META CRAFTS : Late Adulthood.

1 .Punched Tiny

Punched tin is a traditional Mexican craft, but it was also used by early American settlers for lampshades, cabinet fronts and bed warmers. Make your own punched tin craft by punching holes in a tin or copper sheet using an awl and hammer. Special tin punch tips, patterns and kits are available online and in some craft stores. Try punching a pattern into a tin can to make a simple lantern.

2.Bottle Cap Craftsy

Turn used bottle caps into exciting new crafts instead of throwing them away. Try making earrings, necklaces and charm bracelets by punching a hole into a bottle cap and attaching it to a chain or earring hoop with a jump ring or a safety pin. Attach bottle caps to a board loosely with nails, and mount the board on a handle for a homemade musical instrument. You can even decorate bottle caps as tiny picture frames.

3. Aluminum Ornamentsy

Trace out shapes on aluminum cans and cut them out. Use either the front or back sides to make jewelry, holiday tree ornaments, garden decor, or a mobile. To make it easier, start by cutting of the top and bottom of the cans and cutting down the side to make a flat sheet of aluminum to trace and cut on. Using a nail, punch a hole at the top for hanging.

4. Metal Rain Sticky

You can make an interesting musical instrument out of a threaded metal rod and some washers. Put about a dozen 1/2-inch metal washers on a 1/2-inch all-threaded rod that is about 2 feet long. Use a nut on each end to keep the washers on, and hold the rod straight up to hear the tinkling sound as the washers travel down the rod.Read more: Easy Metal Crafts | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_6737736_easy-metalcrafts.html#ixzz1iJaq7EFk

5. Recycled Aluminum Can OrnamentsBecause aluminum is light and reflective, it's an ideal material for holiday ornaments. Aluminum ornaments sparkle in the Christmas lights, and you can hang them almost anywhere without worrying about whether they're too heavy. In addition to craft scissors and safety gloves, you'll need a nail and a ballpoint pen or dull pencil. (If you have one, you may want to use an embossing tool, but the pen will do the trick.) You'll also need a way of hanging the finished ornament. Ribbon can be beautiful, but a partially unfolded paper clip also works.

To make an ornament, cut the top and bottom off the can, and make a vertical cut all the way down one side. You should be able to flatten out the sides of the can into a single rectangular sheet. You can use this sheet to create almost anything you can imagine. Use the pen or pencil to score an outline into the metal before you cut out a shape. You can use the same technique to emboss details or create fold lines on the shape. You can keep the ornament flat, or bend it into a three-dimensional shape. You can cut strips and weave an airy lattice, or even make them into leaves [source: Little House in the Suburbs]. It's up to you. Use the nail to poke a hole for hanging in the top of the ornament. Once you're done embossing and poking, sand the whole thing to remove sharp spots and get an even finish. Sanding will also get rid of the color from the can's previous life as a beverage container and prep the surface for painting, if you want to paint. Thread your ribbon or paper clip through the nail hole, and you're done. Don't throw away the bottom of the can! It's a beautiful reflective disk. Use the nail to punch a snowflake design into it, smooth out the edges, and turn it into a second ornament.

6. Recycled Aluminum Can JewelryTo turn aluminum cans into necklaces, bracelets, brooches and earrings, you'll need a few supplies: y Jewelry findings, such as pin backs, clasps, wire, jump rings (the rings that attach pendants to chains), pendant chains and earring hooks and backs (available at most craft stores) Needle-nose pliers to attach the findings to the cans and each other A hole-punch tool You may also want to play with eyelets or rivets, for which you'll need a riveter or eyelet setter. To create circular pieces of aluminum or to cut perfectly round holes, you may want to invest in a metal disc cutter, which can double as a hole punch. Aluminum discs can turn into pendants, earrings, charms on a bracelet ... the possibilities are endless. Almost any part of a can can be turned into jewelry. Designs range from the low-budget and funky to the avant-garde. Crafters have linked together pop-tabs into a modified chain, played mischievously with the can's familiar pop graphics and icons, turned the can's natural curve into a cuff bracelet and reshaped the metal into delicate floral earrings [sources: UrbanWoods, FunkyRecycling, D-Licious, Ramsay]. You might want to start with a simple design and work your way up. As you get a feel for the material and the tools, you'll be able to experiment more. Because jewelry comes into contact with clothing and skin, you must be extra careful to finish every edge and remove all sharp spots and snags. One crafter presents a clever alternative: using the manufacturer's design on the aluminum to add color, and mounting the aluminum on a precut metal disc with duller edges [source: The New New].

