About This Project

A 15–30 minutes craft for ages 6–10, using supplies you likely already have — Aluminum (Soda) Cans, Sharpie Markers, and Scissors.

GlueStick supports kids from setup to cleanup. After they choose a project, we guide them through gathering the supplies, making it, and cleaning up when they're done. We'll even help them share it safely with trusted family and friends.

Ad-free and kid-safe library — designed by a mom who wants kids to explore and create independently.

This project is perfect for:
Project Tags
  1. 1

    Find Supplies

    Do you have everything you need?
    Create a free GlueStick account to track supplies and see if you have what you need at a glance. Leave your kids tips about where supplies are stored in your household so they can set up and clean up their creative spaces independently.
    00:00
    A cartoon of Aluminum (Soda) Cans
    Unknown cupboard quantity You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Sharpie Markers
    Unknown cupboard quantity You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Scissors
    Unknown cupboard quantity You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Hot Glue
    Unknown cupboard quantity You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Popsicle Sticks
    Unknown cupboard quantity You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Utility Knives
    Unknown cupboard quantity You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Pens
    Unknown cupboard quantity You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Hot Glue Guns
    Unknown cupboard quantity You have: unknown
  2. 2

    Make Shimmering Soda Can Garden Stakes

    Your creative buddy says:
    "I can't wait to make a project with you!"

    Step 1: Cut open your can

    SHARP! Grown-up required
    With an adult's help, use a utility knife to carefully cut off the top and bottom of a soda can.

    Step 2: Draw your shapes

    SHARP! Grown-up required
    Lay your can flat, then draw shapes on the printed side with a sharpie marker.

    Step 3: Cut out the shapes

    SHARP! Grown-up required
    Using a strong scissors, cut out the shapes

    Step 4: Mark your design

    SHARP! Grown-up required
    Using a pen, poke dots, lines, dashes, and swirls on your shape. Get creative with it! The harder you draw, the more pronounced your design will be. Just be careful to avoid the edges of your design. They might be sharp! We like to draw on the colored side of the can so our final design looks raised and any ink from the pen is hidden, but you can experiment with poking your design on either side.

    Step 5: Glue your designs to the popsicle stick

    SHARP! Grown-up required HOT! Grown-up required
    Have an adult help you glue your finished design to a popsicle stick. We like using hot glue because it dries quickly and will hold up to watering, but e6000 or another strong craft glue will also work.

    Step 6: Display your creation

    Put your plant poke in your favorite potted plant.
  3. 3

    Clean up

    Put things away so your space is tidy for next time.

    Tidy up our space

    Put away our supplies

    Check off each supply when it is put away — and any clean-up tips underneath are done too. You might find a fun surprise!

    • A cartoon of Aluminum (Soda) Cans
      Where they belong:
    • A cartoon of Sharpie Markers
      Where they belong:
    • A cartoon of Hot Glue
      Where they belong:
      • — Don't forget! Let the hot glue gun cool before putting it away.
    • A cartoon of Popsicle Sticks
      Where they belong:
    • A cartoon of Pens
      Where they belong:
    • A cartoon of Scissors
      Where they belong:
    • A cartoon of Utility Knives
      Where they belong:
      • — Don't forget! Close the blade on your utility knife or replace its safety cap.
    • A cartoon of Hot Glue Guns
      Where they belong:

    Update what we have left

    Did we run out of anything while making this project? Update our supply cupboard so that we know exactly what we have for next time.

    This project could unlock 1 creative buddy. Sign in to unlock them.

  4. 4

    Save

    Your creative buddy says:
    "I love how you stuck with your creative ideas!"

    Create a free account to save your digital masterpiece to the Art Gallery.

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