Punched Tin Pie Plates

When my family first moved to our house years ago, I looked at the empty spaces that needed to be filled throughout our home.  We were on a budget with a house full of white walls to decorate. I knew I had a challenge ahead of me but I rolled up my sleeves and got to work.  I scoured the local library for books about inexpensive decorating and craft ideas and came across a project using punched tin.    It became one of many decorating projects I found that helped me decorate our new home (built to emulate 1800′s details) quickly and inexpensively.

Punched Tin Pie Plate

Detail of Punched Tin Pie Plate

If you have any older pie plates at home (made from any type of metal—it does not need to be “tin”), a hammer and a nail, then you can make this craft for free.  It doesn’t get more affordable than that.  If you do not have an older metal pie plate you can find them at yard sales or antique shops, or ask your friends if they have any they would like to unload.

Punched Tin Pie Plate

Detail of Punched Tin Pie Plate

You can also get creative and try using metal platters, serving trays, or cookie sheets.

Materials to make your own Punched Tin Pie Plate

• Metal pie plate
• Hammer
• Nail
• Paper
• Pencil
• Masking Tape
• Recycled cardboard

Directions to make your own Punched Tin Pie Plate

• Cut out a piece of paper that will fit the inside of the pie plate.
• Draw a design onto the paper (it helps to practice this first).
• With detailed designs it will help to pencil in each spot where you want a “punch”.  Make sure to use the same distance between holes to create uniformity and clean lines.
• Tape the designed paper to the inside of the pie plate.
• Place thick recycled cardboard underneath your project before hammering.
• Use your hammer and nail to punch holes along the design.
• Remove the paper when you have finished punching all the holes.

This is a craft that has typically been used in very traditional ways with very traditional patterns.  However, like cross stitching, embroidery and other recent trends in crafting, you have the creative freedom to stretch this craft a bit further to meet your needs (and sense of humor).  Snarky commentaries, emoticons and texting codes used in other craft trends are all free game here, as are outlines of mustaches, zombies, and whatever else amuses you.

Punched Tin Text Codes. Also, I ran out of pie plates, so I punched a lid instead.

Here are some texting codes to consider:

• OMG
• LOL
• Gr8
• QT
• XOXO

Or emoticons:

• d[~ ~]b  Listening to headphones
• : ) Smiley face
• ; ) Winking face
• ^     ^
• >’ . ‘<   kitty face

Maybe I'll hang it among the traditional punched tin plates and see if anyone notices.