This Instructable shows you a unique looking and easy to make soda can lantern with a tool that is usually used for paper quilling. The tool creates a beautiful ripple effect on the aluminum. The lantern is made from a single half-liter soda can. There is no need to remove the paint from the can because the shiny, unprinted inside of the can is bent outward. The process doesn't require epic amounts of text, so check out the video or pictures.

Supplies

The following items are needed to complete this project:

Half liter soda cans (the ink of the soda cans is not removed)
Quilling Paper Crimper (Affiliate link)
Scissors
Utility Knife
Marker pen
Wire
Pliers
Hot glue gun (Affiliate link)
Scrap wood

With some scrap wood and a hot glue gun we build ourselves a jig. The jig consists of a semicircular containment that can hold exactly one soda can (see picture). When you put the can in, the other half peeks out. A table-shaped base allows you to score the can on the long side with a sharp knife.

Step 1: Cutting

Use a marker to draw marks on the can at one centimeter intervals. Then run the knife along the table-shaped base of your jig and score the soda can starting at each mark and moving to the other end of the can. This is very quick and also makes much nicer cuts than using scissors.

Step 2: Roll the Can

Roll the can between your hands to break the scored lines. If the cuts do not come off, an old credit card can be used to help. Cut off the top with scissors.

Step 3: Bending

Then take each cut strip and bend it to create a sun-like structure. Use a pen to indicate a mark two centimeters from the end of a strip. In a later step we will roll the aluminum strip into a sleeve with pliers.

Step 4: Crimping

For making the ripple effect on the aluminum strips a quilling paper crimper is used. Put the aluminum strips into the gear space, then turn the disc.

Step 5: Fold the Sleeves

With pliers roll the first two centimeters of each aluminum strip into a kind of sleeve.

Step 6: Form the Lantern

Prepare some wire (I use wire for bonsai trees). The wire is threaded into the individual sleeves. When you have threaded all the strips, push the wire into two more sleeves to complete the circle. Then bend the end of the wire at right angles so that it can no longer come loose.

Step 7: Place Candle Inside

Place a tea light in the center and light it. Since it is aluminum the match can be passed through the ribs to light the candles. If you like that project please share a picture of your lantern.