Decorative ornaments can add a festive touch to your indoor or outdoor holiday decor. Before you purchase ornaments that look like the ones everyone else has, make your own distinctive metal decorations from junk headed for the recycling plant. With a few craft supplies, you can transform thin metal cans into one-of-a-kind accessories for your home or garden. You can embellish wreaths, trees, centerpieces, doorways and garland with metal ornaments made from recycled junk.
Instructions
1. Rinse out a soda can with water. Sand the outside of the can to dull the surface and prepare it for painting. Medium grade sandpaper will also remove some of the advertising from the can. Remove the sanding debris with a damp cloth. Dry the can.
2. Paint the outside of the metal can with acrylic paint or metal spray paint. Select a color that suits the design of your ornament. For example, if you are making a Christmas ornament, paint the can red, green, blue, silver or gold to coordinate with your holiday decor. Allow the paint to dry.
3. Insert a serrated knife through the can just below the top rim and just above the bottom rim. The knife makes an opening so you can cut the can with scissors.
4. Cut the top and the bottom from the can with scissors. Cut along the seam of the can so you can flatten the metal.
5. Flatten the can, paint side down, on a flat work surface. Sand the metal facing up to prepare it for paint. Paint the surface as you did the outside of the can or leave it silver. Allow the paint to dry.
6. Tape the template for your ornament onto the flattened metal. Trace the outline onto the metal with a marker. Cut out the ornament design with scissors.
7. Puncture the top of the ornament with an awl. Glue glass beads, crystals, ribbon, buttons or other embellishments onto the ornament with craft glue. You can also create patterned lines in the metal by pressing down hard with a stylus or some other blunt-tipped object.
8. Cut a 6-inch strand of 1/4-inch wide ribbon. Thread the ribbon through the hole at the top of the ornament. Tie the ends together in a bow to make a hanger for the ornament.
Tips Warnings
Warning: The cut edges of a metal can are sharp; handle with care and wear gloves to protect your skin.
