Afterlife of a formula can... (vol. 4)

I'm celebrating my child's first birthday and switch from formula to whole milk with a ceremonial formula can...

10 ways to reuse a formula can

#4 Birthday Party Centerpiece

Gather your materials:

clean can, dowel rods, patterned paper, colored cardstock, glue, ribbon, photos, acrylic paint, sponge brush

Remove and trace paper label to create new wrapper

Decorate paper wrapper with photos of child throughout the year.

(I used photoshop elements and digital papers to create mine... but you could easily do the same thing with regular scrapbook paper, photos, and stickers)

Spread or spray adhesive evenly over the back of the wrapper and attach to can.

Cut 'X' slits in the plastic lid to place dowel rods in.

Paint the dowel rods and can lid green with acrylic paint and a sponge brush.

Cut out flower shapes out of colored cardstock. You will need a front and back for each one. (Any asymmetrical shape will need a mirror image for the back)

Cut photos of child in circle shapes to create the flower center.

Spread glue over the back of the flower, place dowel in position and press the back flower down evenly. For different heights of flowers without sawing the dowels-- just cover more or less of the dowel with the cardstock flower.

Spread glue over the back of the leaf. Attach the back leaf shape part of the way and press the rest together on the dowel. Use the stem to wrap around the dowel for support.

After they are completely dry... place the dowels into position through the can lid. You may need something inside the can to hold them in place. I ended up using macaroni noodles... because I didn't have any styrofoam.

For a boy birthday, create different shapes on the dowel rods. Try, an airplane and clouds, cars on a racetrack, frog pond with lily pads and cat tails, mickey mouse or other favorite character heads printed out from the internet.