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If you decorate your jewelry with paint, seal it with a clear lacquer or sealant. Unsealed color can easily rub off onto skin and clothes. Spray lacquer will give you a light matte or glossy finish. Use a sponge brush to apply brush-on lacquer, which provides a thicker (and sometimes more "vintage-y") finish. You may be tempted to sell your work. If you've come up with your own designs, go for it! If you've been closely imitating another artist's designs, though, you may want to read about the ethics of DIY design and copyright infringement [source: Jewelry Making].

7. Recycled Aluminum Can CandleholdersThe bottom of an aluminum can is sturdy, so you can use it to bear the weight of a candle. For each candleholder, you'll need a nail. You'll drive this up through the bottom of the can -- it becomes the spike on which you secure the candle. You'll also need a piece of wood or other secure mount for the candleholder. To make wooden mounts, find a dowel of a circumference that supports a soda can, and cut it crossways into thick disks. The simplest candleholder uses only the bottom of the can. Cut it off right at the point where the can's sides meet the angled bottom rim. Finish the edges and drive the nail in upward. The angled rim becomes the wax catcher. This candleholder is simple and silvery; you can mount it on virtually any material to create a striking candlestick. To make a flower-shaped candleholder, cut off the top half of a can and then make parallel vertical cuts down its sides, all the way around the can. The cuts should run from the top edge to about one-half inch (1 cm) from the bottom. These vertical strips turn into the petals of the flower. Use scissors to round their edges. Carefully peel each petal out and down to open the flower. Finish the edges, add the nail and mount the candleholder on a piece of wood. Use the inverted bottom of a can to create a pedestal holder for small tea light candles. Cut off the bottom so that about one-half inch (1 cm) remains of the sides. Finish the cut edges so that they're even and the bottom, inverted, sits evenly on a flat surface. If you want, decorate the sides. You can combine and mount your aluminum can candleholders in virtually endless ways: y Cut an arc from the side of a much larger tin can. Finish the edges so that it stands as a rainbow-style bridge. Arrange candleholders along it at varying heights. Affix nine candleholders to a piece of reclaimed wood to create an eco-conscious menorah. Cluster flower-style candleholders in the middle of the dinner table as a centerpiece. Instead of flattening out some of your cans, use the natural curve of the aluminum to create ornate decorative curlicues and scrolls. Between the ornaments, the gifts and the candles, you should be ready for just about any holiday that comes your way. Who knew your soda habit could be so useful?

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8. Recycled Coffee Tin Storage ContainersA coffee tin is already a storage container, so recycling it is mostly a question of, cleaning it, deciding what you want to put in it and making sure it's in appropriate shape for that use. For example, if it's going to come into contact with water or dampness -- and most kitchen and workshop containers will, sooner or later -- you might want to coat it, inside and out, with a spray enamel to prevent rusting. Coffee tins can be useful in workshops for containing hazardous materials, such as paint thinner and other solvents. The plastic lid protects against spills and keeps the potentially harmful vapors from escaping. In the kitchen, you can use a recycled coffee tin to recycle another resource: pan drippings. Drippings -the fat left over from cooking meat -- are loaded with flavor, and cooks have been using them for centuries to give savory weight to dishes. But it can be a messy process without a good container. The coffee tin makes it easy. Set a coffee filter over the opening of the tin. While pan drippings are still hot, pour them through the coffee filter into the tin. (The filter removes the large particles of food, which will scorch if cooked later.) Put the lid on the coffee tin and pop it into the freezer so that the grease solidifies. The next time you need a bit of cooking fat, you can easily scoop it out. Coffee tins are, naturally, terrific food storage containers, especially for dry goods. They're lightweight, they stack well and the plastic lids provide a good barrier against pathogens and staleness. If pantry organization is a problem, you could use coffee tins -- painted in different colors and labeled -- to create a bright, modular set of storage bins for baking ingredients. Coffee tins are also a useful way to manage any food that typically comes in an unstackable sack: dry beans, rice, popcorn, bulk cereals.

