{diy} Upcycle Soda Cans

It’s cold out there and I don’t feel to go out from the office room, so warm 😀 It gave me mood to write tutorials, it’s been ages since the last time I did it. So, why not? 

The last 3 bazaraki sto Kastro that I went, I sold more than 20pcs of upcycle soda cans (ashtray & candle holder), well most of them are tourists and only a couple of Cypriots. I received harsh comments about selling crafts from “rubbish”. To tell you the truth, it’s never about the money (€1), I just want to make people aware that they can do a lot of things with their rubbish. Rubbish used to be something as well 🙂 never forget about it!

I used to learn to upcycle soda cans from somebody else, and now it’s my turn to share it with you, hope you like it and you might probably want to teach it to your students – for a fresh start in 2013 – recycling & upcycling 🙂 Here you go:

1. Prepare your materials, make sure you wash clean the soda cans and dry them before using it. I’m going to make 3 different shapes

2. Use knife/carving knife/cutter – whatever you like, be careful not to cut yourself, cut the top line as per shown in the picture

3. You can use scissor as well to make a smooth surface

4. Remove the top, we’re not going to use it, and keep the openers if you want to upcycle it into decorations

5. Cut it evenly, mine is apprx. 1cm each, all around. For ashtray, it doesn’t matter how many strips you cut, but for candle holder, you need to cut in even numbers (14,16,18)

6. It will look like this

7. 1st one is the Star, bend it all, and NO, it’s not sharp, if you cut it right, it won’t hurt you. You can also trim it before proceeding to the next step

8. Use your sense, fold each strip 45° angle, and slip it behind the 3rd strip – this work is a matter of practice, the more you do the better the shape

9. This is how it looks like at the back part, time to fix it

10. Back part: fold each of the stripe and slip it to the stripe below it, all the way around

11. It will look this this and nothing’s sharp

12. Use bottom of your scissor to flatten all around

13. Voila…your first ashtray is done! 🙂

14. Next, take another soda can and cut an even number of stripes (14,16,18), and use a pencil to roll OUT alternatively

15. After you roll OUT alternatively, it has to be even

16. Roll IN the rest of the stripes

17. Voila..your candle holder is done. The roll in stripes will actually hold tight the candle, you just need to adjust it when you put the candle in, cute isn’t it?

18. If you happen to cut it unevenly (15,17,19), use step 14 to roll it OUT all. This way, you will have 2 sides; 1 side for the candle holder (as shown in pic), the other side works as ashtray.

19. 3 styles in less than 30mins. Less rubbish, and more appreciation to what you do, there are a lot more styles if you want to explore. Nothing is impossible 🙂

I’m sorry if my English is not clear at all, but feel free to drop me message to ask or to share if you decide to make one. Hope you find it useful and feel free to share it with all your friends.

Happy crafting! 🙂

11 Comments

  1. […] something more old fashioned in function but metal and modern looking in style! We love the way Aurelia’s Little Room carefully curled stripped pop cans in to make a candle holder that’s almost steampunk in its […]

  2. Lara on May 26, 2020 at 23:08

    I tried to make the star one but I had slot of trouble but good ideas

    • Aurelia Vie on May 30, 2020 at 09:53

      Hello, for the star, you just cut stripes but please make sure the width is more or less the same 🙂

  3. […]  Aurelia’s Little Room […]

  4. Linda Keesee on April 16, 2019 at 07:23

    I think it is great. I have enjoyed reading your blogs. Keep up the good work. If everyone recycle and was as talented as you we’d all be rich.Just because you have money don’t mean you have to spend it. I love what you do.

  5. […] CRAFTS TILL CHRISTMAS 2. Candle holders (h/t Aurelia’s Little Room) Make funky and colorful candle holders with old cans. This creative craft lets you make a variety […]

  6. Alonzo on September 5, 2017 at 02:11

    Cool i like the one of. The 18
    Where all goes out.
    I think it can even have more uses.

  7. […] Detailed instructions: aureliaslittleroom […]

  8. […] Source : aureliaslittleroom.com […]

  9. Sarah on February 27, 2013 at 16:42

    These are really cute! I have seen them before and wanted to know how to do them. Thank you for the tutorial. Don’t listen to those people giving you troubles about selling repurposed “trash”. Plenty of people see this as art (I am one of those people). Keep up the awesome work of saving the environment and making beautiful works of art!

    ps…you speak english rather well…thought I’d mention it since you said something regarding your english. 🙂

    • aurelia on February 27, 2013 at 17:26

      Thank you for your beautiful words, Sarah!! So glad to hear it that you like the tutorial! Feel free to share it here with everybody 🙂 Thank you 😀
      ps..thank you! ^_^

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