Mia Bella Passions

It's time to think Christmas!
(well for some it is - LOL)

So I thought I would create a new tin can wreath.

Last years tin can Christmas wreath was the most imperfect creation EVER....but you all still LOVED it.
It was UNBELIEVABLE the said DISASTER Christmas Wreath went VIRAL!!
But it did!

Find out all about that here:

http://miabellapassion.blogspot.co.nz/2014/11/diy-tin-can-christmas-wreath.html

I have been thinking for many, many months about a new design...
one that might actually be a round shape not an oval!

Meet the 2015 tin can wreath design...

To create the 'Beachy Tin Can Christmas Wreath':

You will need 9 tin cans.

Shanti-Rose decided she would help with can selection from the basket!
Leave cans as is or paint them with spray paint.

I wanted mine rustic looking, so have left them as is.

The cans are starting to develop a nice little rusty patina and I like that.

Using an old screwdriver, punch a hole in the end of each tin.

Thread rope through each hole and create a circle of tins.
I used rope not wire for the beachy look.

Now this is where I got into a whole lot of trouble last year, as try as I might, those cans created an oval, and no way were they staying in a circle.
Glue gun glue just wasn't strong enough for the weight of the cans.

Nails are secret weapon number 1...

Pop a thin nail through the cans where they connected as shown.

Then put a drop of Superglue (secret weapon number 2) on each nail head so it drips through the hole.

To make it even stronger, I dolloped a little more 'Glues anything' glue where each can connected. (Weldbond is the best glue EVER and is secret weapon number 3!)

Then I left it for 24 hours to dry.

I used small pieces of driftwood and pumice from my 'beachy bits' collection.

These were glued on using the glue's anything glue,

and once more left 24 hours to dry.

I decided it needed a focal point so added a dried starfish using a gluegun.

Finally the rope ends were looped and bound with thin wire to make the hanger.

And the end result is this very cool rustic Beachy Tin Can Christmas Wreath.
I think it will look even better once the cans get more of a rustic, rusty patina!

The Beachy Tin Can Christmas Wreath is PERFECT for my near the beach home!