Make a beautiful Mother’s Day gift out of a recycled aluminum can. This preschool holiday craft is simple to do, yet will show Mom (or Grandma) just how much she’s loved! This preschool craft is also great for Father’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and Christmas.
Materials You Will Need
Table of Contents
Aluminum Can
Pictures of Mom and Preschooler
Copy Paper or Cardstock
Craft Glue
Paint Brush
Double-Fold Bias Tape
How to Make the Pencil Cup
Step 1:
Make sure the aluminum can is clean and dry before you start.
Step 2:
Print pictures of Mom and the preschooler on copy paper or cardstock – not photo paper. Be sure the ink has dried completely before continuing.
Step 3:
Cut around the images using fun shapes like circles, triangles, squares, etc. If you have decorative craft scissors, feel free to go wild. You can even tear around the edges for a more rustic look.
Step 4:
Decoupage the images onto the can, letting them overlap as they would in a collage. The easiest way to do this is to use a paintbrush to spread a thin layer of craft glue (Mod Podge works well) over a small portion of the can. Don’t cover too much of the can or you’ll end up with a sticky mess. Just cover an area large enough to accommodate your image. Place the image onto the glue, then brush another thin coat of glue over the image. Follow this procedure until the can is covered with images.
Step 5:
Once the can is dry, glue the bias tape to the rim. This will cover any sharp edges left on the inside and will also give your pencil cup a more finished look. If you’d like to dress it up, even more, try gluing craft jewels (flat on one side), small silk flowers, or lace to the rim as well.
Variations of the Mother’s Day Pencil Cup
This pencil cup can be tailored to any holiday. Use pictures of Dad or Grandpa for Father’s Day, friends and family for other holidays, or simply choose your favorite craft paper to make this pencil cup any time of year.