DIY Upcycled Can Key Chains

DIY Upcycled Can Key Chains 

You'll Need:

• Clean, empty soda cans
• Manual Can Opener
• Tin Snips
• Needlenose pliers
• Hole Punch
• Mod Podge Dimensional magic
• Chain Links & key ring

Start by cutting up your can. I used a can opener on the top to get that off first. Be really careful because the metal is super sharp. The can opener leaves the metal jagged so be sure to wear safety gloves.

Take off the top half inch of the can with the tin snips.

Cut down along the side of the can with the nutrition facts, then cut the entire bottom off. You'll be left with a flat (kind of) rectangular piece of tin.

Trace the shapes you would like to cut out with a sharpie. You can draw them on the inside or the outside of the can, whatever you find easier to work with. I also recommend using shapes that do not have sharp edges. The sharp edges can pull at clothes and fabric.

Cut holes in each near the edge with a hole punch. If you are planning on gluing them together, make sure the holes are each on the proper side.

You can leave the pieces to be one sided and the other side will just be silver. I chose to glue two pieces together, which proved to be a bit tricky.
I used tacky glue, but in retrospect I should have used E4000.

Etch the silver sides of two identical pieces with a file, apply glue. Press and hold together 30 seconds, then secure with a  clip. Leave to dry for at least 48 hours.

You can also cut out longer strips of tin and fold it in half. Still glue and clamp for 48 hours.

Once glue is dry, apply the dimensional magic mod podge. It has a small applicator tip that you can squeeze the mod podge out and apply it as necessary with. Use 2-3 coats per side, allowing to dry completely between each.

One other technique you can do is cut longer strips of tin and twist for a spiral look.

Bend the chain links open with a pair of needlenose pliers and hook them as necessary. Hook them together or onto an old keychain.

You can also hook the soda can tab onto it as well for an extra little addition.

I really love the result of these and especially how cheap and thrifty they are. I bet you will love them too.

**Update: I've made a few more of these with stronger chain links! Look at how cute

I would love to see your versions of these cute key chains! Or what other creative ideas other people have. Don't forget to pin me

Lace Spray Paint Shirts

Materials

-Clothing to dye (light colors will work best, white, yellow, light pink.. etc) - clothes may shrink, buy big!
-Spray dye - I found them at Hobby Lobby for $2.99 per color
-Lace or doilies
-Soda Ash... also found at Hobby Lobby in the fabric dye aisle. $5.99 for  two 1 gal batches.
->1gal bucket with lid.
-Clothes pins

• Prepare your fabric first! Wash your clothes normally. 
• Wearing gloves, mix soda ash with water in the bucket. The soda ash usually has directions, but the measurements should be  1/2 cup soda ash : 1 gallon of water. 
• Soak fabric in soda ash for 20 minutes. 
• Allow the fabric to dry on a flat surface before spray dyeing.
• After the shirt has dried, or almost dried, lay lace or doily on clothes. Secure with clothes pin
• Spray the shirt with the dye per directions on the dye.
• Once the shirt is colored to your liking, dry flat.
• When dry, heat set in the dryer on high setting for at least 20 minutes

This has definitely been one of my favorite projects. The many different ways to customize these are perfect. You can easily cut out words or other pictures even to spray around and create so many shirts! What's better than custom shirts?

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