Everything was going great until I started on the label. It's flat, not following the contours of the can. I created the text(though I don't have the Bitstream Vera Sans font, used one smaller & skinnier but still ok) and am having trouble with the oval + rectangle + Cut Path command(follow direction, nothing happens. this means I left something out somplace, I think). Getting the label to follow the can would be a great step forward, if anyone can help me see what I'm missing. Thanks from a complete novice.

Welcome to InkscapeForum!

Hhmmm, let me consult my crystal ball ..... Rats, must be out of order
I'm not sure which tutorial you're working on. There's a can tutorial in the manual (which I think is a soup can). But then we have druban's gorgeous can label tutorial, which is posted in the forum. So first it might help to know which tutorial you're working on -- a link would be awesome

But even with a link, we weren't there when you were working on it. How can we know what you did wrong? In this kind of situation, it's usually best to go back to the last place where you're sure you had things correct, and try again. If you still can't get it right, start all over. Pay close attention to where you are in the tutorial, so that you don't accidentally skip something. Maybe it would help to print it out, so you can place a checkmark beside each item as you do it?

Or if you'd like to upload the SVG file, maybe someone can spot the error. But we'd still need to know which tutorial

Here's the project in the manual:

http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... upCan.html

Below is the attached svg file.

Hope this helps.

Oh, and thanks for the welcome.

We also would need you to attach the file so we can see it.
Personally, I've followed several of those type of tutorials, and whether it be a cup, can, medicine bottle, almost never do I end up following all the steps the original artist did - there's always something they do that doesn't make sense to me - so, I usually wing it. The thing is, there's more than one way to draw almost everything, different tools to use, filters, line draw vs starting out with an object. Basically if you are stuck, skip the step and just look at what the end result should be and try to mimick it your own way! you'll be happier too, because it makes sense to you.
For labels, there are ways to make it 'perfect', using math forumlas, etc., I never can do the 'perfect' way. What I suggest is that you simply move the nodes around until the label itself has approx the same 'bend' in it that the bottle/can has, then it will look natural.
good luck.