With Super Bowl season upon us, you may find that you have a lot more beer and soda cans to dispose of. Sometimes, they may even seem like they’re taking over the place, which can cause a lot of stress for you during your after party clean up sessions. There’s a lot of great things you can do with your cans to ensure they get upcycled instead of just letting them go to waste. So, on Beer Can Celebration Day, you may want try out some of these fun ideas. Each idea will hardly cost you a thing and some may even bring even more money back into your bank account. With an abundance of can upcycling ideas, you may want to hold onto your cans in the future to bring a fun way to upcycle to your family.
1. Recycle
One of the best things you can do with all of your excess cans is send them to a recycling center. This might be a hard option for some states or rural areas, but there are many ways you can get your cans to a recycling area without bringing too much inconvenience onto yourself. Recycling centers are great places because they prevent your cans from ending up in a landfill, as they bring danger to wildlife and aren’t exactly biodegradable. In many states, there are actual special centers available to take your cans for you. When you return your cans, you receive money back for the special tax you had to pay for them. This is a great incentive method that can help you buy more beverages or simply allow you to start a savings fund. Make sure you know your state’s rules, so you can get the most profit for your cans.
2. Make Coasters
If you’re looking for a great way to get more out of your empty cans, then you might want to consider turning them into something functional like a coaster. Not only will this help prevent you from throwing out items that can be used, but it will also help you protect your furniture. The best thing is, the coasters will be perfect for when you host a party that has people drinking even more beverages. Since you will mostly be using logos from beer and soda, you will have a cool look for your bar as well. Transforming cans into coasters doesn’t take professionals skills either. There’s actually many ways to accomplish this, so you might want to check out tutorials online to see which idea you like the most.
3. Cookie Cutters
If you love to bake, then you might want to consider transforming your cans into something spectacular, like cookie cutters. This will take your baking to a whole new level while allowing you to save on the items you’ve recycled. You might want to start simple by creating items that are easier like simple circles or even a heart. Once you get the hang of these shapes, you might want to try doing shapes with actual detailing. All you will need to create these items is a pair of metal scissors and a soldering iron or a special glue. You may want to take your time to experiment with the way you work with these materials too. This craft isn’t a great idea to do with younger children, but they will absolutely love the designs you end up making. You may even be able to sell some of your cookie creations at bake sales to help earn you even more money.
4. Jewelry
Another fun way to enjoy upcycling cans is to use them to make jewelry. You can make so many different types of jewelry with cans that it will make your head spin. Of course, you will need to learn how to cut the metal in order to pull this off. There are many tutorials on how to do this online though, so it shouldn’t take long to figure out. If you’re interested in making multidimensional items, like earrings and rings then you may want to do a little extra work in order to practice for the supplies. Once you get the hang of it, you will be able to draw in a crowd with your amazing designs. You can also keep things simple my using weaving methods or other techniques to make items like bracelets. No matter what you choose to do, you’re sure to enjoy the creations you make. You might even be able to sell them online or at craft fairs.
5. Storage Items
You might be surprised, but you can really improve on your home’s storage when it comes to upcycling cans. These items are very simple to work with too, so you can create as many storage items as you like in next to no time. All you have to do is cut off the top of the container and then add a layer to the sharp edge to help prevent injuries. From there, you already have a functional container that will allow you to place items like pencils and other small utensils. Of course, you can go the extra mile by painting your new storage container. You might even paint it to make it easy for children to understand what is in it. Chalk board paint really comes in handy for such things. This idea is especially great for items like snacks that you might place in the new container.
6. Plant Holders
If you plan on having a garden, then beer and soda cans might be your next best friend. One of the best things you can do for your plants is to use the can to help protect them from worms while they’re in the ground. Smaller plants are great for this, as their roots won’t span out too far. All you have to do is cut off the top of the can and place your seed in the can with some soil. You can even use the cans as a way to start your seeds out. Of course, you can also use the cans as decorative planters too. All you have to do is take off the top of the can and paint it to suit your needs. Then, add string or wire to the top to hang up your planter. You can even paint it to help it suit your decor.
7. Outdoor decor
Many people love to use old cans as a way to make outdoor decor. One of the most popular items is a wind chime because of the way the metal sounds when it clangs together with other metals. You can cut your cans into all sorts of shapes and sizes too, which adds to the fun of the look. You can even create lawn ornaments, like pin wheels or lanterns to make your yard stand out. Best of all, you don’t have to paint these to make them look cool as the logos on the can should stand out. Wreaths are another fun option to add to the yard, which will make all of your neighbors envious of your crafting skills.
8. Artwork
You can even transform your old cans into a wide variety of artwork. One of the most popular options is to create a mosaic out of the pieces of the can. These are simple to do as all you need to do is cut up a wide variety of colors. Many people like to think outside of the box and use the cans to create amazing sculptures. Some people do this by stacking the cans, while others actually mold the metal together. If you’d like to try this out, a cube is one of the easiest ways to begin the hobby and will give you a modernistic sculpture to show off. Of course, one of the most popular things to make with cans right now is stylish metallic roses. These can be made fairly simply painted to resemble the real thing. Best of all, you can keep them on display all year to impress your guests.
9. Camping Gear
If you like to go camping, then all of your extra cans can come in handy. This might be even more useful considering you often use cans while camping anyway. One of the coolest things you can use a can for is to make your own little stove. There’s a ton of great tutorials on this, which should transform the way you camp for the better. This little stove will allow you to cook a wider variety of food without forcing you to bring a ton of extra gear with you. It can also come in handy if you’re every stranded and need to make your own food. Beer cans can be transformed into cups rather quickly too, so you can enjoy coffee, fresh water or anything else you bring along. Of course, they’re also great for other things like ash trays or keeping track of smaller pieces of trash.
10. Collect
Many people actually love to collect certain cans that hit the market. Cans that offer pop culture pictures and other similar items can often be worth a bit of money in the long run. If you think these items are cool, then keep the cans or even keep the whole beverage in a safe place. After a couple of years have passed or if you notice there is high demand and a slow supply, then you might want to check on an auction site to see if you can earn some money from your early shopping. You might be surprised as to how much people will pay for a can, so collecting could end up adding a lot to your bank account.
Dealing with leftovers cans can be quite a bit of a hassle if you don’t know what to do with them. These ten ideas will help you find the perfect way to handle your surplus of cans, so you won’t have to toss them in the garbage. This will not only help you save and possibly even earn some money, but it will help out the environment too.
