Life Hackery

Some of the most prominent things that you will find inside a trash can are soda cans and beer cans. After drinking soda or beer, everyone crushes the aluminum container and throws it in the bin, without batting an eyelash. If they only knew the number of things that could be done with those beverage containers, they’ll probably start their own the soda and beer can collections.

Soda cans and beer cans are made of thin aluminum, which means they are easy to cut and manipulate. With a pair of tin snips or extra-sharp scissors, you can remodel the can into almost any shape or form of your liking. You can create home ornaments, stylized containers or even useful devices like transistor radios and clocks. Interesting huh? Here are 16 unusual ways to use soda and beer cans:

1. Ashtray - Aluminum, the base material for soda and beer cans, is a good material for ashtrays. It can withstand cigarette burns and is lightweight. To construct a cool ashtray, cut the canister horizontally one and a half inches from the bottom. Use a pair of tin snips to create small cigarette holders and funky designs on the top half-inch of the ashtray.

2.Aluminum Flower - Shape and stylize a soda can into a flower using a pair of tin snips. The container’s colorful exterior will serve as the flower petals. Attach the metal flower to a piece of metal wire, so it will look more realistic.

3. Radio - Assemble a basic radio circuit and set it inside a beer or soda can-based casing. The soda cans can be styled to look like an actual radio or any creative design of your choice. Remember, the circuit board should be held secure inside the casing, otherwise a slight movement may damage your creation. (More tips on how to make a foxhole radio)

4. The Coke-Sprite Christmas Wreath - The cans of Coke and Sprite, when together, form Christmas’s official color combination - green and red. You might as well create a Christmas wreath from those two containers. Use tin snips to turn the cans into a set of wires. Interlock the red and green wires until you form the wreath. You can then attach small ornaments such as bells, balls and ribbons.

5. Earrings - Cut out the exterior surfaces of two cans. Once done, twist each around, using pliers, so they will be shaped like a pair of small uneven scrolls. Hot glue the two to a pair of earring pieces. When the adhesive dries, you can wear them to your next social gathering. Other people will surely be in awe after seeing your slick danglers.

6.Flower Pot - Beer cans are instant pots for small plants. Not convinced? Just cut the top portion off then fill it with soil. You can plant small shrubs and some flowering plants in those beverage carriers.

7. Tab Dress - The tabs of beverage cans, when assembled, can form larger things. One of them is the tab dress. Collect dozens of soda can tabs then string them together to create a sexy tab dress. If you want to use the dress as your evening wardrobe, just paint the tabs gold, silver or any sterling color.

8. Wrist Band - Slice a piece of the can’s exterior, preferably the part that shows the logo. Shape it like an actual wrist band then wear it on your wrist. It may not be an elegant accessory, but it shows boldness and attitude.

9. Toy Vehicle - Bore holes on the opposite sides of the can’s top and bottom portions. Once done, slide a pencil for each pair of holes. Attach a toy wheel at the ends of both pencils. After affixing the wheels, bore a couple of tiny holes at the can’s top portion. Tie a string using both holes, so your kid can tug along your creation anywhere. (Or you could create an airplane by learning how to build pop can airplanes)

10.Door Curtain - You can give your home a mysterious gypsy feel by installing door curtains made of soda cans. Think of a good color combination based on the designs of soda and beer cans. Get several cans and cut their exteriors to form a series of identical shapes. When the shapes are ready, tie them to several pieces of string then hang all of them on your door.

11.Art Figures - Want to use the beer can as a platform for your creative juices? You can create scenes using a handful of cans, a pair of tin snaps and the hot glue. Cut and arrange the beer cans to form objects, environments and people. To add visual impact to your creation, you can paint the cans and toss other objects to the mix.

12. Feeding Bowl for Birds and Hamsters - Bird and hamster cages are usually small, which means they need a feeding bowl that will not take up much space. The size of a soda can is perfect for that job. Cut the canister, leaving only an inch of the bottom portion. Smoothen the feeding bowl’s lip, so your pets won’t be harmed when eating.

13. Pendant - Beer and softdrink logos look cool. In fact, some of them are cool enough to be turned into pendants. Cut out your favorite logo from a beer or soda can. Attach it to a jewelry string then wear the whole thing around your neck. When your buddies see the snazzy object hanging on your neck, they’ll surely be brimming with envy.

14. Percussion Instrument - Fill one-fourth of the can with rice or mung beans. Tape a small strip of paper on the can’s opening. Add more spunk to your makeshift shaker by painting patterns and affixing small ornaments on the exterior. When the paint dries, you can shake your stylized can along to your favorite tunes. You can also switch its contents if you want to produce different sounds.

15. Pest Trap - Cut a can in half then bury the bottom part in your garden. Make sure that its lip is visible. Once done, pour beer inside. The pests in your garden will then be attracted to the beer’s sweet scent. They will eventually get curious and check out where the scent is the coming from. The moment they find out about your trap, they will have fallen inside, drowning themselves in the process.

16. Mini Scooper - For small gardening and water-related applications, you can morph a beverage can into a miniature scooper. Just cut the top portion and your makeshift scooper is ready.

Soda and beer cans come as good raw materials for those who are pretty artistic and imaginative. They can find good uses for the container’s every detail. You can too, if you view the can with an open mind and a healthy imagination. Feel free to post your own creative uses for soda and beer cans on the comments section.