By Noreen Doll.
Create an aluminum can dimensional star to use with your decorations.
Aluminum cans are bright and shiny, and come in so many colors that you can find one for any occasion.
The red, white and blue cans are perfect for patriotic occasions, red and green are nice for Christmas, and the silver inside of the cans can be used to make silver stars.
Supplies.
Aluminum Can
Scissors
Ruler
Stylus or Scoring Tool with a Small Rounded Tip
Black Sharpie
How to Make an Aluminum Can Dimensional Star.
Remember when working with aluminum cans that the edges and points can be very sharp, so handle with care.
1. Cut a flat sheet of aluminum from the soda can.
2. Use a black Sharpie to trace the star pattern onto the aluminum sheet.
3. Cut the star out of the aluminum.
Cut from the point into the V shape between the points, for each arm.
4. Use a pin to mark a hole in the center of the paper star.
5. Lay the paper star on the aluminum star lining up the points, (I don’t have them lined up so that you can see the layers)
and use the Sharpie on the paper pin hole to mark the center hole in the aluminum star.
6. Use the scoring tool and the ruler to score a straight line from the center to each point, and from the center point to each V between the arms.
7. Score again on the BACK side of the star on each line that goes from the center to a point of the star.
8. Fold on the score lines from the points to the center so that each line is a mountain fold on the front of the star.
Holding a ruler along the score lines as you fold, helps make a neat and even fold.
9. The score lines between the points should be valley folds.
10. Saturate half a paper towel sheet with alcohol and use it to gently remove the black ink from the center and around the edges of the star.
Sometimes you will get small tears in the aluminum like this.
A larger tear can be trimmed with scissors. A smaller tear can be filed with a small file or sanded with a manicure emery board.
Tips
A scoring tool could be a ballpoint pen that no longer works, but be SURE it has no ink before using it on your project.
Use a magazine or piece of craft foam sheet to score the aluminum on as it allows a deeper score, and makes the folds easier to create.
One way you can use your can scraps is to sharpen a punch.
Noreen Doll
Marie@The Interior Frugalista says
This is awesome Noreen – love it! I’m going to collect my favorite beverage cans and make some of these 🙂
Bobbi says
How very cool!! I agree with Marie…I need to start collecting these. 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
Conniecrafter says
that is so cool, fun for July decorations!
Pure Grace Farms says
Great tutorial. I love this idea for re-purposing aluminum cans. Brilliant! Please come by and share at the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop today if you get a chance. I am sure it would be a big hit!
Blessings,
Shari
Barb says
I can see these as a vintage/modern mashup at Christmas time! So clever. Thanks for sharing. Visiting you via “WakeUpWednesdays” linkup
Becky says
I have always wanted to make these, thanks for sharing a great turorial!
Audrey says
So cute and simple! Great for the 4th or Christmas.
Diana Petrillo says
LOVE it! Pinned 🙂 Visiting today via Wonderful Wednesday, and am so glad I did.
Blessings,
Diana
Kelly says
Very cool. I have a few crafters in my house who will be interested in this one. Thanks for sharing. (found you on The Weekend re-Treat Link Party)
Joy@aVintageGreen says
Great idea. Pinned. Easy to follow tutorial.
Joy
Ginnie says
This is such a cute idea! I love reusing things like this:)
Kristina & Millie says
Neat! I love all upcycle/recycle/repurposed crafts! This would be fun to make and decorate outside on the patio or even a wreath. Thanks for sharing, Millie
Nici says
Love this project! I would have never thought to use cans to make decor! I’d love for you to link this up to my Creative Ways Link Party that’s live right now. I hope to see you there!
Blessings,
Nici
Jayleen Zotti says
Okay … just learned something new! I had no idea you could sharpen punches by punching aluminum! …. and I love the aluminum star tutorial!!! I even have a scoring tool. Yay!
Heather @ Beyond the Aisle says
What a cute idea! Thanks for sharing it!
Dina@Kitchen Dreaming says
Thanks for coming and linking up at #The Weekend Social. Please be sure to come back next week starting Thursdays at 9PM EST on Kitchen Dreaming.com ! I hope to see you there! Pinned
Erlene says
How neat. I’ve never tried to make ornaments with soda cans. Pinned.
Megin says
I love this craft! It’s fab in the red “Coke” can, too.
Thank you for sharing this at DIY Showcase on VMG206.
~ Megin of VMG206
Kassandra @ Coffee and their Kisses says
So cute and looks easy to make! Thanks for linking up on WAYDW!
Liz @ Infuse With Liz says
Very cute- lots of ideas can spring from this!
Kristina and Millie says
These are so pretty! I tried doing crafts with aluminum cans, I had a HARD time cutting them. These look great though. Thanks for linking up to Snickerdoodle Sunday! Can’t wait to see what you have for us next week! – Kristina
Handyman, Crafty Woman says
Congratulations! You’ve been featured on Wicked Awesome Wednesday! Thank you for the star tutorial! It’s an original!! Stop by the website to pick up your “I’ve Been Featured!” button!
Easy Life Meal & Party Planning says
These are so cute! I just love them and they look relatively easy to make which is great! Stopping by from You’re Gonna Love It party.
Allie says
So awesome, I love it! I’d love it if you shared this on Worthwhile Wednesdays.
~Allie
Pauline Molinari says
So crafty! What a fun idea! Thanks for sharing on the Monday Funday Party!
Erica says
Awesome tute! Thanks for sharing.
Marie@The Interior Frugalista says
Noreen, I’m featuring your cute soda star at the DIY Sunday Showcase Party this weekend.
Carrie says
Oh, how fun!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!! And congrats on being tied for most clicked this week!
Bethany says
I LOVE this!!! So wonderful 🙂 With all the colors of pop cans, you can make these for any occasion.
Tracy Evans says
What an absolutely brilliant idea, this works so well, would be a perfect design for Christmas decorations too. I am so pleased you joined in the Art with Heart Challenge, thank you so much. Tracy x
Tavette says
Your step by step tutorial is wonderful. Thanks for taking the time to post all those photos so we’re sure to make awesome stars.
I also didn’t know that punches can be sharpened by cutting aluminum so that was a great tip. I would have through it would have dulled the cutting edge, but now I see it’s a great way to keep it sharp! Who knew? The snowflake cut-outs can easily be attached to ribbon when wrapping presents or gift cards. We recyclers like to use everything.
Christy says
I question have you addressed the sharp edges issue? I can see people touching them on my tree or table and getting cut?? Just wondering if you thought of a solution.
Noreen says
I haven’t really had a problem with sharp edges. I am careful not to leave any tiny metal shards along the edges. And if you punch your design out of the soda cans, it sort of curls the edges under so they aren’t sharp.
Sandra says
Great tutorial for cutting and folding, but the assembly part is missing.
I tried to stick the two pieces of stars together, but it wouldn’t hold. How do you manage to keep the pieces together?
Kathy says
Could you make another and glue to/for the back side, so it’s reversible?
Noreen says
If you use the right kind of glue – possibly E6000 – it might work.
Noreen says
I only used a single layer. Possibly you see the paper pattern as another layer.