DIY Network

Tin Can Flowers These blossoms won't wilt on you! From "B. Original" episode DBOR-410

Colorful cans become these fab flowers.

Even tin cans bloom with beauty for Michele Beschen: The B. Original host cuts and shapes flattened tin cans into festive flowers. Show off the colorful cans you find at specialty stores, ethnic markets and even home improvement stores; it's a fun way to get started with metal sculpture.

Michele Beschen uses a rivet gun and 1/8" rivets to craft her flowers. You also can assemble them using machine screws and nuts. Scroll down for the how-to, and B. Original with some everlasting flowers of your own.

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Tin Can Flowers

Materials:

flattened tin cans
cardboard for template
scissors
marker
heavy gloves
safety glasses
tin snips
rivet gun and rivets
machine screws and nuts (if not using rivets)
drill
drill bit for use on metal
scrap wood
hammer
large glass bead or glass gemstone
contact adhesive or 2-part epoxy
needle-nose pliers
thin copper tubing

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

Note: Check out Michele Beschen's "Tin Cans 101" for the best way to prepare cans for this project.

• Determine the size and shape of the flower’s petals. If creating several petals, cut out a cardboard template of the petal shape.

• Trace the petal shape onto flattened cans with a marker. Pay attention to the graphics printed on the can to make sure the petals make the most of the graphics.

• Wearing heavy gloves, use tin snips to cut out the petals (figure A).

  Safety Alert: Always wear heavy gloves when cutting the cans or handling the cut metal. The cut edges are extremely sharp.

• Be sure to save the larger scrap pieces of metal for other projects.

• Choose a lid for the center of the flower. Lay out the petals and flower center to determine the best arrangement.

• Position a petal over the lid on top of a piece of scrap wood. Use a 1/8" drill bit to drill two holes through both pieces of metal.

• Use the rivet gun to attach the petal to the center of the flower with 1/8" rivets (figure B). If a rivet gun isn’t available, use machine screws and nuts to attach the petals.

  Note: A rivet gun is an inexpensive and – according to Michele Beschen – slightly addictive tool found at any home improvement or hardware store. Make sure to read and follow all of the instructions and safety rules that come with the tool.

• Continue attaching petals with two rivets or screws each to prevent the petals from spinning (figure C).

• When all of the petals are attached, select a plain, round can lid. Use a pair of needle-nose pliers to curl up the edges of the lid.

• Position this lid in the center of your flower and attach with a rivet or machine screw (figure D).

• Use contact adhesive or two-part epoxy to secure a large glass bead or gemstone in the lid.

• Bend and wrinkle up the petals to give the flower more dimension.

• To create a stem, flatten a piece of copper tubing with a hammer and drill a hole near one end (figure E).

• Position the stem on the back of he flower and drill one or two holes through the flower and stem. Attach the stem with rivets or machine screws.

• Also use rivets or machine screws to attach leaves to the stem, if desired.
  
  
• To hang the flower on the wall, attach a bit of wire to the back.

Experiment with some wire techniques to create different looks for the flowers. Try to "sew" petals onto the flower with wire, or just do some wire wrapping and embellishing to add interest and texture.