After breaking down a haul of hundreds of aluminum drink cans, I’m inspired by the colours to make some easy can art! With just the three dollar store items you see below, we’ll turn those cans into eye catching wall decor you can keep for yourself or gift for the upcoming holidays. And for under $6 TOTAL, who could resist that? 

I love pop can art – as you can see from this recent soda can craft Mondrian-inspired piece. But this can art project is even easier because there’s no fancy equipment or materials! All you need is a mini paper cutter, double sided foam tape and a wooden artist’s panel. I found all these things at the dollar store.

By the way, we’re using the same artist’s panel we used for our Easy Paint by Numbers, so they really do come in handy for DIY decor!

Can Art Video

Do It Over Designers

The Do It Over Designers blog Hop is hosted by Ann at The Apple Street Cottage. We’re a group of bloggers who take something old and/or unused and ‘do it over’ into something new. These items can be found in closets, barns, garages, yard sales, thrift stores, you name it!

Check out the other blogger’s projects; there’s a list of links at the bottom of this post right below the pinnable image. And be sure to drop back in throughout the week to visit them all!

Materials

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These items are less expensive at the dollar store but you can find them on Amazon too.

• Artist’s Panel (these are only 6″x6″; the one’s from the dollar store are 7 3/4″)
• Double sided foam tape
• Mini plastic paper cutter
• Sharpie (optional and only needed if using a black background)
• Black or white paint

Safety First

The edges of cut metal can be sharp so handle each piece carefully. I’m very slow and deliberate when handling the small pieces. While I don’t wear gloves when handling the small cut ’tiles’, I do when breaking down the cans. Plus, I also ALWAYS wear goggles to protect my eyes and highly suggest that you do too.

How to Break Down Aluminum Cans

Watch this video on how to break down aluminum cans for crafting. You’ll see that we even designed our own tool to speed up and simplify the process. Want to build your own can cutting tool? See how to cut tin cans if you’d like to download our free template to make your ownl!

Determine Can Art Colours

After breaking down the cans, decide on the colours you want to use. For this project, I’m taking inspiration from the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet.

Measure the width of the foam tape, in this case 3/4″, and use the paper cutter to cut strips from the aluminum cans.

Once you have the strips, apply the foam tape on the back.

Then cut them again into 2″ pieces and arrange them on the template.

Paint the artist’s panel. I couldn’t decide on black or white so painted one of each.

Free Template

We have a herringbone template that will fit the 7 3/4″ dollar store artist’s panel we’re using for this project. If you’re already a subscriber, go grab it at our Birdz on the Fly Freebie Library.

Otherwise, fill out this form if you’d like to subscribe to our newest DIYs, crafts, recipes and access to free patterns and printables!

You can trace the herringbone template pattern onto the painted surface. Or in my case, since I want to make a few of these, I printed the template on a piece of acetate.

Then I cut away the acetate (which is slightly bigger) leaving just the outline so I can lay the ’tiles’ into the spaces and position them with a gap.

Before you stick the can art tiles down, you may want to blacken the edges of the white foam tape with a sharpie, if you paint your background black.

Now peel the backing of your ’tiles’ and stick them on – you’ll see how I do that on the video.

Can Art Reveal

If you want to further embellish the panel, you can add another surround. This frame is also from the dollar store. Although we left it natural, you can paint that too.

Otherwise, hang and enjoy your bold and cheerful can art wall decor. Not bad for under $6. What do you think?

Aluminum cans are SO versatile! You can even make fashion accessories from them; like this soda can bracelet!

Pin Can Art

Pinning is always welcome and appreciated!

Do It Over Designers

Now, our talented blogger friends have some amazing and inspiring DIYs for you! Don’t forget to visit these posts for more upcycled do-it-over transformations!

• Exquisitely Unremarkable
• Little Vintage Cottage
• Modern on Monticello
• Pandora’s Box
• Purple Hues & Me
• Southern Sunflowers
• Unique Creations by Anita
• Sum of Their Stories
• Color Me Thrifty
• Vintage Style Gal
• The Apple Street Cottage
• Birdz of a Feather (that’s us!)