Recycled Aluminium Can and a LOVE Photo Holder
Dump those boring old photo frames and decorate your space with this cute LOVE photo holder. Don’t get me wrong I love a pretty frame but sometimes photos are an odd size (coz you cropped it to remove that weirdo in the background doing something silly 😉 ) and finding the right frame that fits is nearly impossible. Or maybe you just want to display your photos in a different way.
The photo holder is super easy to make and, best of all you get to recycle an aluminium can too. Here’s how you can make one too.
What you Need to Make a LOVE Photo Holder
All you need is an empty aluminium can, a solid piece of wood, a craft knife and a sharp pair of scissors to cut the can and the letters. I cheated a little. Since we’re a Sizzix creative team member I decided to use the Alphabet Die Cut Out that we received in our box of goodies. Every few months they send us a whole bunch of freebies that we get to play with. It’s the first time I’ve seen one of these over-sized BIGZ dies and I’m loving it.
You’ll also need a drill, a piece of wire and some screws to attach the letters to the block of wood. You can also glue the letters on if you prefer.
Making The Aluminium LOVE Letters
Start off by removing the top and bottom of the aluminium can with a craft knife. I found the easiest way to do it is to put a damp towel down on a flat surface and wedge the can up against it. The towel stops the can from rolling around when you’re cutting. You just need to make a small initial cut with the craft knife and then you can use a pair of scissors to cut all the way around. Scissors create a smoother edge. Once the top and bottom have been removed, cut down the length of the can and flatten out. You should end up with a decent sized piece of aluminium for your letters. Be sure to wear some gloves, the edges can be sharp.
If you’re using a die cutting machine, place the aluminium sheet right side up over the letters you want before cutting. Unless you want to see the branding on the aluminium can 😉 Aluminium is pretty soft, somewhere between paper and cardboard, so you can cut the letters out by hand too.
You can either use the cut out letters, or you can cut around the “cut-outs” and end up with something like this.
All you need is love, paparararum, all you need is love, love, love is all you need
Creating The LOVE Photo Holder Base
Find a nice chunky piece of wood that’s wide enough to hold all your letters. I used one of the left over pieces from when we made a frame for Mozart. It was a bit rough around the edges so I gave it a quick sand before using a heat gun to make it look a little more weathered.
Mmmm, seems to me we like our Bosch tools 😀 (Pssst that’s an affiliate link to our Amazon shop right there)
Position your LOVE letters and screw or glue them on. Drill a small hole on top of the block of wood and insert a piece of wire that’s been bent into a curly shape.
Add your photo and you’re done.
I’m loving the way the aluminium letters contrast so nicely against the burnt wood.
Not a bad way to recycle an aluminium can, right!!?
That photo of our kids was taken almost 18 years ago and it’s still one of my favorites.
And I think the LOVE photo holder is the perfect way to display it. What do you think?
Pinny Please
Looking for a few more ideas on how to display your photos? We’ve got you covered Disclosure: Clicking on the links below, means we may receive a very small commission from Amazon. But don’t worry it won’t come out of your pocket, and it helps us come up with more unique DIY and craft ideas for you 😉
Until next time, hope you have a beautiful, love filled week.
This is the most clever and chic can upcycle I have ever seen! Pin it into my future DIYs!!!
Thanks so much Christina ?
This is unique and so original thank you for the tutorial on how to work with aluminum. I have never done that so this is super helpful.
So glad you enjoyed it Leanna. Aluminium can are loads of fun to recycle
What a clever Cola can upcycle. I love it so creative.
Thank you Claire ?
This is such a pretty craft! It would make the perfect gift!
Thanks Nailil, ga;d you like it ?
So cool and unique looking. It has lots of personality and great style.
Glad you like it Daria, thanks so much
Really love how you mixed tin with wood! It’s such a creative up-cycling project and that picture is adorably cute!
Thank you Mel ?
