Every now and then, I need the simple pleasure of fresh flowers. The winter weather has been lingering here in Colorado, which has prompted me to bring this little touch of spring indoors as a reminder that soon the outside will be more colorful and pleasant. In preparation for this unaccustomed treat, I set about making some flower vases from my current favorite raw material, aluminum beer, and soda cans.

I experimented with shape, texture, and embellishments. You can check out the simple process below and then experiment with your own styles and techniques.

Step 1 – Clean and Prep

The first step is to clean the cans and remove the tops of each can. I use a draft top tool, but other ways exist to remove the tops. You can find out more in the video below.

Step 2 – Shape

Next, choose one of three shape options. You can leave the can in its original shape or crush it slightly to make it more asymmetrical.

The third shape option is to shorten the can. This is done by cutting the can into two pieces and sliding the pieces back together.

Step 3 – Texture

There are lots of ways to add texture, but I like to use a simple mixture of 3 parts white primer paint and 1 part used coffee grounds.

With this mixture, it is best to apply the paint with a blotting motion rather than a brushing motion.

Step 4 – Embellishments

Now it is time to get creative. Look around and use what you have to add more surface interest, color, and uniqueness to the cans. Some of the products I used for my cans were:

Crayola air-dry clay.

Additional coffee grounds

Small pieces of toilet paper

Some twine from Dollar Tree

Water and instant coffee DIY stain

Dripping hot glue

A metallic gold paint pen

Acrylic paint and plastic wrap

Metallic spray paint

Glitter

Step 5 – Sealing

This final step is optional but will help protect the finish. Three of my favorite products to seal my projects are Mod Podge Gloss, Mod Podge Matt, and DecoArt DuraClear Gloss Varnish.

For more details, check out the video tutorial.

Happy Upcycling,

Cindy

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