Christmas Tin Can Artistry 3

Then cut into eighths or even smaller segments if desired. Just cut­ting the corners off every other piece, and pulling one for­ward and pushing the other back will give a very nice three-dimensional effect. For a change the corners may be rolled over a nail with a pair of pliers. This will add distinction to the ornament, as appears in the top right of Drawing 30. To have curls in the center, make short quick cuts, cutting narrow strips into the center but working from the left side to the right. If the strips are cut working from right to left, the curls will all go backward on the rear side, due to
the shape of the scissors.

To vary the ornaments, use two sizes of cans and dif­ferent colors, gold and silver. The snowflake pattern, and the Madonna (Drawing 30), were made this way. The two tins may be held together by making two holes close to­gether and through the center of each. To do this place the tin discs on a block of wood and use a strong nail to drive through and make a hole. Fasten the two together with Christmas tree hooks.

Sequins fastened on the tin with a drop of Duco cement will cover the wire. There are endless possibilities for dec­orating these ornaments. Even pieces of broken Christmas balls retain their luster and may be used to brighten the centers or tips. Many odd pieces of costume jewelry or old beads may be glued or else fastened or held in position with tin curls, in order to add distinction. Patterns may be made with the hammer and nail, making dents, not holes. Different effects are created by hammering from the top side down or the bottom side up. Two rows of such nail dents evenly spaced remove the sometimes flat appearance of an ornament.

The candle holder (Drawing 30, bottom, second from left) was made by cutting three discs. The largest one formed the bottom or base. The spaces between the flat segments were left by pieces cut into curls which serve to hold the discs together. The two smaller discs were cut uniformly all around the edges. The three pieces were then pushed together, one within the other, and appear as a unit. Here again a gold center against the silver will add contrast.

There is no end to the possibilities of these tin creations. One only has to have imagination, ingenuity and the time and patience to make these fascinating, colorful, sparkling ornaments.
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