Tin Can Flowers

Tin can tops, believe it or not, are not quite as easy to come by as they were then. We had a lot more variety in color and amount of shine, and we could use the bottoms as well as the tops. Now a number of cans are curved at the bottoms, so you can't get them into your can opener. Some of the tops are now pull off, so they have pull-up rings on them.

Nevertheless, there are still a number of soup cans and coffee cans and vegetable and fruit cans that will work just fine. Or, you can do what I did to update these metal creations. I went to the hardware store and bought roof flashing. My neighborhood hardware store sells 5" x 7" rectangles for 16 cents each that are perfect! No need to buy an entire roll unless you plan to go into business!

Materials:

tin can tops or roof flashing
scissors *
20- or 22-gauge wire for joining
16- or 18-gauge wire for stems
piece of paper
pencil
pen
stained glass paint and/or metal paint
awl or 1/16" punch or small nail

* Household or craft scissors can be used on the roof flashing, but if you have kitchen shears with serrated blades, they work best on tin can tops.

Steps:

1. Cut two or three paper circles in different sizes similar to those of tin can tops. Fold in half, then in quarters, then in eighths. Also cut a small circle from the center. These will be your patterns (figure A).

2. If you will be using aluminum flashing instead of tin can tops, cut a number of circles the size of the paper patterns that you cut. Draw the center circle but do not cut it out (figure B).

4. Cut a line from the outside edge to the center circle in the tin can top or flashing circle at each one of the marks drawn (figure C).

5. Shape each section into a petal by first cutting down one side of each of the segments and then cutting down the second side. Your petals can be pointed or curved at the top (figure D).

6. After you have done one such flower, you will no doubt not need the patterns for cutting the individual petals. Cut two lines opposite each other to divide the top in half, then in quarters and then in eighths. After a few such flowers, you may want to cut some in quarters only and make rounder, fatter petals.

7. Curve some petals up. Stack two or three cut circles on top of each other (figure E). They can be from the same-sized circles or circles in graduated sizes. Experiment.

8. When you have decided what layers to put together, unstack them and paint them in desired colors. You may decide to leave some unpainted.

9. When the paint is dry, punch two small holes about 1/4 inch apart in the center of each layer.

10. Reassemble the flower. Cut a length of the 20- or 22-gauge wire, shape it into a U, and thread it through all the layers of the flower. Twist together to secure the layers. If you will be attaching the wire to a wire ring for a candle ring (figure F) or to some other object, it is better to cut the threading wire longer so you can use it for attaching. If you will be putting a stem on your flower, cut a long length of heavier wire, form the U shape at one end, and thread both ends through the flower. Twist to secure and wrap the longer end with floral tape for a stem.

Position your metal flowers in surprising places. Put small magnets on the back and use them as note holders on the refrigerator. Add them to a metal photo frame. Form a candle ring from a heavier-gauge wire and attach your flowers to it. Make a wreath...make a bracelet...