Hello,

It’s so lovely to have you here. It’s feeling more and more like spring where we live, and I have already done a bit of planting. Unfortunately, I don’t have the greenest thumb, but I figure I am still teachable, so I have some hope to improve my skills.

Still, I am better at crafting than gardening, so I have a little spring creature made from empty drink cans to share with you this week.

This project has several steps, but all the building blocks are here. This video will take you through the project, and there are other videos in this post if you would like more details on some of the steps.

Step 1 – Gather Supplies

This is a long list, but don’t “bee” 😁😁 intimated. You probably already have most of these items, and if you need to pick up any of them, they are all quite affordable.

Advertising Disclosure: Upcycle Design Lab may be compensated in exchange for featured placement of certain sponsored products and services or your clicking on links posted on this website.

• Empty Aluminum Cans (one per bee)
• Bead Template (available at the bottom of this post)
• Craft Scissors
• Wood skewer
• Glue Stick
• Bead Roller (available on Amazon for under 15 dollars)
• Metal Tape (available in home improvement stores and on Amazon for around 10 dollars (
• Mod Podge
• Small Paint Brush
• Alcohol Ink (yellow and black)
• Black Tape (or DIY with acrylic paint)
• 20 Guage Silver Wire
• Round Tipped Jewelry Pliers
• Needle Nose Pliers
• 5mm Round Black Beads (2 per bee)
• Clear E6000 Glue
• Toothpicks

Step 2 – Cutting and Flattening the Can(s)

Once you have all your supplies, you need to cut the top and bottom off your cans. This video shows how I cut my cans into four usable parts.

Next, you will want to flatten out the aluminum sheet you cut from the can’s side.

If you don’t know how to flatten your cans, this video will show you three ways to flatten the aluminum.

Step 3 – Cut and Assemble Beads

To make the beads, you will need to print out the template.

Note: the template will make two beads, each with three sections.

Next, apply the template to the flattened aluminum sheet using the glue stick. You don’t need much glue. Add just enough to hold the paper in place while cutting the template.

Once the pieces are cut, remove the paper and use the metal tape to attach the cut pieces into two long tapered strips.

Also, add a thin long piece of tape to the tip of the aluminum strip to secure the bead once it is rolled.

Step 4 – Roll Beads

You will need the wood skewer and bead roller to roll the beads. The first step is to start a coil at the wide end of the aluminum using the wood skewer.

Next, tighten the coil with your fingers and load it onto the bead roller. Turn the handle to roll the bead, and once you reach the end, use the metal tape on the tip to secure the bead.

If you want more information, this video will take you through the step-by-step process of making beer and soda cans beads.

Step 5 – Sealing and Coloring the Beads

For this step, you will need the mod podge, toothpicks, paintbrush, alcohol ink, and two small containers.

Note: You must apply a coat of mod podge before and after adding color to the beads. The first coat will keep the tape from popping open when the alcohol ink is added. The second coat will seal the alcohol ink.

To apply the mod podge, you can slide the beads onto your toothpicks and brush on a coat of mod podge.

Once the mod podge is dry, place one bead in each of your small containers, add a few drops of yellow ink and black to the other, and shake the containers to cover the beads with color.

Allow the ink to dry, then brush on another coat of mod podge.

Step 6 – Assembling the Body

You will start with a 12-inch piece of 20 gauge wire folded in half to make the body. The folded end will make the stinger of the bee. Next, use the needle-nose pliers to hold the wire and twist the loose ends into a knot. The distance between the wire knot and the folded end should be about 3/4 of an inch.

Next, slide the yellow bead onto the wires and twist the loose ends three or four times to make the neck.

Then use the black bead to form a notch in the two wires. To do this, bend the wire around the end of the black bead while holding it centered on the yellow bead.

The wires should look like this when you are done.

Thread the wires in opposite directions through the black bead and use two pairs of pliers to pull the wire and slide the bead into the notch.

Slide one small round bead onto each wire.

And then, use the round-tipped jewelry pliers to make a loose coil on each wire.

Cut thin pieces of black tape to finish the body and apply them to the yellow bead.

Note: You may want to add a coat of mod podge to secure the tape.

Step 7 – Attaching the Wings and Legs

Next, slide one 6-inch piece of wire through the yellow bead and twist it a couple of times in the center of the bead.

To make the wings use two pieces of wire 10 inches long twisted 5 or 6 times into a teardrop shape.

Fold one wing around the neck and wrap the loose ends of the wire twice around to hold it in place. Repeat this process for the second wing wrapping the wires in the opposite direction.

Step 8 – Gluing and Shaping

To finish the bees adjust all six wires to the bottom of the bee and then use a small amount of E6000 glue to secure the wires in place. Next, add a little glue to each of the black round beads to adhere them to the head of the bee.

Once the glue is set, trim the wire to a similar length and coil the ends to make the feet.

Shape the wires as desired to finish the bumble bee.

If you would like more detailed instructions, be sure to check out the video at the top of this post.

Happy Upcycling,

Cindy

Advertising Disclosure: Upcycle Design Lab may be compensated in exchange for featured placement of certain sponsored products and services or your clicking on links posted on this website.

SVG File

PDF