Local women Millie Jones and Karen Shroyer have been making garden art from an unexpected item - turning cans into flowers.
Jones came up with the idea from something she saw on Pinterest then decided to make it herself after going to a DIY class with Shroyer.
Materials for making the flowers include three clean soda cans, scissors, a drill, paint brushes, acrylic paint, plant props, -inch No. 32 nuts and bolts, and a 12-ounce aerosol can of clear enamel.
The first step is to drill holes in the bottom of each soda can, then cut the tops off of all the cans and trim the cans evenly at the brim.
Next, cut the first can to 3-4 inches tall, and divide it in half by pinching two corners. Then turn the can to the opposing corners and pinch to divide it into fourths.
After that, cut down to the bottom of the can on the four sides, divide each side in half, and cut again to make eight strips. Divide each strip twice to make 16 strips then a final 32 strips.
Using a straight-edge screwdriver, section out the strips as you would a ribbon for wrapping a gift, and curl all the strips to the inside or part in and part out.
For the second and third cans, divide them in half and pinch the tops, then divide them in half on the opposing sides and pinch the tops again, and cut down four sides on each can to make a petal from each section.
To put the flower together, insert a bolt into the bottom of the third can. Add the second then the first can to the bolt, place a screw on the bolt and tighten.
Finally, paint the bolt and screw, then spray the flower with clean enamel to hold it into place.
Shroyer said she likes to paint the layers with acrylic paint to keep them looking nice. The layers can be painted in different ways to give one general look.
For a pink flower, stipple (mark the surface with numerous small dots and specks) with a light pink acrylic paint in the center and on the tips. Then dot the pink with white or silver paint and stipple the tips with silver. For the second layer, lightly stipple it with white, stipple the ends with pink then light pink, then dot the other end with pink. For the third layer, streak it with pink and light pink without streaking the ends, then dot the ends with pink.
Jones said she has also made a red flower and a purple flower using the same concept.
Shroyer now offers a class on how to make the flowers and has made 583 of them at her home. She even has people who bring her cans for her garden art each week.
"I really enjoy making them; they are really fun," Shroyer said.