If you drink a lot of sodas – or beer – you can throw the empties in the trash, or you can recycle them, but recycling can mean more than one thing. Sure, you can take them to your nearby landfill to be recycled, or save up zillions of them, and turn them in for cash. No matter how you recycle, grab a couple of those cans before taking them where you want them to go. With soda or beer cans you can make all sorts of cool, shiny elements for making scrapbooks.
Aluminum is so easy to cut. Pierce the edge of a clean can, up high, to begin cutting off the top. Cut around the very top of the can, remove that piece, and do the same to the bottom. Then, cut up one side of the can to open the can into a flat piece.
To keep the former can shape form curling fold a towel to be thick. Lay the aluminum sheet on the towel and iron it with a hot iron. As you iron it, lift one end of the towel, and it will uncurl that end. Carefully turn the can to the other end and use the towel and iron method to uncurl it as well.
With a flat piece of aluminum you can make assorted scrapbook elements. Make three-dimensional flowers by cutting round flower shapes, which diminish in size, then stacking them. Pierce the center of each flower to insert a brad or just use double-sided tape to stack the shapes. You can give the flower shapes accents by gently folding the metal flower, this way and that, to create fold marks that represent the petal outlines. Do any fold of the metal before adding stacking the shapes.
A whole sheet of the aluminum can be used as a picture frame in a scrapbook. Use a paper cutter to even up the sides of the can then attach the sheet with double-sided tape. Place the picture on the aluminum sheet then surround it with other accents, like colored tape, or small-diameter cord.
When you use a stencil on a sheet of aluminum from a soda can you can create many fun and interesting scrapbook elements. Trace and cut out a skillet, electric guitar, the shape of a frozen pond, a leash, a child’s truck or car shape, and others. When you attach these to or around certain photos you can give realistic and shiny accents to the theme of the page.
Every time you drink a soda think of it as a new pack of scrapbook embellishments. Use it to make lettering, conversation bubbles, borders, and more. You’ll love them!