Recycled Metal Flower

     This metal flower brooch is made from recycled drinks cans. A standard size fizzy drink can will give enough metal to make this brooch.
     This is something I saw a friend make and I thought it was great. It is a hardship having to drink the contents just to get the can, but this is where the family can all help out!
    My colour choice was set by Inkspirational this week, shades of purple and green. Try it on Tuesday have challenged us to 'Show us your metal' and Creative Moments would like to see flowers. I have also used this as my Sunday DT blog over at J&C Creations as they are having a flower making workshop on Wednesday.

     Please be VERY careful when you cut open the aluminium can, wear gardening gloves and use old scissors. Once die cut the edges are not so sharp but please dispose of the scraps carefully too.
    The petals are cut using Tattered Florals Bigz die from Sizzix and the leaves are cut with Tattered Leaves, also Sizzix. I have cut two large petal sets and one thin petal set, plus two leaves. The metal is coloured using Alcohol Inks in Eggplant, Purple Twilight and Pesto. Once coloured the big petal sets and the leaves have been embossed. A detailed embossing folder may cut the metal so I would suggest using a broad pattern to avoid this happening.

    In the centre is a flower shaped brad which goes through all the layers of metal holding them firmly together. It's not easy finding an adhesive that will hold firm so a brad is great to use. Die cut a small petal set in felt and stitch the brooch back to it, then use red line double sided tape to stick the felt flower to the back of your brooch, this also hides the back of the brad and keeps the metal off your clothes.
    If you don't have Alcohol Inks try stamping a design in Stazon and colouring it in with Promarkers.

I would like to enter this brooch in the following challenges:

Inkspirational - Colours..Purple/Green

Try It On Tuesday - Show Us Your Metal

Creative Moments - Flowers