Say "Pepsi, please"

and then you can use the cans to make art :)  Yep, I've been at it again, using those Pepsi cans to make die cut butterflies.

I'm back again with week two of our Frilly and Funkie Upcycle for Earth Day challenge.  For the Funkie week I decided to make a little wall decoration out of die cut butterflies and wire.  I've been to a few craft fairs lately and have been looking for metal work to decorate the walls of our new home but haven't seen exactly what I have been looking for.  This piece is fairly small, only about 12 inches high but it was a fun make and has me thinking about trying something larger.  I did find a place for it on the wall and it looks really nice.

I started by cutting the top and bottom rims off two Pepsi cans and also made a cut from the top to bottom, giving me two sheets of aluminum.  The sheets still want to curl in the shape of the can, but it's not a problem.  I used an old Cuttlebug butterfly die to cut the larger butterflies and the smaller ones were cut the the Tim Holtz Movers and Shapers Butterflies.  Next I sorted through my Texture Fades and pulled out a few that I thought would make attractive vintage type texture and ran my butterflies through.   A couple of cautions - be careful because the metal edges will be VERY sharp.  Also, when embossing, I put a sheet of copy paper over the top of the metal to diffuse some of the pressure on the metal because sometimes the metal will crack when embossed.  

I used 12 gauge black wire that I purchased at Jo-Ann's for the main wire and then thinner copper wire for the curling wire.  I painted the butterflies and the black wire with Vintaj Ancient Coins patina paints.  Most everything was painted with Aged Bronze but the butterflies have Antique Copper blended in also.  The Black 12 gauge wire was painted with the Aged Bronze.  The thinner copper wire was dry brushed with paints from the Vintaj Weathered Copper paint set.  I know I always say this, but I just love these Vintaj patina paints for altering metals.  I'm out of stock with the Ancient Coins set, I'm sorry to say, because I really sold on how they altered the Pepsi can and the heavy black wire.  I'll be restocking with my next Ranger order!  And the copper wire was really shiny and new looking before I took the Weathered Copper paints to it.  E6000 glue was used to glue the butterflies onto the wire.  I stuck it onto my wall with giant glue dots and that is a wrap for this week's Funkie upcycle project.  Please stop by Frilly and Funkie to see what the other designers have created with their upcycled projects - I'm sure you will be inspired to find something that would have been thrown out that can be made into a fun and/or useful piece of art!







These products used on this piece can be purchased at The Funkie Junkie Boutique:

Sizzix Alterations Tim Holtz Movers and Shapers Die - Mini Butterflies	Ranger Vintaj Patina Kit - Ancient Coin Collection	Ranger Vintaj Patina Kit - Weathered Copper	Tim Holtz Sizzix Texture Fades - Clock and Steampunk Set	Tim Holtz Sixxiz Texture Fades - Postcard and Sheet Music Set
Tim Holtz Sixxiz Texture Fades - Bricked and Woodgrain Set	Tim Holtz Sizzix Texture Fades - Diamond Plate and Rivited	Tim Holtz Sizzix Texture Fades - Damask and Regal Flourishes Set