DIY Network

Nail It Up Behold the humble nail, tool of choice for these crafty projects! From "Creative Juice" episode DCRJ-707

Grab your hammer, because Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza are nailing down some cool crafts. Creativity shines through with punched-out soda can lanterns, fashion accessories go from basic to bedazzled, and stunning string art really hits the nail on the head.

advertisement

Punched Soda Can Lanterns

Turn ordinary soda cans into crafty-looking lanterns with just a few punches and a quick coat of paint.

Punched Soda Can Lanterns

Materials:

empty soda can
dish washing liquid
tin snips
newspaper
permanent marker
paper (optional)
small hole punch (optional)
low tack tape (optional)
nails of various thicknesses
empty egg carton
hammer or craft hammer
ruler
old scissors
scrap wood
dowel rod, pen or paintbrush with a thin handle
spray paint
head pins
wire cutters
glass beads
tea light

1. Use dishwashing soap to thoroughly clean out an empty soda can and let dry. Using tin snips, cut off the top of the can, 1-1/2" from the top (figure A).

2. Tightly pack the can with crumpled newspaper. Lay the can on an empty egg carton (for stability) and hammer nail holes in the lower third of the can. Use nails of different thicknesses for added interest (figure B). Optional -- to make an even pattern around the can, use a permanent marker to draw a dot pattern before punching out holes. A template can also be used for a pattern – hole punch a pattern in a piece of paper before taping the paper on the can.

Figure A

Figure B

3. Remove the newspaper inside the can. Use tin snips or an old pair of scissors to trim the can to approximately 2 ¼" tall. Make six vertical cuts, (ours are about ¾" long) at even intervals around the top of the can (figure C). Turn each of the six sections into petal shapes by trimming the corners with an old pair of scissors (figure D). (You can also use tin snips to do the trimming, but scissors will be easier to maneuver.)

Figure C

Figure D

4. Lay the can on a piece of scrap wood and, keeping the holes very close to the top edge of the can, hammer one nail hole into the top center of each petal shape (figure E).

5. In a well-ventilated area, spray paint the inside and outside of the can. For best results, apply several thin coats of paint rather than one heavy coat (figure F). Let dry for 24 hours.

Figure E

Figure F

6. Curl the petals outward using a pen, thin dowel rod, thin paintbrush handle, etc., as a guide (figure G).

7. Create a beaded charm for each petal -- slide one glass bead onto a head pin. Clip off any excess wire, leaving enough wire to make a loop. Loop the remaining wire around round-nose pliers, leaving the loop open slightly. Thread the loop through the hole at the top of one of the petals; close the loop with the pliers (figure H). Make one charm for each petal (six total).

Figure G

Figure H

Place a tea light in the can.

Page  1 | 2 | 3 | 4