9. Recycled Tin Can Pen HoldersBefore you spend money on a matching desk set, remember that you might already have one in your pantry. Tin cans are the perfect size to contain pens, pencils, scissors and other office supplies. You could even turn a shallow tuna can into a paper clip dish. Wash the can thoroughly in hot, sudsy water, to get rid of traces of food. Since your hands will come into frequent contact with the pen holder, remove or cover all sharp edges. A sanding wheel attached to a power drill or rotor tool will smooth out rough spots. You can also finish the top edge by folding a piece of ribbon lengthwise over the rim. (You might also want to look for a side-cutting can opener, which doesn't leave a sharp edge.) Before you decorate a pen holder, think about where you plan to place it. Will you be looking down into it? If so, decorate the inside as well as the outside. A bit of contrasting color can be a lovely addition to your desk. Spray enamel is the easiest way to add color to a tin pen holder. Paint markers will also work. If you're interested in something a bit more elaborate, wrap multiple cans in coordinated pieces of wallpaper. (To

find old samples of wallpaper, ask local interior decorators for their discards, or find a Creative Reuse Center.) A small amount of epoxy will make almost anything adhere to metal. If you have a number of different art supplies or hand tools to organize, you can use numerous recycled tin cans to create a supply rack. Decorate the cans in complementary colors -- or color-code them so you can tell at a glance which is which. If you want a wall-mounted rack, attach the cans (with screws or epoxy) to a plain wooden coat rack. You can use the hooks on the coat rack to hang tools such as tongs and scissors, or to keep power cords hung without tangling. Alternatively, if you need work-surface organization, you could affix the tins to a lazy Susan for your workbench or art table. If you put the lazy Susan on casters, you'll always be able to roll your supplies to the place on the table where you're working.

10. Recycled Tin Can LanternsYou probably already have the tools to turn an empty can into a hanging lantern. You'll need a hammer and nails, wire (or a light, strong chain) and wire cutters, pliers and a freezer. You may also want oil-based primer and enamel paint, but that's up to you. To start, fill a clean, empty can with water and place it in the freezer. When the water has frozen solid, remove the can. Use the hammer and nails to punch patterns into the sides of the can. The ice keeps the tin from denting. You can create any pattern you want. If you're skilled with a blowtorch or rotor tool, you can go even further. The more holes you make, the more light your lantern will produce, but the more its structural integrity may be compromised. Sometimes designers do that deliberately. Using tin snips, some crafters make parallel vertical cuts in the sides of a can to create a fluted section. The lantern can then be vertically compressed to create sides that bell out. Use safety gloves when you try this -- the metal will be sharp. Punch holes in the top of the can to attach the wire or chain. Use the pliers to secure the lantern to its hanger. The length of the hanger is up to you, but if the lantern will be outdoors, you may want to keep hangers short to reduce wind hazards. Conversely, if the lantern has a short hanger, you'll need to avoid hanging it from flammable structures. Drive a short nail up through the bottom of the can. You'll use this nail to secure the candle. Push the candle down onto the nail to anchor it. If you want your lanterns to be colorful, as well as a bit more waterproof, paint them first with primer and then with a rustproof outdoor enamel paint. If you plan to paint your lantern, you may want to start by punching holes that are a bit larger -- layers of paint can obscure details. If you're looking for a bigger challenge, try flattening the cans and assembling them in panels.

11. Metal Tapping & Decoupage Craft ProjectDifficulty: AverageParental supervision is recommended

Holiday Linksy y ySummer Crafts Summer Activities Crafts Email Encourage both computer skills and craftsmanship with this metal tapping and decoupage craft. With simple materials and a bit of clip art, kids will be amazed at what they can create.

What you'll need:y y y y y y y y y y y y y yMetal Tapping Kits Thick, soft aluminum, copper or brass sheeting Large craft sticks6" (15cm) tongue depressor type Strong glue to make a frame with sticks Decoupage supplies such as Mod Podge A computer equipped with printer and printing programs Tape Newspapers for tapping Cardboard for tapping Scissors Hammer Cloth or thick gloves, optional Steel wool (to sand decoupage) String

