Make a Pencil Holder from a Can

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Rather than throw those old cans away, re-purpose them! It’s easy to make a pencil or pen holder out of a can, with some basic tools. A simple craft like this one makes a great activity for the kids, or for a rainy afternoon.

Steps

Making a Simple Pencil Holder

  1. Choose a can. Save an old can that you no longer need. Choose a size and shape that you find pleasing, though make sure it is large enough to support the size and weight of pencils or pens. Make sure the can doesn’t have any damage or rust to avoid hurting yourself when handling the can.
    • Soda cans are made of a lightweight metal, making them easier to modify.[1]
    • Vegetable or sauce cans are made from a heavier metal. These will be sturdier, but harder to modify.
  2. Wash out the can. Use soap and water to thoroughly wash out the can you will be using for your pencil holder. Remove all traces of grease, food, or sugar, and allow to air dry.
    • If you are using a soda can for your pencil holder, you will need to either open the can to clean it or fill the can with soap, water and rice, and give it a good shake.
    • Leaving food in or on the can will hinder customization efforts that you make later!
  3. Remove the lid from the soda can. Use a can opener on the top part of the can to remove the entire lid featuring the tab. Cut as close to the edge of the can as possible to avoid leaving sharp, jagged edges. Safely dispose of the soda can lid.
    • If your can opening has sharp edges, use sandpaper to dull the edges.
    • Modeling clay or other putty substances can also be used to cover the sharp edges to prevent injury. This clay can be purchased or made at home with a few simple ingredients.[2]
  4. Cut off the top portion of the soda can (optional). Rather than removing the lid, cut around the top portion of the can to easily create an opening. Use standard scissors, tin snips, or a box cutter to cut through the aluminum.
    • The top edges of the can will be sharp after cutting. Use modeling clay or putty to cover these edges to avoid injury.
    • The brim of the can may also be folded inward to cover the sharp edges. Use heavy work gloves to avoid injury when handling the sharp edges.[3]
  5. Place your pencils and pens in the can. Once there is a large enough opening, you may store your pencils, pens, and other writing utensils in the can. Take care for top heavy pens, as they can tip the can over.
    • Place some loose change or other small heavy objects in the can to help prevent the can from tipping over.
    • Gluing a small piece of wood or cardboard to the bottom of the can will also help stabilize the can and prevent toppling. Use a polyurethane glue for a strong hold.[4]

Making a Pin-Cushion-Style Pencil Holder

  1. Empty and clean out an old can. Save an aluminum can that you are finished with, or grab an old one out of your recycling bin. Make sure all of the food or liquid is out of the can. Give the can a good wash with soap and water to make sure it's clean.
    • Remember to use a soapy water and rice mixture to clean a soda can that you haven't removed the lid from.
  2. Cut incisions in the can. Use your scissors or box cutter to create small incisions around the can. Angle the incisions toward the base of the can. If using a can with harder aluminum, you may need to drill holes large enough for the pencils, as the metal will be too hard to push the utensils through.
    • Use a small hand drill to create cleaner holes in the can. Be careful to drill slowly, as you don't want to tear a large hole in the can. Soda cans in particular are easily damaged by excessive force.[5]
  3. Push the pencils through the can. When the pencils are pushed through, they will need to sit in the can angled toward the bottom of the can. This allows a large number of pencils to be stored without offsetting the balance of the can.
    • Frequently inserting and removing pencils from the can may eventually wear down the can, the pencils, or both. Keep pencils or pens you are particularly attached to in a location that subjects them to less wear and tear.
  4. Add some flair. Placing silly straws, mini-umbrellas, or national flags among the pencils is a great way to introduce a little color to your pencil holder. Try stacking a second soda can pin cushion atop the first and make a multi-level pencil holder! Go for the world record of stacked cans![6]

Decorating Your Pencil Holder

  1. Paint your can. Paint designs onto the can to customize your pencil holder. Acrylic paint is a great all-purpose medium for painting on various surfaces, and dries quickly, allowing you to continue to decorate your pencil holder.
    • Use a primer before applying paint to the can in order to ensure the paint adheres to the metal.[7]
    • Use acrylic spray paint to give your can a full, uniform coat for adding further designs.
    • The paint on your can will likely crack if the can is bent, so be careful once the paint has dried.
  2. Cut patterns and designs into the cans. Use a box cutter to cut various designs into the can. Hearts, diamonds, abstract patterns, or faces are all fun options for customizing your pencil holder.[8]
    • Avoid grabbing the can near these designs, as the holes created will have sharp edges.
    • Try marking the designs you will be cutting with stencils to help guide your cutting efforts.
  3. Paste paper designs on the can. Draw some designs on a piece of paper and paste them on the can as decoration. You can also paste an entire sheet of plain paper onto the can as a canvas for additional paper decorations.
    • Cut your name out of paper, or another’s name if you are giving the pencil holder as a gift, and paste it onto the can to mark the can as yours.
    • Glue sparkles, felt, ribbon and other accoutrements to put the finishing touches on your design.
  4. Sew or knit a cozy. A homemade cozy for your pencil holder can help bring some warmth to its appearance. Feel free to knit whatever design fits the room you’re placing the pencil holder in, or make multiple cozies to keep the style of the can fresh.[9]
    • If you used a soda can for your pencil holder, you can also purchase a regular cozy from the convenience store. These can at least give your pencil holder stability, if you aren’t concerned about the design.

Video

Warnings

  • This project uses cutting tools and a cut can has sharp edges. Make sure children have adult supervision.

Things You'll Need

  • Can
  • Paper
  • Crayons
  • Can Opener
  • Scissors
  • Decorations
  • Stickers

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.aluminum.org/product-markets/aluminum-cans
  2. ↑ http://www.cooks.com/recipe/k32nk98b/modeling-clay-will-harden.html
  3. ↑ http://www.homeworkshop.com/2010/12/07/recycled-soda-can-garland-diy-ornament-12/
  4. ↑ http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-best-tips-for-gluing-aluminum.htm#didyouknowout
  5. ↑ http://www.ctemag.com/news-videos/articles/aluminum-can-be-hard-drill-despite-its-easy-rep
  6. ↑ https://recordsetter.com/world-record/tallest-soda-can-tower/2371
  7. ↑ http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-Use-Acrylic-Paint-on-Metal-/10000000178571758/g.html
  8. ↑ http://www.funinthemaking.net/2010/09/27/jackolanterns-recycled-paint-cans/
  9. ↑ http://www.knittinghelp.com/free-patterns/categories/cozies
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