Ann!
The brand is Folk Art Metallics Acrylic Paint, colors are:
Blue Opal, Peridot, Plum, and Mica Gold. For lines, I used Folk Art black enamel (watered down a bit)
Would love to see what you make!
These are amazing. I would like to cover my block fireplace with these to give it some character. Thank you for sharing this idea. I love it!
I have done these using inks for the color. Love them.
Love all the colors! I would love to try this on a ceiling but would have to be creative to figure out how to have it stick up there! LOL
Wow! You are just so talented! Thanks for the wonderful inspiration!
Hey there! I understand this is somewhat off-topic however
I needed to ask. Does managing a well-established
blog like yours require a massive amount work? I am brand new to operating a blog but I do write in my journal daily.
I’d like to start a blog so I can share my own experience and feelings online. Please let me know if you have any ideas or tips for new aspiring bloggers. Thankyou!
Thanks so much for sharing. This is beautiful. You are a brilliant artist!
How clever you are ! I’ll definitely be trying this !
These are fabulous! What kind of primer did you use?
Thank you! I used Krylon black primer for metal. Just a light coat is all you need to ready it for the paint.
Thank you sooooo very much! You are one of the most creative people I have ever seen! Just amazing! Thank you also for sharing your creative knowledge
Thanks for the tutorial, what a beautiful result! I liked it so much I used it as the “daily craft” on our facebook page. Check us out at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brushes-and-Thread/231012056980834
This project ROCKS!!!! I would have never thought of this and LOVE the colors….
I just wanted to share what I discovered purely by accident. You may already know this, so forgive me if I am repeating. I did not have any plain pans, so I decided to see if I could smooth out the light indentations on the pan I had. I was holding it against the surface of my textured refrigerator, and it took out the indentations, and left the pan textured. Now I am looking all over for textures inside and outside my house. I think it would be beautiful to texture, then add the designs from your templates! And it is handy if you cannot find the plain pans.
Hi Jan,
The last few projects that I made, I smoothed out the pans. I didn’t think about the texture thing, though. Now you have me thinking in a whole other direction! Thank you so much! I would absolutely love to see your creations when you are done!
suzy
these are WONDERFUL!! I have an ugly plywood door to the attic on my bedroom ceiling, and I have been wanting to get some of those old tine tiles to put on there, but they are SO expensive! Now I can duplicate the look, and use my own design for the pattern. Thank you so much for posting this! I will definitely be doing this soon. My husband just bought some of the foil pans at Publix the other day, and I think I already have the colors of paint I need! Yea!!
Jan,
I would absolutely love to see your finished project! Keep in touch!! I bet it will be just beautiful.
suzy
Lovely work, thanks for thr class
I am so in love with your faux tin tiles, I have so many projects in mind for these, a new headboard for my bed covered in these tiles, kitchen backsplash, plus I have a book that I bought years ago, just cause it’s a beautiful book that has illustrations in it from every era from practically the beginning of time, Morrocan, Roman, Turkish, and I could blow up the illustrations and copy it on tin and have some other design options, although yours are beautiful and I will definitely start there…but I have a question, what kind of primer did you use, was it clear? And what kind of sealer did you use, shouldn’t it be like a polyurethane to make it waterproof, since I will be using it around my sink, and what do you think about glueing the whole “tile” to something, I don’t know what, yet to make it so I don’t need to thumbtacks cause that would leave a gap that water could get behind, I’m thinking in the case of the backsplash! I do hope you answer my questions cause I want to start this now!!! Thankyou!
You are one talented woman!
i think i could do this on a smaller scale with an aluminum can
Great idea! I did some projects with soda cans last summer and you can easily cut them with scissors.
Love this look! I’m also thinking of a back splash!
Jan
these are gorgeous. since I am “drawing challenged” I was sondering if you could post your template drawings for us to print. or is there a site for such things. I love this and want to put it as a backsplash in our 125 year old home…it would be perfect for the period. thank you!!!!
Hi Dana!
You can find the tile patterns here on my free pattern page- http://suzyssitcom.com/free-patterns . Let me know how your project turns out!