How to make it:1. 2. Using the computer, choose a simple shape (choose more elaborate ones depending on a child's age) that will be tapped on, as well as a border to cut and decoupage onto the craft sticks. Use the sizing and measuring tools available in your word processing program to make the shape 3 1/2" square. Importing images from Print Shop and Picture Wizard into Microsoft Works (available on most computers) works well. Away from the computer, tape the shape onto the middle of a 5" (14 cm) square of metal. Then, tape the shape and the metal to a piece of cardboard (such as the one included in kit or found at the back of a writing tablet). These will be placed onto a thick layer of newspapers. Use the hammer to tap along the shape, leaving equal space between each tap mark. An older child or adult may want to help steady the bottom of the tapping tool for younger children while they hammer. A cloth or thick gloves will prevent injury. The frame will be made with the craft sticks by gluing them together to make a 6" (15 cm) square. The printed borders will be cut short enough so that the four corners can be decorated. Plan first by placing the borders onto the frame, leaving space at each corner for a separate design such as a small rubber stamp, stamp marker, corners from a cut border, another border, some small picture or a hand drawn design. We think it looks best if there is a pattern, such as all of the same borders and corners, same top and bottom, different sides, etc. Once a child has decided on the arrangement of border pieces, it is time to decoupage. Paint the stick with Mod Podge and place the border in the middle of the stick. Do this with all sticks. Decorate the corners with other materials mentioned above. Paint a coat of decoupage over the pictures and frame. Decoupage usually involves several coats of Mod Podge and sanding with special steel wool in between coats. It is up to the instructor and/or the child to decide how many coats are sufficient.

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When the decoupage is done and dry, tape the metal onto the back of the frame with the bumpy side of the design showing through the frame. Tape and glue a bit of string in the middle of the top for hanging the metal tapping. You may want to cover the back of the project with paper for neatness.

12. Recycled metal garden decor craftsFence Arch A fun garden dcor idea that uses recycled metal fences is a squared arch. For this garden craft all you will need is some old metal fences or railings, a shovel, rocks, and some wire. Start by finding a good spot in your garden and placing the railing where you would like it. Mark the spots with the shovel and lay the fence on the ground. Use the wire to attach the three pieces of metal fence together and dig holes about a foot deep to set your fence in the ground. Lift the structure and place it in the holes. Add the rocks and dirt to fill in the hole around the fence, and you can add some bricks to the outside bottom edge to further secure the arch in place. Vine Trellis Another easy garden dcor craft made from recycled metal materials is a vine trellis; this craft is easy because any type of metal object can work. Old grates, fence posts, doors, and other unique and interesting metal items can easily be recycled into a vine trellis. Simply place the metal piece where you would like it and mark the spot with a shovel Dig out the section and bury the bottom of it in the ground. This simple garden dcor craft only requires a recycled metal item of interest and a shovel. Chair Container Another fun and interesting recycled metal craft for your garden requires a chair and a garden pot. The garden pot should be big enough to fit into the seat of the chair. If it is too small you can add some wood to the edges of the seat of the chair to hold the plant inside it. Simply remove the seat of the chair place it in your garden, and it will create height that is perfect for vines and hanging plants. This recycled metal craft is a inexpensive addition to your garden dcor.Using recycled materials for garden dcor is fun and inexpensive; these are the reasons this type of garden dcor has become so popular lately. Try these garden dcor crafts the next time you find a metal item that can be recycled.

13. Bottle Cap Mixed Media NecklaceInstead of throwing away your bottle caps, turn them into a creative bottle cap necklace craft! This Bottle Cap Mixed Media Necklace from Consumer Crafts is a great way for using recycled metals for making jewelry, and the necklace gives your wardrobe a vintage-like vibe for unique recycled jewelry.

Materials:

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Die Cuts With A View Stack Black Currant SSR-520VP Chrome Bottle Caps 100 ct. SSR-519 Mini Chrome Bottle Caps Value Pack SSR-523 Giant Chrome Bottle Caps SSR-129 Cable Chain Necklace Sterling Silver Plated 24 inch 7mm jump rings Mod Podge Dimensional Mage Sharpie marker

Instructions: 1. Lay out design with three different sized bottle caps. Mark on the inside of each bottle cap with a Sharpie marker where you want to join them together. 2. Then on a piece of wood, put a small hole in the side of the bottle cap with a small nail and a little hammer. Join the pieces with 7mm jump rings.

3. Use Mod Podge Dimensional Magic inside the bottle caps. 4. Let it dry over night and attach the whole thing to the chain with the 7mm jump rings.

14. Beaded Glass Votive Candle HolderOld glass bottles are transformed into one-of-a-kind Beaded Glass Votive Candle Holders with this clever recycling project. A striking and inexpensive way of perking up any room.

Materials:

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3 7oz bottles Studio Pro Copper Foil Silver plated wire 6 silver head pins Assorted beads Craft Stick or Fid Flux brush Flux 60/40 Solder Generation Green (g2) Bottle Cutter Soldering Iron Soldering Iron Stand (optional) Needle-nose Pliers Ruler Sharpie or marker Newspapers or craft paper. Vinegar/water solution Soft cloth

Instructions: 1. Cover the work area with craft or newspaper. 2. Measure 3 up from the bottom of the bottle and mark using a Sharpie.

