Aluminum Can Recycling Ideas For The Crafty DIYer

Beverage cans are one of the most easily recycled materials because they can be melted down and reformed an infinite number of times without the aluminum ever losing its integrity and strength. According to ItsEasyToRecycle.org, the 54 billion cans that Americans recycle yearly save the same amount of energy as what our country consumes fuel-wise within a 24 hour period (in other words, 15 million barrels of crude oil). Recycling old aluminum cans requires just 5% of the energy necessary to produce a new can, and yet when just one 12 ouncer is thrown into the garbage, it’s comparable to wasting the equivalent of 6 ounces of gasoline. Although many states offer 5 cent incentives and charities frequently collect cans in an effort to generate funds for their various programs, somehow 23 billion containers end up in our landfills annually, enough raw material to build 8,000+ 747 jet planes. Here’s some aluminum can recycling inspiration that will get your DIY bug jumping:

How about Ron Emery’s 100% recycled aluminum can clothing, for starters? All that ventilation would really help out in the summertime…

Urban Woods Walker’s eye-catching charm necklace, composed of select bits of Diet Coke, Budweiser Beer and energy drink cans, is a perfect example of how to transform perceived trash into a trendy, one-of-a-kind treasure.

Ann Harmon’s "Recycling Can Be Beautiful" line of post-consumer aluminum can tab jewelry is another consideration by Ann Made Art.

Funky Junq's handmade and quite extensive line of Hello Kitty and other decorative shaped adornments is kitschy yet clever.

One of the most wonderful ongoing aluminum can recycling efforts has been courtesy of Melissa Hartzel’s Old Tin Can’s line of sturdy fair trade fashion accessories such as baseball caps and handbags which all bear the familiar bright logos of a diverse range of carbonated beverages. In addition to freeing up our streets and landfills of cast aside cans, the company offers sound artisan employment opportunities to South African residents and donates 10% of their profits to a special nonprofit training program called Out of the Box that cultivates future generations of green crafters.

Got patience and a fair amount of time on your hands? Then Sol Y Sombra’s recycled beer/soft drink can star curtain is well worth the elbow grease, not only because it’s spectacular to behold but also because it’s quite a conversation starter, no matter your age or décor style. The designer of the curtain, Ansie, recently took the time to create a tutorial for her curtain which, while somewhat elaborate, is well explained and illustrated. Here it is in its entirety.

You will need:

Empty soft drink cans

Utility/kitchen scissors

Star template (download and print)

Permanent marker

Ruler

Sharp object (I used an awl, but a thick needle or nail will also work)

Flat nose pliers

Step 1:

Cut the can open.
Start by forcing the one edge of the scissors into the can near the top rim and away from the logo. Cut all around.



Cut from top to bottom. Make sure you keep the logo intact by cutting on the bar-code side of the can.

Cut off the bottom.

This is what you have now. You can now clean the inside of the can to make sure your work surface and hands don't end up all sticky.

Step 2:

Trace the template onto the can with the permanent marker.


Make sure you place the template over the logo and in such a way that you can fit two stars onto each can.

Step 3:

Cut out the stars.

Step 4:

Score the stars.
With the logo side facing up, line the ruler between two opposing internal corners. Use your sharp tool to mark a straight line. Make sure you don't cut right through the metal. Repeat with the other internal corners.

Flip the star over. With the logo side facing down, line the ruler between two opposing sharp points. Score as before. Repeat with the other sharp points.

Step 5:

Hold the star between your fingers and fold on the lines.


Repeat the folding along all the lines.


Use your sharp tool to sharpen the corners and edges.

Step 6:

With your flat nose pliers pinch the sharp points of the star to flatten them and to bend them slightly upwards.

Step 7:

Hold the star down on the work surface and push a hole through the flat ends with your sharp tool. You can put a cutting board or cork tile underneath.


That's it!

If you want the metal side of the star to be on top you have to change the scoring around. The shorter lines (between internal corners) on the metal side and the longer lines (between the sharp points) on the coloured side.

So, you're never going to look at an aluminum can quite the same way again, right?