Are you looking for a soda can craft that won’t break the bank? Look no further than our Mondrian inspired soda can art project. It couldn’t be easier – or cheaper – to give you the best bang for your buck! It doesn’t get any better when you use thrifted and free items to create home decor.
Creative Craft Hop
It’s time for another Creative Craft blog hop! So if you are visiting from Cecilia at My Thrift Store Addiction, welcome! Wasn’t her Repurposed Garden Boots Planter amazing – and SO easy?! At the very bottom of this post, we’ll be directing you to the next stop on this venture. But don’t forget to check out the other stops too because you’ll find plenty more ideas. Be sure to drop back in throughout the week to visit them all!
Mondrian Decor
It’s no secret that I love bright colours. And what better way than to incorporate that design aesthetic than with a Mondrian design pattern, like this felt appliqué project, into your home decor?
Soda Can Craft Materials
[If you’re looking for some of the things we used, we’ve got you covered (disclosure): The blue links in this post may be affiliate links. We earn a commission from qualifying purchases which we proudly donate to Alzheimer’s research. But don’t worry, you don’t pay a cent more! Thanks for helping to support our fundraiser!]
We’re starting with a thrifted metal message board. We found this Umbra Bullet Board at a thrift store and Hubs painted it for my office. He made brackets for me to fit right over the edge of my ‘cubby’. Now that i’m not working, I have no use for it, so it’s time to repurpose it into home decor!
You will need:
- Umbra Metal Bulletboard
- Red, white, black and yellow soda cans
- X-acto knife
- High gloss spray paint (white or black)
- Silver Sharpie
- Circle template (if you want to draw your own Mondrian design)
- Nail holder tool
- Thimble (I’m using a vintage thimble, but I like how these stay on!)
- Our DIY soda can cutting tool (see how to cut cans)
- 1/2″ brad nails (ours are 18 gauge)
- 1.5 mm Beadsmith punch
- 3/4″ rabbit punch (or equivalent)
Watch the Video!
Cut Soda Cans
First collect red, yellow, white, blue and black cans. We don’t drink soda, so had a friend collect these coke cans for us!
Break the cans down and flatten them.
How to Cut Tin Cans – Our DIY Tool!
The quickest and easiest way to cut soda cans is with our DIY tool. There’s even a free template to build your own (see how to cut cans).
Watch this video for how to use it:
Paint the Message Board
The message board was originally silver. Ideally we would’ve painted the message board with white spray paint to make the Mondrian design pop. But as is usually the case, I was excited to see if this would even work, so I plowed ahead.
Figure Out Spacing
I used a silver Sharpie to mark the placement; just place a dot every four spaces down the board and 6 spaces a across to get the 3/4″ spacing for the punches.
Colour Reference
I created this colour reference in Illustrator. But if you don’t have software, just draw circles with a circle template and colour them in to develop your own design.
Punch Circles
You will need around 50 yellow, 47 blue, 117 red, 108 white and 99 black circle punches if I counted correctly (and there’s a good chance I didn’t).
Once your cans are cut and flattened, use the 3/4″ punch to punch out black, yellow, red, blue and white circles. I’m using a rabbit punch I’ve had since my days as a fashion designer! Turns out, it’s ideal for punching thin metal like aluminum cans!
They’re like large sequins! 
By the way, it’s a good idea to wear rubberized gloves when handling the sharp cans. If you watch the can cutting video at the beginning of this post, you’ll see that the gloves come in handy for flattening the cans too!
Punch Nail Holes
After punching the circles, use the 1.5 mm Beadsmith punch to create the nail hole. I generally don’t punch more than 3-4 at a time.
Tip: make a template, like you see above, out of a plastic lid or one of the metal punches so the holes are consistent.
Nail the Circles to the Message Board
Starting at the left side with yellow punches, Insert a brad nail into the hole. Then grip the brad nail with the nail holder and position it where you marked.
Now, use a thimble to press the nail into the slot on the board. The thimble helps protect your finger from the nail head and makes pressing them in a breeze!
Do that another 500+ times. It sounds like a lot, but I promise you it goes fast! That’s because the cork, or whatever is inside the metal skin, is easy to press into!
Hang your Mondrian artwork on a wall or lean it on a shelf. Who would’ve thought that soda cans and a message board could combine to make such happy art!
By the way, did you spot my little mistake? After staring at it so much during the process, it was only when I posted this on Instagram, and took a moment to admire my work, that I noticed it! Luckily it is such an easy fix to remove the brads and replace a row of punches!! However, I think I’m going to embrace the imperfection; it has a certain charm. I wonder if Mondrian would approve 😉?
