Recycle Cans Into Nice Trays

This fun project will amaze your friends/girlfriends by it's simplicity and efficency.
I've been doing these "trays" for a long time now, mostly on hollydays, at the beach house when you got time to spare and there's nothing to put your ashes in.

Be really carefull while doing this instructable, i cut myself last week and i couldn't advise you enough to ask a grown-up for help if you're not comfortable with cissors and metal (even if you are 26 like me ;))
And please excuse my style/orthographe : i did my best but english isn't my birth language ;).


Well, let's get started with these very easy steps.

Step 1: Find a Soda Can, a Pair of Scissors and Let's Cut the Top of the Can Out.

No problems here, stab the can with your scissors, and cut the top of the can out. The cut can be messy, we will adjust it in the next step.

Step 2: Clean Cut of the Top and Cutting of the "petals"

Now that the top is nicely cut, we have to cut what i call the "petals", these need to be of a regular shape.
The tip to achieve that is to pinch the can to mark the two opposite sides and then cut the remaining side in 2.
May not be clear, but i think that images are self explanatory.

As soon as you cut the side following halves, quarters and heights, you should get 16 petals that we are going to spread out.

Step 3: Spreading and Folding the Petals.

once you spread the petals, fold the first of them on top of the petal right next to it.
To be able to "finish" the folding of the whole petals, remember not to mark the fold of the first petal (so that you can insert the last one underneath).

Step 4: Flatten and Finish

to finish the tray and avoid sharpy edges, i flatten the back of the folded petals with the handles of my scissors.

It's over, and it would make a nice gift for your mom! (kidding ;))

Comments

[Najn_arte]

Just yesterday, I remembered this simple craft we used to make with empty disposable plastic cups, and it occurred to me that I could do the same with empty soda cans because now they are made from a very thin and pliable material. I made a couple attempts, and today I found your instructable where you show a very good use of this technique. Well done!

[hixair]

You are welcome !

[CarmerR]

I have very original wow interesting <a href="http://www.latermita.com/">Imagenes graciosas</a>

[IVT]

Brilliant!

[urbanX]

eyfgsdfgyejgf
nice and cool

[discojen]

nicely done, great instructions. I wouldn't worry about your spelling, this was a very easy instructable to follow.

[luckyone]

this is so cool i didnt realize it until now that you can cut the part where you drink out of put it inside the little plate and use it as a picture frame ive already made 2 out of a&w cans in 10 mins

[platypusluver]

That's a great idea!!!!! Thanks!!!

[witchs_eyes]

Simply Brilliant

[toswalt1]

I love it. My boyfriend and I just bought a house with a bar and these will make great beer can ash trays : )

[Kornelie]

 wow! love it!!

[Ouchimoo]

That is crazy neat looking! I'd be worried about somehow cutting myself on it though.

[ti_jean_54]

Your instructable is great a lot of detail that other people skip and we all need.

[hixair]

 thank you for your comment !! this was my first instructable and i'm glad people like it :)

[Reesha]

I love this! however, i found a way to get rid of the spikey flaps on the back, you can cut away the corner of the flap furthest from the centre, then tuck the flap under the petal it just came out of!

[superforkman]

try making one out of a monster can

[hixair]

if you have any comments or suggestion to make it better, do not hesitate : I'm not sur i should call them "trays". Thanks for your attention anyway ! :)

[trebuchet03]

Candle holders?

[xilefakamot]

I melted some wax and stuck a candle in it - it looks really good

[Iridium7]

Junk holders?