How to Turn a Soda Can into a Spring Flower Brooch

Diane Gilleland, contributor

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An ordinary soda can provides pretty graphics and shiny metal. They combine to form a bold and beautiful flower brooch.

Diane Gilleland

The beads and wire you see here not only decorate the flower's center, but they also cleverly hold the layers of metal together.

Diane Gilleland

Soda cans are made of very thin metal, so you can easily cut them with a strong pair of scissors.

Diane Gilleland

An ordinary soda can provides pretty graphics and shiny metal. They combine to form a bold and beautiful flower brooch.

Photo: Diane Gilleland

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Lay the metal out flat and tape it to your work surface. Cut yourself a couple of flower templates from cardstock. I used my computer's page layout software to create mine. You can also search for flower clip art online, or use Zefrank's Flower Maker, or draw them freehand.

Trace or draw a flower shape on the metal.

Place these templates where you'll capture a nice bit of the can's graphics. Trace two flowers, one large and one small, onto the metal with a Sharpie. (The can will accommodate about a 3-inch-diameter flower or smaller.)

Cut the flower out with scissors, being careful of the edges of the metal.

Peel up the tape and then cut the flowers out along your traced lines. This metal has a tendency to tear, so it's a good idea to cut into corners from both sides, as shown.

If you like, you can gently rub the cut edges with some steel wool to reduce their sharpness. This can also rub off some of the graphics, so try it out with a scrap of leftover metal first.

Cut one large flower and one smaller flower from the metal.

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Comments (25)

EchoLin writes: fabulous ideas.
Posted: 5:05 am on March 27th

Nodan writes: You are creative. Even though it is a little hard for me to wear the brooch made by soda can when I am out, I am willing to have a try.
Posted: 2:07 am on March 6th

cooproduct writes: Hi Diane,

This is also such a good reUse product with a great set of instructions. Can I ask if you would consider listing this and any other products that you have developed using waste materials on our website:
www.co-oproduct.org

We are a new organisation in the UK who are focusing on packaging reuse and open design. We are currently looking for exemplar projects which really demonstrate how you can turn a material that is normally regarded as waste, into a valuable product. We think this idea is exactly that!

Thank you

Tracy
Posted: 4:57 am on May 18th

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Posted: 1:28 pm on September 16th

melinda54 writes: these are great , what if you folded the edges under and then
backed with craft foam,that would take care of the sharp edges
Posted: 5:48 pm on July 15th

lindaisrael writes: Diane,

I found this entry when I was looking for an idea on crimping metal, as I have been cutting up cans for a while and had a new idea I wanted to try... When I landed on the site and saw that it was you I laughed and thought, well I better leave a comment! Great job on the photos and instructions. I use a sharp pair of Fiskers to cut my cans. I basically stab the can and then start cutting. Another tip, I picked up some gloves from Harbor Freight, they are made by Western Safety (black nylon with nitrile palms), these are thin enough that I can feel the can but protective enough that I don't get cuts from the can.

Anyway I'm so glad that I have found your creative spots on the web, you are appreciated!
Posted: 5:24 pm on January 18th

nicart writes: I stuck the cut cans on a sheet of sticky foam from the craft store & cut the shapes with the foam backing. It helps flatten out the cans & keeps the edges from being sharp. I also use a die cutter to cut shapes from foam-backed aluminum cans & it's not sharp.
Posted: 12:04 am on May 20th

gossamer_wings writes: I have used my sizzlet machine to cut old soda cans....and you could use alcohol ink or sharpies to color the cans as well

I am going to try this in one of my altered books.....

Melissa
Posted: 7:09 pm on February 8th

foxysandora writes: What a fantastic idea. I'm a newbie to this site, actually to any site for that matter. I'm so EXCITED! I love to learn ways of using what is around us to make every day things. I was saving bottoms and tops of can goods for awhile, but couldn't come up with a way to use them. I had enough to build a small house ;). Now that I have seen your soda can brooch my mind is going in all kinds of directions on how to make the edges really safe. I'll get back to you if I come up with any thing. I like the crochet idea but I would like something a bit more solid. Great work, you are so creative, wow!!!
Posted: 2:19 pm on August 1st

flowergirl19 writes: I've made about 20 now, and I am still making them! =]
I used almost all of the soda can's metal and I made a pin with one big flower, and two smaller ones. I also put a bigger bead in the middle of the 6 beads. Thank you!
Posted: 4:45 pm on June 23rd

flowergirl19 writes: I've made 4 of them, and I love doing it! They're not too sharp on the edges, and I put one on my purse as a decoration. The E-6000 glue is a little smelly, though.