Want more ideas for what you can do with soda cans? See our can craft category for more soda can craft ideas. But if you’re looking for a conversation starter, try this soda can bracelet!
Pin Soda Can Craft
Creative Craft Hop
Now it’s time to check out Creative DIY Flower Garden Sign Ideas – Easy to Make from Allyson at Southern Sunflowers. When you’re done, please remember to visit these other amazing talents below:
- Lemonade Sign
- Miniature Fairy Garden Accessories From Nature
- How to Sew a Simple Sewing Machine Cover
- Birch Wood Veneer Decorative Candleholder
- Repurposed Garden Boots Planter in 3 Easy Steps
- Soda Can Craft (that’s us!)
- Creative DIY Flower Garden Sign Ideas – Easy to Make
- Christmas In July Ornament
- Beachy Bottle
You are a master at making art from things that will just be tossed out, Sara. I love the design and bright colors – what will you think of next?
Aw, thanks Ann! It’s great to get back to upcycling again (I’ve been having too much fun with my xTool)! This project was originally going to be for our hop at the end of the month, but I just couldn’t wait to see if it would work lol.
Sara, you never fail to inspire and this colorful craft is stunning–pinned! Thanks for hosting us. Blessings, Cecilia @ My Thrift Store Addiction
You’re so welcome Cecilia; I’m always so inspired by all the ladies in our group too 🙂
How cool is this, Sara! I love using soda cans for making crafts, too! But you always take whatever you’re working on to a whole new level of sophistication! And this is it! So amazing and quite unique!
Thanks so much Gail; so sweet of you to say!
I am always excited to see what you have up your sleeve when it comes to your creative crafts! This looks amazing Sara. I love it!
Thanks so much Terrie! I always look forward to our hop; it really brings out my creativity when I’m working to a deadline!
Wow Sara, this is truly amazing! How do you think of this stuff? Who knew soda cans could be turned into art! You really captured the art of the famous Dutch painter Piet Mondrian, so creative~
Jenna
Thanks so much Jenna! I’m so thrilled that it actually worked out; you just never know lol!
Girl you are so creative! I would never in a million years thought to use cans to make such pretty art. Great job!
Thank you Tammy! I’m keeping my eyes open for another thrifted bulletin board so I can make another one!
Recycled art! So beautiful and creative. I agree that you are a master at repurposing things that most people would throw out.
Thanks Donna – it’s a boon and curse because I never want to get rid of anything which is a challenge in a small house lol.
Another winner from you, Sara. Thanks for linking the others posts as well.
So glad you like it Alys!
Awesome project Sara, I love the design you made.
Thanks Anita!
Okay, I give up. Your mistake is like looking for “Where’s Waldo.” LOL Can’t find it. Awesome piece of artwork!!
Lol! Thanks Allyson! I missed a column of black after the block of blue :). I was going to fix it but no one seems to see it either, so I’ll likely just keep it!
Don’t forget to join us over at the Creatively Crafty Linky Party every Wednesday through Sunday
https://creativelybeth.com/creative-crafts-linky-party/
Followed and Pinned!
Creatively, Beth
Thanks so much the reminder Beth! I meant to drop by at 10:00 but got distracted :).
Beautiful Sara!! And I’m with Allyson, I couldn’t find your boo boo either!! Love the colors!
Thanks Kim. I’m such a Mondrian lover; I’d like to try another one with a white background too!
What a fantastic recycle/upcyle project. Thanks for sharing with us at Create-it Link Party.
Thanks so much for hosting Janet!
Wonderful, thanks so much for sharing on craft schooling sunday!
Thank you Sara!
Amazing, what a great job, and love it. Gorgeous as well.
Found your post at A pinch of Joy. My entries this week are numbered #42+43
Hope you will join/share M-Sat at https://esmesalon.com/tag/seniorsalonpitstop/
Thanks so much Esme!Will do 🙂
I love the way your tutorials are always so detailed. It makes it so much easier to follow along, Sara. Bright and happy wall decor at it’s best and we do drink coke so I’m set with the red and yellow. G + T’s on hot Summer’s day take care of that one 😉
I need to find some colourful cans with great graphics to do another project I have in mind, but we don’t drink beer either (we’re gluten free)! Gotta make more friends that drink lol.
That is such a neat craft idea!
Thanks so much Joanne!
That is a really neat project: I never would have guessed what materials you had used: love the modern art!
Thanks Mireille! We have such an eclectic mix but if I could only have one style of art, it would be modern!
Thanks for linking this the past several weeks, Sara. It gave me the opportunity to finally feature your soda can art! It’s so unique! I’m so happy to be featuring your post at Tuesday Turn About this week!
Thanks so much Julie! It’s always a thrill to be featured 🙂