DIY Ammo Can Stencil & Label

Today I’m showing you how to label your ammo cans with just a stencil, tape, and spray paint. It makes it much easier to grab the right ammo when it’s all grouped together and clearly labelled in a field box! Not to mention, you’ll never mix up your ammo with your friend’s ammo anymore.

You probably already have the supplies needed for this project.

Supplies:

Ammo can. My army green can you see in the pictures is a cheap Plano box that I got at Walmart for 4.88. It’s identical to the black basic Range Maxx cans that Bass Pro Shops sell for $9.99. There are tons of options out there. Places like Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s have a wide variety for all calibers. Here’s a link to some good deals on army ammo cans at Sportsman’s Guide.
Stencil – I got mine at either Joanne’s crafts or Hobby Lobby. Stencils are usually in a several places throughout a craft store. Near furniture stencil paint, near architectural drafting supplies –(just shapes, numbers, letters), stamping and scrap-booking supplies, t-shirt and fashion crafts, and home décor. They are everywhere! You just have to look at everything.
Tape – any kind that sticks to your ammo box will work. I used painters tape.
Spray Paint – make sure you buy the kind that says it works on plastic and doesn’t need a primer. I used Krylon metallic, but a great one for plastic is Rust-oleum American Accents 2X Ultra Cover. A tip for buying spray paint: don’t buy it at a craft store! It’s usually cheaper at hardware stores. If you’re willing to buy off-trend or out of season colors, you can get it for about $2 a can at Walmart.
Optional Supplies:
Sharpie Paint Pen
Sharpie Permanent Marker
Cardboard to block the wind and keep your ground paint free.
Clear coat spray can. This will protect your painted design and help it from getting scratched off when it’s rolling around in your truck.

Let’s get started:

Peel off any labels or price stickers.
Make sure your ammo container is clean and free of any grease or oil from your fingers. You can swab it with an alcohol soaked tissue to make sure. Or wash with soapy water.
Set up your project area out of the wind, with good ventilation, preferably outside or in a garage with the garage door up.
Tape off any areas on your container that you don’t want painted.
Tape the edges of the stencil onto your ammo container, making sure the stencil lies close and flat to the container. If you prefer, there are actually stencil adhesives that you can apply to the back of your stencil so it is in contact with your container everywhere, leaving no gaps for spray paint to ruin the pattern. I’m not that particular about ammo containers, so I just tape it on. With tape some areas of your painted pattern will be crisp and others will have a softer edge. The soft areas appear where the paint was able to spray under the edges of your stencil a tiny bit.
Thoroughly shake your spray paint can, and test it on some cardboard. If its ready…
Spray paint your stencil lightly at first. Then do several more light layers. Spraying too heavily will cause it to accumulate and puddle, or drip.
Peel off your stencil. And admire your handiwork! I personally peel it off immediately, being very careful not to smear the paint. I’m impatient like that! Taking the stencil off immediately also prevents the paint from peeling off in the case that the stencil gets adhered to the wet paint and they dry together.
I wanted the entire side of my ammo container stenciled, so at this point I let my newly painted container dry, covered and taped off the painted part, and re-taped my stencil on the half that wasn’t painted yet. Then I spray painted the stencil again to finish that side.
Label your can with the caliber. I used a yellow paint pen and a black sharpie. You could also spray paint a stencil of the numbers.
Wait for your new paint to thoroughly dry – usually or day or more – before putting the ammo container to use.
Clear coat your new design if you want it to stay pristine, and after the allotted drying time.

Additional ideas for your ammo can:

Buy some camouflage colors and spray paint camo onto your container.

Cover it in stickers from your favorite hunting brands.

Paint or write your monogram on.

Cut off the metal part of your spent shotgun shells and glue them onto the sides of your ammo can.

Decoupage magazine clippings onto it. I’m thinking pictures of the animals you hunt, or pictures of ammo, pictures of your firearms, words, etc. It could be funny to decoupage totally unrelated things, too.

What other ideas do you have? Leave a comment!

Do you have a new firearm? Make sure you’ve checked off these 10 steps before you sight it in.