Where did you find the metallic acryllic paint in these colors. At Hobby Lobby and Michaels they had very few colors, mainly gold, silver, black, red. None of the pretty colors like you used.
Thanks!
I found them at Michaels. Some stores don’t carry as much as others. If you cannot find them there, I’m betting you could get them on the internet.
I love this and want to do it for my back splash. However, wondering if they will hold their design shape during cleaning. On a backsplash you need to rub pretty hard sometimes.
They are surprisingly sturdy. They could handle a cleaning with a sponge, but scrubbing might not be a good thing for them. If I were you, I’d try making just one and testing it out.
Suzy Myers
Alex Vandiver?
If using for a backsplash, I’d suggest to seal them with varnish/polyurethane to protect them.
Большое спасибо за ВАШ сайт. Я из России. Сегодня увидела Ваши работы! Я в восторге!
Holeee WOW!
This is DEFINITELY something I’m going to do! Perfect backsplash for my kitchen that I’ve been stumped with for months!!!!! Thank YOU!
These are super cool! Thanks for sharing! Your tutorial is great.
Blessings,
Carrie
How very clever! I am wondering how much my hubby would hurt me if I bought a gross of aluminum pans to do the ceiling in my kitchen!! Love this project and idea…I remember doing something like this in art class a long long time ago!
Love this project! Your tiles are gorgeous! Can you tell me where you found disposable cookie sheets with no design on them? Thanks.
You did a wonderful job creating the six patterns. Your tiles are GORGEOUS!
This is amazing and beauiful! I’m thinking of ripping the carpet off my stairs and doing this on the risers (back side of stairs, not flat part). I’m not sure if this is practical for that with shoes surely to hit it, etc. Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Oh we LOVE these! Wanted to stop by to let you know we featured you today.
Thanks for the inspiration!
-Kim
Woman, you frighten me. Really. I haven’t been over here in wayyyyyyy too long, I spot these gorgeous tiles on Pinterest, and to whom does the project belong??? YOU!!! These are gorgeous, and I’m hitting the Dollar Tree today. Period. I have a party over on my blog to hack Z Gallerie, and this is just what I need to create a hack…so I guess it’s a double hack!
If you can’t find plain cookie sheets you can also use the foil lids for the large disposable foil steam pans. The lids are flat and smooth and can be trimmed to size.
I have not been able to find a plain, flat bottomed disposable cookie sheet. The disposable cookie sheets I have seen (Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Walmart & KMart) have a design imprinted into the bottom, or has holes all over it. Where did you find the flat bottomed pans? I really like your idea and want to do some for my kitchen. Thanks for any help.
Hi Sharon,
I bought mine in the Dollar store around Christmas time. Apparently, they stock certain things at certain times. I went last week and couldn’t find them. However, you can get them anytime from Party City or any other catering store. Here is a link to their website- http://www.partycity.com/category/entertaining+serving/aluminum+pans.do . The steam lids and the cookie sheets would be perfect for this project and they are all under a dollar!
Hope that helps.
suzy
Can these be painted with “Gallery Glass” paint? That would be beautiful!
These are fantastic and Id love to give it a go…but I don’t know what these disposable sheets are…they clearly aren’t ez foil! Where can I find them?!?
Hi Nicole!
These are disposable aluminum pans – you can find them at the grocery store, or dollar store, or Target, or Walmart. They are the kind of pans meant for one use and then throw them away. Some of my readers are having problems finding them without a pattern on the bottom. If you can only locate ones with patterns, choose one with a light pattern. The embossing will remove any sign of the previous pattern. Hope that helps!
suzy
How fab! This is so fantastic!!
Sa-weet idea! how did you ever think to do this? Love you crafty dollar store folks
Awesome – beautiful!! We had just looked at the tiles at the box store and thought about them for a back splash – now I’m going to go to our local dollar store and try your idea!!! Thanks for sharing your “how to”!!
I love it! What a Fabulous idea! I could not do that.
The thought of the knitting needle screeching on the tin!
I think you should sell them.
I’ll buy! Lol
thx Lin
Hi Lin!
They are made out of aluminum pans. No screeching involved, I promise! Thanks so much for your kind words!
These look great, but where do you find cookie sheets that are plain? The ones that I have seen have some sort of logo or design stamped in them.
