A Valentine Heart for the Tin Man

I know a real Tin Man, his name is Bobby Hansson. Not only has he written the definitive work on the tin can (The Fine Art of the Tin Can), but he is an accomplished photographer, sculptor, blacksmith, musician and maker of musical instruments; a true Renaissance Artist. To pay a bit of tribute for all the wonderful artwork and humor he has added to the world here is a Valentine appropriate in style to honor him, but easy enough for anyone to make something quite similar for someone they love.

Step 1 Supplies

• A variety of cans
• A frame or a bracelet
• Tins snips
• Cotter pins
• Gorilla glue, super and reguar
• Drill, drill bits
• A photo of your Valentine
• Some glass or plastic to put the photo behind
• Something to act as a heart, I used a cookie mold but anything at all may be used
• Plastic doll arms
• Folding ruler

Many of these items are optional as you may find that glue alone is enough to secure your "person", or you may want to simply mount your photo on some posterboard and set it on top with maybe a tab cut into the "body" can to hold it in place.

Comments

[AlpineButterfly]

Hi Ninzerbean,
I'm taking a class here at Penland... tin art with Bobby Hanson, we were checking out instructables, and ran across your post.... It brought big smiles to the the class and Bobby in particular. Thank you for the awesome instructable and the beautiful inspiring piece!!!!

[Ninzerbean]

Wonderful, thank you for letting me know! Enjoy your class too.

[porcupinemamma]

Looking at it again, and still think it's fabulous!!!

[Ninzerbean]

YOU are fabulous! Everywhere I go around this site I run into your positive comments. Thank you.

[porcupinemamma]

Thanks Sweetie! Right back at 'cha!!
xxoo Lynie-Poo
BTW,
would you like me to send you a copy of my book?

[Ninzerbean]

I would love one but you mustn't. I have no little kids in my life to share it with. Thank you though.

[jamere]

So freaking cool!

[Ninzerbean]

Thanks a freaking lot!

[marcintosh]

This is stunning.  I always enjoy your work but this really shows your aesthetic bent.  This is also known as Assemblage Art and some of it's practitioners can be found here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assemblage_(art) .  I appreciate this type of art a great deal and I have a great deal of respect for it.  I find it quite difficult to make appropriate/artful selections of materials, 
Thanks for the hint on the felt glue pads.  I've struggled with that before but not anymore 8-D
BTW I like the instructions and arrows on the images.  New?  I don't remember noticing that. 
Mine is a "Two Uses" family and so one of the biggest issues I have is with packaging and containers.  They usually are a one shot product.  I'd like to see an Instructables section dedicated to reuse and adaptation of packaging and this piece is a great example of why.

Again just beautiful and so evocative of Early Americana
Thanks,
Marcintosh

[Ninzerbean]

Wow, thank you so much for such a wonderful compliment. I have been reluctant before to make unique pieces for Instructables because I want to everyone to easily be able to replicate what I make, but I think there is enough technique in this one to be applicable to what people have on hand.

I got into the habit of using arrows because up until a short time ago my computer and browser wouldn't let me make little yellow boxes.

When I was little I used caps from toothpaste tubes for drinking cups for my trolls, so I guess the idea of using trash for something else was always in me. Being that I collect cans to use in making other things, I found that the collection was starting to own me; the cans became too precious to turn into something else. It only took my sorting through a lifetime (97 years) of my grandmother's things to realize that you can't take it with you and it's a burden to those you leave behind because the mere fact that you owned it makes it too precious to throw out. So, making the stuff into things that the next generation would actually want to keep, frees you to cut into the "precious" object that is just a part of a collection that only means anything to you. Sorry for such a long reply here, I feel like I am just waking up to this fact and I have to start making many more things.

There is a recycle or reuse channel on Instructables, it's under "Living" I think. But you are right, a category or section on the topic would be great. Your phrase "two use" is really great and it makes me think right away of your great "ible with the bottles that water the plants.

[GRANDBUNNY]

This is so very clever...and a wonderful addition to all the other fantastic creations you come up with...what a great inspiration for everyone! IASPOY !!

[Creativeman]

You've done it again, NB! Incredibly creative, your imagination astounds me, continually...thanks for posting your wonderful art-work! Cman

[Ninzerbean]

Thank you for your always-positive feedback, and complimenting ME about my imagination is so funny coming from YOU.

[ChrysN]

That looks really cool, nicely done!

[Ninzerbean]

Thank you!

[porcupinemamma]

Exxxxxxxxxxxxxxxcellent! I have a stash of things I plan to use for a creation-you beat me to it-and wow is it ever amazing!!!!!

[Ninzerbean]

Great! I want to see when you are done - and thank you!

[Dr. Pepper]

Amazing! I just love it.

[Ninzerbean]

Thank you! That is so great.

[Dr. Pepper]

Sure! That's no problem. I absolutely love your work.

[CameronSS]

Fantastic! I must ask, where do you collect all of those lovely old cans? Antique stores, garage sales, luck?

[Ninzerbean]

Lots and lots of garage sales, I've been collecting for 34 years... gosh that is a long time, I got my first can from a friend's attic and that started me. I still have my first and second cans.

[CameronSS]

It's a great use for them, I doubt that people are going to be making robots out of those silly cardboard baking powder cans with the foil tops in thirty years. :)

[Ninzerbean]

That's funny, but hey, once the cardboard is replaced by a plastic container then the cardboard one will start to look interesting.

[jen7714]

That looks really unique! Definitely a great gift :)

[Ninzerbean]

Thanks, it is unique but it's really do-able with the things around you I'm sure. Besides, no matter what you give someone for Valentines Day, if you made yourself they will LOVE it.

[Kiteman]

I want to call it "sweet" or "cute", but then I keep glancing at that visage...

Inspirational job, though.

[Ninzerbean]

Yeah, I see what you mean. I think it is the magnifying glass thing because he is actually one of the most handsome men I have ever met, I will have to take a better photo. I am glad you are inspired - wink wink.

[Kiteman]

I am indeed.

[mikeasaurus]

What a great and personal valentine. I love how rustic he looks.
Reminds me of some of the local folk art (which can be pricey).

[Ninzerbean]

Thank you, Bobby is really one of the best artists I know, he has been inspiring me for years, you won't find much about him by googling him though, he somehow missed the computer way of promotion, but he is pretty famous in small circles of other artists. He teaches at Penland School of Crafts every so often, this summer in fact.

[Kiteman]

Drag him "here"!