Create these simple and quick decorations with your empty soda cans! (This picture is sideways!)

Step 1: Materials

To make this project, you need:

1 or more empty aluminum soda cans
Large bowl
Razor or box cutter
Sharpie or other sort of marker
Dish towel
Wire thread

Optional:
Hot glue gun
Spray paint
Tea candles

Step 2: Preparing the Can

The easiest way to make the can "cuttable" is to put something solid behind the aluminum. So to do that, fill the can with water, and freeze it for 5-7 hours. This is tricky, so I would suggest checking on it after about 4 hours or so. Otherwise the can ends up bursting open and looking like the one in the photo and can't be used.
(This picture is sideways!)

Step 3: Begin the Cutting

1. Right after you pull the can out of the freezer, it's time to start cutting the aluminum. First, mark about 12 dots evenly spaced around the upper side of the can, right before the slope at the top. Make corresponding marks near the bottom of the can. Use the dish towel to dry off the can as you go, as the condensation will make marking with a marker difficult.
2. Make an "S" shaped curved line connecting the dots on the top with a dot adjacent to the dot directly below it.
3. Use a box cutter or razor to cut along this line. Note: it's easiest if you lightly cut first along the line, then apply more pressure the second time around.
4. Continue to do this until all the lines have been cut.

When done, place the can in the large bowl to let the ice melt, or run the can under hot water in the sink.
(These pictures are sideways!)

Step 4: Pop Out the Sides

1. With one hand on top of the can and one on the other, push the ends together and slightly twist until the strips pop out and flare out until you are desired with the result.
2. Using the box cutter or razor, pop 4 small holes near the top of the can at 4 opposite sides for the wire thread to be strung through. Using a piece of thread, at the length you desire, string the thread through in hole and out the hole on the other side. Repeat this with another string of the same length. Tie the 4 ends together above the cans to be used to hang the can.
(This first picture is sideways!)

Step 5: Optional

If so desired, make it bigger! Repeat this process with another can, and using the hot glue gun, attach the can to the bottom of the other.

Or, use spray paint to make the cans more decorative!

Another suggestion: Cut away a couple of the strips and glue in a tea candle to make this a small lamp!

(This picture is sideways!)