My local Dollar Tree carries the plain kind. I had featured another project earlier this year using the plain cookie sheets and a few of the readers had to look hard for them. I’m told that Target carries them and be sure to check out your various dollar stores. They come in packs of three for …a dollar!
love…Love…LOVE! Thank you so much for sharing this.
Suzy, this is just glorious! Thanks for such a beautiful tutorial!
Is the finished product waterproof and fade proof? Wondering about different places to display…I have some fun ideas, using your idea, for finishing some yard projects! This is also an easy project to do with a 10 year old…always looking for ways to keep the creativity flowing on rainy days!
Hi Lori,
Waterproof for sure. Fade proof- I think so. I used metallic acrylic paint. You could add a coat of UV protectant if you wanted to help ensure no fading. I’m glad you enjoyed the project! I would love to see what you make of it!
OMG These are Awesome… Hummmmmmm Could I do this & use them as a Back-splash in the Kitchen ? I could use my Celtic designs….
LOVE LOVE LOVE them.
Yes you can! In fact, that is where mine now are! Would love to see your finished project!
Yes you can! In fact, that is where mine now are! Would love to see your finished project!
You are so creative, I love this! I was wondering where you got the cork bulletin board? Did it come with the frame around it or did you make that as well? I’d like to attemp to make this using Moroccan style patterns for my bedroom. Thanks ; )
Hi Shannon,
The bulletin board was purchased at Michael’s craft store. I used a coupon and got it for $7.00. Thrift stores are also a great place to find larger cork boards. And the frame was already on it. I’d love to see your project after you complete it! I bet it will be beautiful!
I bought mines at Walmart for 5.47 great deal
This is amazing! I love the colors that you used, so beautiful. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful idea!
GORGEOUS Suzy!
I love what you did with these cookie sheets. Do you think they would hold up as backsplash behind a stove?
I think so! In fact, that is where mine are now.
This is a great idea. I like how 3D it is. thanks for sharing!
Wow! You never cease to totally amaze me. Brilliant! I love your blog so much. <3
Thank you, Carolyn!! You make me blush! And thank you so much for stopping by!
I love it! Beautiful work, Suzy. I shared it on my business page at http://www.facebook.com/ShopatSwoosh
It turned out fantastic!
Well this is certainly ingenious! I love it, but wow did you go to some work! I might try this with dies that do the cutting for me. Fabulous and creative idea!
Hi Holly!
Thanks! It was surprising simple to make. The aluminum pans are easy to cut and bend. Thanks so much for stopping by!!
Oooohhhhh!!!!!!!!
I love it. For a long time I am thinking of similar things. But I tried tincans an aluminiumfolie (swedish word for it). The result is sometimes acceptable but not enogh. (bad english but anyway). I did not know what pait for example. Bu now you gave me an exelent tutorial. Using my evening reading it and tomorrow try your way. Thank you.
I am always following your blog and you give so much inspiration.
Marianne
Marianne! Thank you so much for your kind words! Let me know how your project turns out!
Suzy , your friends above have said it all! Amazing! You have given me much
crafting to do once i get settled in my new home! Hugs! deb
Thanks for another great project. I cant wait to try!
Suzy, Suzy, Suzy…You are still queen of the crafting world. It is slightly unfair to the rest of us that you received more than your share of creative genes, but I guess God balanced it out by giving you more than your share of generosity. Thanks for sharing this awesome idea and it is beyond kind that you shared your pdf too. I love tin tiles. This is being pinned and if I could lend my kids to a traveling circus for a month or so, I would put this on the top of my to-make list.
Wow, Janice! Thanks so much for the kind words! I’d love to see how your project turns out!
Its really very beautiful. My mom does this type of work , but she uses a bit thicker aluminium sheet and for the embossed effect, she uses the wooden clay tools .
Thank you, Deepthi! I’d love to see some of your mom’s work. I bet it is beautiful!
Love this, Suzy!
wow this is beautiful, love how you painted it!!!!!!
This is AWESOME dear..I really like the way how you have painted the design ..well done dear
keep sharing your beautiful creations & tutorials
Thanks ~
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