A while back, I found a "How to Turn a Soda Can into a Spring Flower Brooch" tutorial on CraftStylish (love that site). Here is my own version that I made from some Arizona Green Tea cans.
Aluminium Can Flower Brooch
Other than the obvious drink can, I used scrapbooking flowers (made of thick paper, 100 for 1$) as template, a pen, an exacto knife, a pair of dollar store scissors, some very thin, colored jewelry wire, assorted glass beads, pin backs, hot glue gun and glue sticks.
I made 12 in total last Yule/Christmas which I gave as presents to family and friends. I used them instead of plastic ribbon bows on presents. Bows get thrown away, but these you get to keep and wear.
That's one way of getting a green Christmas!
Ok, so be brutally honest: is this acceptable gift material? It is meant to be for my aunt, but I'm not sure if it is good enough (I am always very critical of any of my projects, especially when it is to give away). I feel it did not come out as nicely as the one pictures in the tutorial.
I used a leather lace, glass beads in black, royal blue, green and turquoise, long metallic beads between each section of colour, a locket charm and a needle and brown polyester thread.
The locket is the only item I did not get from the dollar store - it came from Omer Deserres.
All in all, it cost me about 10$ CAD of material. Of course, it did take me three evenings to finish it, which would bring up the total price if I were to sell it, but since I made it for me, it is well worth the time and effort.
Aluminium Can Flower Brooch