3. Using the bottle cutter, score and break where indicated. 4. Smooth the rough edges as instructed in the bottle cutter manual. 5. Clean the cut edges of the bottle thoroughly with a vinegar/water solution and clean cloth. Foil will not stick properly if your glass is dirty or oily. 6. Start with (1.5ml thick) copper foil; peel back 3- 4 of backing from the foil. Place the foil 1/8 from the edge of the rim. Wrap the entire perimeter with foil and overlap the ends . Snip the foil at the curves to allow the foil to lie flat against the glass.

7. Use a fid (if you dont have a fid, a pencil or craft stick can be substituted) and burnish (rub) the surface of the foil to the edge of the glass. Press firmly, but not hard as too much pressure may cause the foil to tear.

8. Once burnished into place. Peel back another 3- 4 of backing from the foil. Place it along the perimeter of the glass, at the edge of the rim. Wrap the entire perimeter of the glass with foil and overlap the ends . Continue this process for all three glass votives.

9. Tin the copper foil with solder. To do so, apply flux using a flux brush to the copper foil. Turn on your soldering iron and allow to heat. When soldering an object that is round, place it on its side on an old hand towel so that the towel is away from the area being soldered but will keep the object from rolling. 10. Melt a small amount of solder just enough to lightly cover the surface area of the foil. Remember, you are only applying a thin layer of solder to the foil. 11. Continue this process on all votives. Set aside to cool 12. While cooling, string beads onto the head pins.

13. Use needle-nose pliers to create an eye loop at the top. Nip off any extra wire.

14. To make the silver decoration, hold pliers at the end of the wire and bend into a spiral. Do the same on the opposite end of the wire, bending the spiral in the opposite direction. Slip a beaded head pin onto each end.

15. Place the silver spiral on the glass and melt a tiny drop of solder onto the side or end of the coil where it touches the soldering edges of the glass. You may need just a dab of flux. Repeat with the remaining two spirals evenly spacing them around the edge of the glass. Clean thoroughly with soapy sponge and water. 16. Next, insert a scented votive in each and enjoy the sweet glow.

15. Copper Sunflower Garden StakeUnlike your seasonal flowers, this shiny sunflower garden stake will never wilt.

Materials:

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AMACO ArtEmboss Light Copper AMACO WireForm WireRod Aluminum AMACO Fun Wire Clear/Copper (22 Gauge) AMACO Needle Tool AMACO ArtEmboss Tool Set ScottiCraft Ultimate Bond Tape Sheet E6000 Glue Fun Foam Sheet Heat Gun Metal Baking Sheet Scissors Brayer Pliers Pencil

Steps:

1. Enlarge pattern pieces to the desired size, copy onto card stock and cut out. (Pattern below) 2. Trace around pattern pieces onto the Light Copper ArtEmboss using a stylus and cut out. 1 leaf 2 flower centers 9 small petals 9 large petals 3. Draw veins on each of the flower petals and the leaf. Give a soft hammered texture to each by placing the pieces onto a sheet of fun foam and lightly pounding with the eraser end of a pencil. Gently roll over each piece with a brayer to flatten back out.

4. Place one of the flower centers onto the fun foam and make evenly spaced perforations in it using the needle tool. 5. Place the Light Copper pieces onto a metal baking sheet. Heat each of the pieces with a heat gun to create a patina finish. With prolonged heat in one area the copper will turn orange, then rust, then red, then blue, then gold. By moving the heat gun around, you can create some unusual patterns of color. Let the copper cool, then continue with project. 6. Trace two flower center patterns onto the tape sheet and cut out. Remove the white liner and adhere to the wrong side of each copper flower center. Remove the red liner from the plain flower center and apply the large flower petals, making sure they are evenly spaced around the center. Apply the small flower petals in between the large. Press to secure. 7. Remove the red liner from the back of the perforated flower center and secure into place over the petals. 8. Cut a 1" x 21/2" piece of Light Copper ArtEmboss and wrap it around the end of the WireForm WireRod, forming a tube. Remove the tube and squeeze one end flat with pliers. Glue the tube to the back of the flower using E6000 glue. Let glue dry completely. 9. Free form the Aluminum WireForm WireRod (flower stem) into desired shape. Wrap the end of the leaf around the stem where desired. Secure by wrapping a 6" length of Clear/Copper Fun Wire around both the rod and the end of the leaf. 10. Place the flower on the stem by sliding the rod into the tube on the back of the flower.