Family Photo Frame From Soda Cans

This Instructable shows you how to make photo frames from soda cans.

Why do I need to use soda cans? ............ because soda cans are free to reuse and have a "metal look" on the inside that is truly amazing and hardly distinguishable from a product you can buy. Each frame can be made in your desired size. The frame is designed so that you can easily exchange the pictures.

Since you are not limited by a budget you will be able to create a striking gallery wall in record time - the perfect way to add interest to your hallway, stairwell or living room.

For this photo frame you need the following items:

• Flatten soda cans sheets (see https://www.instructables.com/id/Flatten-Soda-Can)
• Ruler 1: Ruler which corresponds in cross section to a single bar/rod of the frame.
• Ruler 2: Flat ruler as tool to fold the aluminum sheets around Ruler 1
• Utility Knife
• Double-sided adhesive tape
• Adhesive tape
• Scissors
• Pliers
• Sanding paper
• Popsicle sticks
• Hot glue gun

The process can be divided into five main steps (see picture):

1. Flatten aluminum sheet from soda cans
2. Folding a single frame bar/rod
3. Prepare corners of a bar/rod
4. Connecting the individual bars to form a frame.
5. Add frame hanger

After recycling normally the obtained aluminum sheets from soda cans keep the round shape. This makes it cumbersome do work with. It is much easier to work with a flat sheet where you can transfer your design onto and then cut it out with scissors.

I already posted an Instructable which explains in detail how to make flattened sheets of aluminum from soda cans (see https://www.instructables.com/id/Flatten-Soda-Can).

Place Ruler 1 on the lower end of the aluminum sheet. Slide Ruler 2 under the aluminum sheet from above. Using Ruler 2, press the aluminum sheet against Ruler 1. Fold the aluminum sheet in the same way until five sides are present. Separate the five folded sides from the rest of the aluminum sheet with a knife.

The folded aluminum sheet is again placed around Ruler 1. Stick two-sided adhesive tape on the back of the fifth side. Now glue the first and the fifth side together by applying pressure.

The resulting photo frame bar/rod still has rounded edges which don't look perfect yet. To make a nice square frame bar, drive several times with a wooden stick (Popsicle sticks) over all aluminum sides. Prepare four frame bars in the same way.

Initially the aluminum sheets were pre-scored with the back of a knife to facilitate folding. It has been shown, however, that the aluminum did often brake during folding. Therefore the pre-scoring with a knife was avoided.

In order to be able to glue the individual frame bars together, the ends of two bars are folded in. First, a flap is cut out of the frame bar with a knife. This is bent slightly forward with a flat nose pliers and then shortened with scissors. The flap is then folded back into the bar so that it can be used as a support for another frame bar.

Two outer corners of the frame bar are cut at an angle of 45°.

Fill one corner of a frame bar with hot glue. Press a second bar into the corner. Combine all frame bars to finish the frame.

Glue a remaining piece of aluminum in the middle of the back. At the upper edge the hanger is additionally mounted. Now the photo is clamped between the frame and the aluminum piece in the middle. Enjoy making your own family photo frame from soda cans.