30 Days of Flowers - Day 10 - Aluminum Can Leaf Designs

Recycle Aluminum Cans Into Flower or Leaf Designs

Since I am all about using what you have around the house, I decided to use up some aluminum cans that were headed for the recycling center. My husband usually brings them home from work crushed up, but I begged him to leave them whole for me so I could try this out.

 

My Supply List:

• Aluminum Cans
• Scissors
• Gloves/Goggles (if you want to be really safe)
• Ballpoint Pen
• Cardboard
• Spray Paint
• Glue (Tacky or Hot glue)

Step 1:

• Find a petal or leaf shape that you like and make a cardboard template out of it.

Step 2:

• Cut the top and bottom off of your cans and then cut down the middle to open the sheet of aluminum flat. (use weights to help hold it open)

Step 3:

• Cut the leaves out or leave them all on the strip. I found that leaving them all together made it easier to paint them.

Step 4:

•  Emboss your leaves with the ballpoint pen. First draw your lines on the front side. Then, flip the leaf over and retrace the lines you just engraved/embossed with your pen so they pop out the front.  (If you left all the leaves on a strip now you will paint)

Step 5:

Paint your leaves/petals and let them dry. If you are impatient, your leaves will be tacky and not be easy to work with. I used an aluminum finish Krylon spray paint.

Step 6:  

Put your leaves/petals together with tacky or hot glue by layering them on top of one another. I used one leaf rolled up in the middle of mine to finish it off. 

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