Painted Creations

• Make the can in question look fresh and new -- and decidedly less like a normal can -- by painting it. Spray paint your can with a solid-colored lacquer of your choice. After this has dried, use some appropriate-for-metal paint to add details. Paint your name onto the side, or the name of the school or sports team you most appreciate. Add images of your choice, creating detailed images if you have the skill to do so, or simple geometric designs if you don't.
  
  

Fabric Covering

• Give your can a soft-sided face-lift by covering it in fabric. To create your fabric cover, purchase a thick fabric, such as canvas. Lay the can down on its side on the fabric and make a mark at the top and the bottom of the can. Cut a strip of fabric long enough to fit around the can slightly smaller than the size you marked, allowing your wrap to slip right under the lip of the can. Using a hot glue gun, attach one side of this fabric to the can. Wrap it tightly and secure it at the other side with hot glue as well, turning under the end before you glue it down to finish your creation.
  
  

Paper Wrap

• Use your favorite wrapping paper or some scrap paper to cover your can. Lay the can out on its side and mark the can size on the paper. Cut a strip and attach it to the can by wrapping it tightly around the can and gluing the paper to itself using regular school glue.
  
  

Uncommon Shapes

• Make your can look nothing like a can at all by adding some uncommon shapes to the side. To create this crafty pencil holder, select an image that appeals to you -- perhaps one of a penguin if you are a fan of these waddling creatures. Copy the image onto card stock, making it slightly larger than the can itself. Create two card stock copies of your selected image. Color the image if necessary, then clip it out. Using hot glue, glue one image to one side of the can and the other to the opposite. Allow the image to stick out on the top and side of the can, completely obscuring the humble tin-can that it is hiding.