Cost cutting is extremely fashionable these days, and can help you achieve good looks for drastically less. ONLY the amount of paint you use. If you like something a little out of the ordinary, why not try a lime green, aqua or cerise pink. You will not however, get a really deep color, as nylon doesn't take dye that well. A really cheap way of injecting some decoration into rooms, where the tiles may have become a little tatty looking.
Magazines often give away free stamps or stencils on the front covers.
When solid, use a bradawl and hammer out patterns through the tins. Remove the ice and put tea light candles in the tins to make pretty lanterns. You can get them at a fraction of the price and in excellent from second-hand shops or garage sales. If you find a pair suitable, but the wrong color, simply dye them to match your own color scheme. You can get the most exquisite cards or postcards which can be framed in groups.