By skyforbes 
Our city stopped the recycling program and I am not happy about it. Turns out, we’ve been separating our bottles and cans and “recycling” them for years only to learn that they weren’t actually getting recycled, which is why they discontinued the program. But this blog post isn’t about the politics of recycling programs and our city’s shortcomings, it’s about turning trash into art! I’m recycling soda cans in a different way now and here’s how it turned out! I had so many requests for a tutorial, so here it is! Enjoy!
Here’s what you will need for this project:
STEP 1: Drink!
Drink your canned beverage of choice and save cans to dry. In my case, I used La Croix sparkling water cans. If you’re drinking something other than water, I suggest rinsing out the cans first so they’re not all sticky on the inside when you cut them up.
STEP 2: Cut up the cans.
I used an Exacto craft knife to cut the top off the can first and then some good, sharp scissors to cut the rest. I cut down the seam of the can and cut the bottom off so all is left is a rectangular sheet of usable aluminum. The cans are surprisingly easy to cut! (I’m also saving the pop tops for another craft project, so you may want to set those aside as well)! Throw away (or recycle if you can) the top and bottom of the can. Flatten out the sheet by running it over the edge of a table so it lays flat.
STEP 3: Cut out the circles! I used this heavy duty metal hole punch and it works really well. I used a 1/2″ punch but they have different sizes also. This hole punch is pretty expensive, but if you’re going to be cutting hundreds of cans, you’ll want a quality punch. I looked at some similar ones on Amazon but they had terrible reviews and couldn’t even cut paper cleanly. So, I recommend getting this punch if you’re going to do a project like this. Plus, their customer service is fantastic! I accidentally ordered the wrong size at first and I emailed them and they responded immediately and offered to exchange it for me. I ended up keeping both the 1″ punch that I bought by mistake and the 1/2″ that I purchased so I could use them for different projects.
STEP 4: Once you have all the circles cut out, use the jewelry hole punch to cut out the hole where the nails will go. I didn’t measure this exactly, but tried to punch it in roughly the same spot every time. It doesn’t need to be perfect!
I also got these stackable storage containers to keep the different colors separate.
STEP 5: Map out your design!
I chose a round piece of scrap 1/2″ plywood that I painted black. My design is concentric circles of different colors and the wood has a 12″ diameter.
STEP 6: Make a template. You can see mine here: https://design.cricut.com/landing/project-detail/64e8ea6c06414bfbffe4c50d
I made a template with my Cricut machine and drew it up in Cricut Design Space. I drew the circle the same size as the piece of wood and then made concentric circles just over a 1/2″ apart. You don’t want the metal circles to overlap when you nail them into the board, they should each be able to move freely without hitting their neighbors.
STEP 7: Print out template either on a printer or with your Cricut Machine.
Once I had the design drawn up, I printed it out on removable vinyl and attached it to the board.
STEP 8: Mark the holes.
I marked holes with the hammer and nails at every intersection on my template, but removed the nail each time. Basically just tapped it in enough so I would be able to see the hole after removing the vinyl.
STEP 9: Remove the vinyl and nail in the circles!
Now comes the fun part of bringing the design to life! I used different colors for each ring and simply nailed them in without hammering the nail down all the way. You want the circles to be able to move freely. These are the nails I used: https://amzlink.to/az05FidGM0USY. I found it easiest to hold the base of the nail down with some needle nose pliers so you can hammer in the nail without smashing your fingers. I figured this out the hard way. Don’t be like me, use the pliers and protect your fingers!
STEP 10: Add a hanger and enjoy your creation!
That’s it! Add a picture hanger on the back, and find the perfect place for your new art. If you put it in a place that will get a gentle breeze from an air duct or just from walking by, it makes the most delightful sound. It’s like a very gentle wind chime that sounds more like the wind rustling through the trees.
I hope you enjoy making your own piece! If you do, I’d love to see it! You can share by tagging me on social media at @selenebuildsthings on any of the platforms below, or send me at email to [email protected].
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Until next time, happy DIY-ing!
-Selene Builds Things
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