So much better than store bought! Love that you creatively recycled a coke can. Especially like how you didn’t lay the letters flat – the ripples add more visual interest. But your adorable kids take center stage – how cute are they!
Awwww my babies are no longer so small but they’re still cute ?
What a fantastic way to recycle cola can. It takes me 2 minute to realize exactly which one is the photo holder, great work.
Thanks so much Merry ?
Michelle, that is so sweet…made even better by the fact that it’s handmade, and I can tell those are your kids. I appreciate the tutorial. I didn’t realize aluminum was so easy to cut and use for projects. Nice to know I can use the heat gun to age wood. Never thought of that even though I’ve used it a million times to strip furniture!
Aluminium cans are really easy to cut and work with and there’s so many things you can do with them too. Hope you have fun playing with the heat gun Florence ?
I always love an upcycling project and this is such a wonderful idea, Michelle. Your photo holder is beautiful and your kiddies are so cute!!!
Did you ever get my package? The tracking number has no delivery date listed. 🙁 I’d be very sad if it got lost.
Noooo, I’m still waiting but our postal services aren’t always the best. I hope it hasn’t gotten lost too. Those brooches are way to precious to disappear and we do have a tracking number so I ‘m sure we’ll find them.
This project is so sweet! I love the letters done with aluminium can and it’s also a good way to recycle a can!
Thank you Nati ?
I love the way this turned out Michelle!! It’s so rustic and cute and very well done!!
Thanks so much Ayana ?
This is a fantastic idea! We are moving and I would love to put a few of these up in our new home.
That’s great Kesha, glad you liked them
What a wonderful gift idea. I am sure your loved ones much truly appreciate their one of a kind hand made presents 🙂
? Thank you Tanvi. We’ll definitely be making some more to give as Christmas gifts
This is incredible and you make it look like even I could make this. I haven’t ever tried anything like this. It’s beautiful.
I’m sure you’ll be able to do it Karla, they are really easy and you can all kinds of cute words too
Wow, the die-cut is really useful in making this photo holder letters from aluminium can. Was it hard cutting it out?
Not at all. I love how beautifully the BigZ Sizzix dies cut. The edges are always super smooth. But a good pair of really sharp scissors work well too.
Your creativity always astounds me this is a lovely idea! It would make a really pleasant gift for someone!
I was thinking the same thing Elizabeth and if I start now I can make quiet a few for Christmas ?
What a fun and a great idea. This is such an awesome creation. I would love to try this at home.
I hope you do get to try it Preet and they’re really easy to make and customize too ?
This is a really good idea! I really like the idea of upcycling with an aluminum can for this project. I also like how it looks against the burnt wood. Well done, Michelle!
Thank you Sam, glad you liked it
Gorgeous!! Photo holders are my favourite and yours is so unique with the aluminium letters!! The photo of your Lovelies is so cute!!
I love them to Katrin and you get such lovely ones now
Wow so creative, sharing this with my cousin, sounds like something he will love doing
Thanks so much Em
What a unique and clever way to display your precious photos! I showed this to my mum and she’s going to give it a go!
That’s great Emily, I’m sure your Mom will enjoy making one for pictures of her grandbabies
Wow! What an amazing DIY idea. I loved the outcome and this would be great to do in spare time for personal touches around the house
Thanks so much Ashley, so glad you liked the idea
Michelle I absolutely agree with you! This is the perfect photo holder for that sweet photo of your babies! How fast they grow and of course you want to hold onto them in any way you can. This is the perfect way of doing so.
You’re so right Mary. Sometime I wish I could package them up and store each moment away safely forever. They grow up so quickly ?
Michelle, the soda can recycle is fantastic. I love how the letters look against the weathered wood too. The photo of your babies is awesome and they’re just so beautiful.
Thanks so much Keri, those aluminium letters turned out great and I’m real happy that I could make something for that lovely photo of the kids. They’re all grown up now