Turn old beer cans into festive ornaments! This fun DIY is a great way to upcycle and personalise holiday gifts and decorations.
If you’re anything like me, you probably love a good upcycled craft—especially one that involves turning something ordinary into something festive. I’ve made beer can candles before, but this time, I’ve decided to take it up a notch with beer can Christmas ornaments. We’re talking about turning your favourite beer cans into holiday decor that’ll stand out on any tree. And the best part? These ornaments can double as gift tags—two for one!
They’re easy to make, completely customisable, and perfect for anyone who enjoys a good craft beer. They also make fun gifts for the guys in your life, who, let’s face it, can be tough to shop for. Whether it’s a favourite craft beer or just a funky design from a soda can, these upcycled ornaments are a great way to add some unique charm to your holiday celebrations.
Materials
- Wooden shapes (Christmas trees, angel wings, baubles, or whatever festive shapes tickle your fancy). The shapes need to be at least 6mm thick. If you can’t find thick wooden shapes, you can glue two identical shapes together. Wood slices would work well as they are nice and thick.
- Craft beer cans (or soda cans, but beer cans add extra cool points)
- Small upholstery nails
- Ribbon or leather trim
- Twine for hanging
- Bradawl for punching holes
- Scissors, a small hammer, and glue
How To Make Aluminium Can Ornaments
Step 1: Prep the cans: First, grab an empty beer can. Give it a good rinse—nobody likes sticky ornaments. Then, carefully cut the top and bottom off the can. I use a combination of secateurs to nip the top and scissors to cut the aluminium. Ordinary scissors cut through the aluminium easily. Once you have a flatish aluminium sheet, you can trace your shape.
Step 2: Trace and Cut: Lay your wooden shape onto the aluminium and trace around it. Scissors work fine for cutting through aluminium, but be careful! The edges can be a bit sharp.
Step 3: Nail It: After you’ve cut out your aluminium shapes, line them up with the wooden ones. Tack them down using small upholstery nails—these hold everything in place and add a bit of rustic charm to the ornament. I space the nails out about 1cm apart around the edge. Piercing the beer can with a bradawl first makes it much easier to tap the upholstery nails.
Step 4: Add the Trim: For a polished look, glue or tack ribbon or leather trim around the edge of the wooden shape. This step also hides any sharp edges from the aluminium.
Step 5: Hang it Up: Finish off by attaching a piece of twine for hanging. You could even add some beads to the twine for extra festive flair.
Top Tips for Making Beer Can Christmas Ornaments:
- Cutting the Cans Safely
When opening the beer cans, take your time and be careful. The edges can be sharp, so use sturdy scissors or tin snips. If you’re worried about sharp edges, you can always smooth them down with fine sandpaper after cutting. - Working with Larger Shapes
If you use a larger wooden shape (like I did with the angel wings ornament), you can piece the aluminium can together in sections. Don’t worry if the entire shape doesn’t fit perfectly onto one flat piece—just cut a few sections from the can and tack them down separately. The seams can add a nice, rustic look to your design!
4. Choosing Your Cans
The best cans to use are those with bright colours and exciting designs. Craft beer cans often have great graphics, but feel free to use soda cans. If you’re making these as a gift, try to use the recipient’s favourite beer or soda for a personalised touch!
5. Trimming the Edges
Adding ribbon or leather trim around the edges makes the ornament look more polished and helps cover any sharp edges from the aluminium. You can use fabric glue or a hot glue gun to secure the trim.
6. Getting Creative with Shapes
Don’t feel limited to Christmas trees and angel wings! Try other festive shapes like stars, bells or letters to make more personalised ornaments. You can buy pre-cut wooden shapes and cut your own if you feel extra crafty or use wood slices to make the ornaments.
These make great stocking stuffers, or gift them as part of the present! Pop them on top of wrapped gifts as a unique tag that doubles as an ornament.
Why You’ll Love These Ornaments:
These beer can ornaments aren’t just fun to make—they’re a clever way to recycle and turn something ordinary into festive decor. Using someone’s favourite craft beer can add a thoughtful, personalised touch. Whether for the beer lover in your life, your quirky uncle, or anyone who appreciates handmade Christmas decorations, these upcycled ornaments bring unique charm to the holidays.
If you’re looking for even more eco-friendly holiday inspiration, head to the blog for a treasure trove of recycled Christmas decoration ideas. You’ll find everything from personalised tin can snow globes to many other can Christmas crafts.
And if you’re looking for more handmade gift ideas for men, there’s an entire collection waiting for you to explore!
