Beer Can Bauhaus: Aluminum Can Arts and Crafts
A recycling bin full of empty aluminum cans may look like nothing more than an item on your to-do list, but these versatile vessels are loaded with artistic potential. With a little creativity and a few simple tools from around the house, you can turn that beeramid into something you won?t be embarrassed to show your parents.
Since they're free and easily available, artists from Alexander Calder to current can-lover Ross Palmer Beecher have experimented with used food and drink cans for years. And thanks to crafting enthusiasts and the magic of the internet, it's easier than ever to find patterns, instructions, and methods for creating can-based jewelry, ornaments, and artwork. A great place to start is Aluminous Publishing, a site devoted to aluminum can art that offers free step-by-step project instructions. You can also find great tips and resources on websites like HowStuffWorks and Soda Planes (a site devoted to, yes, model airplanes made of soda cans).
Once you have your project in mind, you'll need a few tools to get started. A pair of heavy duty construction gloves is critical, as is a good pair of crafting scissors. If you plan on painting your metal artwork, find a good spray primer to coat the cans with before you apply your color. And, of course, you'll need empty cans - the prettier the better. Wash and dry your cans to prevent anything funky from growing, and get ready to do some careful cutting. You usually start each project by carefully removing the top and bottom of each can with your crafting scissors or an X-Acto knife, slicing the leftover cylinder down the side, and rolling or pressing the resulting rectangle of metal until it's nice and flat. Keep the leftover pieces and pull tabs if you think they'll come in handy, or if your project calls for them. Then, the sky's the limit!
A few words about sharp edges: you can try using very fine sandpaper, a nail file, or a fine metal file to dull them. However, sandpaper has a tendency to scratch this sort of metal up and make it even more jagged. If you're really concerned, you could take a mallet and vice to your aluminum pieces and attempt to bend their dangerous edges. You could even use a button maker, if you have one, to curl the edges of round pieces. Otherwise, you can simply find creative ways to get around the problem: for instance, layering the metal piece over or between other materials (like this artist did). Either way, it's something to keep in mind.
Finally, if you're not so into crafting but love the look of aluminum can art and jewelry, designers like Etsy's Funky Recycling and Urban Woodswalker have a variety of unique pieces for sale online. You can always pretend you made your new soda can necklace yourself - we won't tell anyone.
Happy recycling!