This was such a fun project, and my YouTube community seems to love it, too. It is already one of my most watched videos. If you would like to see the whole project come together, you can check out the video below. Or read on for the step-by-step overview.

Like so many of my recent projects, this one starts with empty drink cans. You should collect cans in a variety of colors to use for the art piece you select.

I will link the templates I used at the bottom of this post, but you can use any stained glass artwork.

Step 1 – Prep Cans

If you have seen some of my other soda can projects, you already know the drill. The cans need to be cleaned, broken down and flattened into aluminum sheets.

If you would like more information on how to do this, I will link to some additional resources at the bottom of this post.

Step 2 – Prepare Template

You will need to print two copies of the art you want to use. Next, mark one template with the color you have chosen for each section.

Then, use glue or Mod Podge to adhere the template to a piece of cardboard.

Step 3 – Cut Aluminum

Use the second template to cut out the aluminum pieces. When trimming out the pieces, the black lines of the template should be cut off to ensure that they fit properly.

Carefully build out the design until all the pieces have been cut.

Step 4 – Gluing

Once all the pieces are cut, carefully remove them from the template, keeping them organized.

Spread a thin layer of clear E6000 or gorilla glue, covering the entire surface.

Next, carefully place each of the aluminum pieces on the template. When all the pieces are in place, cover the art with a piece of parchment paper and press it well. Add some weight to hold the pieces down and allow the glue to cure.

Step 5 – Painting

Once the glue has cured, remove the parchment paper and squeeze out some silver dimensional paint to cover all the gaps between the metal pieces.

Allow the paint to dry before proceeding.

Step 6 – Taping

To finish the edges of my art pieces, I carefully cut off the excess cardboard and wrapped the edges with strips of metal tape.

The final step is to apply additional dimensional paint along the edge of the metal tape.

Happy Upcycling,

Cindy

For additional information on how I break down beer and soda cans. Watch this video.

For more information on different techniques for flattening cans, watch the video below.

Access the templates below.