How to Make Beer Can Art
Though most recycling centers will accept aluminum beer cans to reuse, some people may decide that they would rather be more creative with their recycling efforts. The shiny aluminum of the cans can create artistic ornaments of any shape to decorate your home, garden or office. Choose your favorite beer can design and create artistic decorations.
Things You'll Need
- Warm water
- Soap
- Safety gloves and goggles
- Scissors or utility knife
- Pen
- Nail
- Twine
- Glue
- Tea light
- Coaster
Instructions
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Ornaments
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1
Clean the can out thoroughly with warm water and soap to remove residual beer. Allow the can to dry.
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2
Wear safety gloves and goggles when working with beer cans; the edges are sharp, and pieces can fly off while you are cutting.
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3
Cut straight up one side of the can with scissors or a utility knife. Remove the top and bottom circles from the can. Carefully smooth the aluminum flat against your table.
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4
Draw designs on the aluminum with a pen; push hard into the aluminum so that the design appears against the metal. Draw free hand, or trace shapes onto the aluminum.
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5
Cut your ornament shape of the aluminum with your scissors or knife. Trace details like lines or designs onto the aluminum.
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6
Poke a hole in the edge of the ornament with a nail. String twine, ribbon or another type of cord through the hole and tie a knot in the end so that you can hang the ornament.
Lanterns
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7
Clean the can out thoroughly with warm water and soap to remove residual beer. Allow the can to dry. Wear safety gloves and goggles when working with beer cans; the edges are sharp, and pieces can fly off while you are cutting.
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8
Cut straight up one side of the can with scissors or a utility knife. Remove the top and bottom circles from the can. Trace any kind of design onto the can; popular lantern designs include stars and spirals.
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9
Follow your designs with a nail, poking a hole along the design every 1/2 inch. Follow the pattern all the way across the design until you have poked holes throughout the can.
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10
Carefully curve the aluminum back, so that the plain aluminum side is facing outwards and the shape once again resembles a can. Glue the two edges together with craft glue, so that the can is circular again, with the poked aluminum side facing out.
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11
Place a small tea light on a coaster. Slide the new can lantern over the candle so that it rests on the coaster. The light inside will stream through the holes you poked, creating a light design on the walls.
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Tips & Warnings
Many crafting stores and Internet retailers sell plans and instructions for beer can crafts such as airplanes, tanks and buildings.
For an alternative beer can lantern, cut out the top and bottom of the can and leave the design side facing out. Trace the beer can's design with your nail, so that the logo will light up when you use the lantern.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit background / beer cans image by ENTER_DESIGN from Fotolia.com
