Recycled soda can spinner with duct tape

I love creating with recycled materials and soda cans are a great material to work with.  It cuts easily and has limitless uses in crafting!  I made this little spinner with patriotic duct tape for the fourth of July, but you can change the color on the blades to solid and a different color for the center and make all sorts of flower spinners.

You will need:

Empty soda can

Wine cork

Large pushpin

Wooden barbecue skewer or small dowel

Awl or drill with small bit

Duct tape in desired color or colors

Scissors

Needle nosed pliers

Ruler

Compass and pencil

Plastic mat (optional but helpful when cutting duct tape

X-acto or craft knife

1.     Use the X-acto or craft knife to cut the top of the soda can completely off.  (You can use pointed scissors for this step but the X-acto makes a smoother cut with less sharp edges)

2.     Measure two strips of duct tape 8 ½” long.  Begin at the cut edge of the can and apply one strip of duct tape around.  Repeat with the second strip to the bottom thereby covering the can.

3.     Using the scissors cut down the length of the can to the bottom edge.  Measure one inch from the cut piece and cut again.  Continue making approximately 1 -inch strips down the can.  You will end up with 7 strips.

4.     Use the needle nosed pliers to help bend the strips out and down like spokes.  (See photo)

5.     Meanwhile use the compass to mark and cut a 1 ½” diameter circle from duct tape. Attach to the center bowl bottom of can (Which will be the front of the spinner) Use an awl or drill with a small bit to drill a hole in the center.

6.     Trim each spoke ends into a curved petal edge.

7.     To make the spinner spin you need to bend each spoke base at an angle towards the center and pull the blade forward.  Continue around in the same direction, bending each spoke at the base. (See photo)

8.     Drill a hole in the wine cork about ¼” from the edge and insert the skewer or dowel.  Using a large pushpin inset through the hole in the center of the spinner and through the end of the wine cork. This will allow the can to spin freely.

front side

Back side

Note:  Always use care when working with recycled soda cans as the edges can be somewhat sharp.  You can also use a nail file to get rid of small sharp edges.