Posted: 12:40 pm on May 16th

javadiva writes: I recently discovered using pop cans for crafts and I've stamped on the silver part and I've used different shape punches like butterflies and scallops. The punches get sharpened every time.
Posted: 1:42 pm on May 4th

Sweet_Dee writes: Very creative...could prob. make a rose out of a coke can.
Posted: 3:52 am on May 4th

Sister_Diane writes: mrsg3, thank you for all the great variation ideas!

eveh, I love the crochet concept - will have to play around with that.

ArtfulAileen, thanks so much for the rusting tips!



Posted: 8:24 am on May 3rd

mrsg3 writes: I liked eveh's idea but I don't crochet. I just did a test with poking holes and doing a whip stitch over the edge with different fibers and the heavier ones worked best, crochet cotton, heavy yarn, waxed linen cord. Also tried with strung seed beads on wire which worked pretty well too. So with my idea for covering the edges with stained glass foiling tape and theses new ideas spured on by eveh, I think we can all give it a try and feel safe!
Posted: 10:46 pm on May 2nd

eveh writes: I'll bet you could poke holes around the flower petals and crochet a soft edge.
Posted: 4:45 pm on May 2nd

tototwo2 writes: How do you get the edges of the medal to not be sharp and keep from getting cut on your final product?
Posted: 2:49 pm on May 2nd

mrsg3 writes: Hi all.
I tried this but used stained glass copper tape on the edges and burnished them down. It comes in several widths and finishes. Also there a not enugh attractive cans around here so I use any can and then use model paint for metal items to paint on my pieces. This opens up for lots of possibilities including different patinas on the foil tape.

Enjoy the possibilities! Marie
Posted: 12:49 pm on May 2nd

marylucille writes: A lady visited and demonstrated this to our garden club back in the fifties. It was rejected by all members as too dangerous to be useful. I still think the same thing.
Posted: 12:37 pm on May 2nd

ArtfulAileen writes: Unfortunately you can't rust aluminum but you can use Modern Options and paint on iron paint and then add the patina solution over that and it will rust and look like it had sat out in the weather and rusted. Here's a link to the product:
http://www.modernoptions.com/

Hope this helps,

Aileen~
Outside The Margins
http://www.outsidethemargins.com/
My Blog
http://aileensmusings.blogspot.com/
Posted: 12:28 pm on May 2nd

Char50 writes: I agree that this looks too dangerous to wear...if a small child should run up to hug you they could get cut by the edges or poked in the eye by the stamens. It would be beautiful if framed, though.
Posted: 10:15 am on May 1st

Sister_Diane writes: SantaClaus - that's an intriguing question. There are paints that create a rusted-look finish, such as:

http://www.paint-store.net/store/home.php?cat=2

And here's a natural method that apparently works for tin, so it might be worth a try on aluminum:

http://www.the-artistic-garden.com/rusted-metal-faux-finish.html

I haven't tried either of these myself, so if you do, I'd love to hear how it went.
Posted: 11:24 pm on April 27th

SantaClaus writes: I'm trying to figure out how I could use the flower with a stem to put in a vase & get it "rusty" looking. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated!
Posted: 6:19 am on April 27th

Sister_Diane writes: Maureclaire, I'd say that this design is safe as a brooch, provided that you take some precaution with the edges. The steel wool step is very helpful. I've worn mine several times without incident, but I'd certainly agree that I'd keep it away from small children, just to be extra-safe.

Another interesting way to use the soda can metal is to cut it in simpler shapes like squares and rectangles, and then wrap some metal tape around those edges to soften them.
Posted: 12:07 am on April 27th

Maureclaire writes:
Soooo cute; and, beyond creative... but, isn't it a bit dangerous as a brooch ? Maybe better on a frame that's just going to be up on a the wall where no one is going to touch it.. know what I mean ? Or does the steel wool take care of that ?
Posted: 12:09 pm on April 25th

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