Before tossing aluminum foil used to keep the dinner rolls warm or to wrap a pan of brownies, give it one more use as a craft material. Challenge kids to use objects at hand to create a shiny ornament or sculpture.
Recycling Aluminum Foil for Craft Projects
Avoid using foil used to wrap meat, seafood, or chicken – you won’t be able to clean off any bacteria clinging to the foil. Also, it’s too much bother to try to clean off sticky messes like cake frosting. Aluminum foil that was used to cover food that didn’t stick to the foil is perfect for recycling as a craft project.
Materials for an Aluminum Foil Art Projects
Along with aluminum foil, you will also need different supplies that can act as your base, or support, for sculptures that will stand upright.
Gather objects like an empty egg carton, craft sticks, scrap paper, cardboard, chenille stems, yarn, beads, paper plates, etc. that you can cover with aluminum foil. If it’s available, you might also need white glue or masking tape so you can attach objects that you will later cover in foil.
If you are at a barbeque or at dinner over the grandparents, you will need to use your creativity in forming your sculpture with the materials available. Asking to make a craft out of the foil covering the dinner rolls is one thing, demanding many craft supplies could put an end to the project.
Creating an Aluminum Foil Ornament
First, you’ll need to decide what you are making. If you are making an outline, such as a heart shape or a spiral, you don’t need to worry about creating a base. Construct shapes that don’t have a lot of detail. Roll the foil into a twisted cylinder and then mold the foil to follow the outline of the shape you want to create.
Add a loop of yarn to the shape so you can hang your ornament.
Creating Aluminum Foil Sculptures
Instead of just making an outline, you can manipulate the foil into a solid shape. If the finished product will lie flat on a table, you might not need to create a base. Just fold the foil into the desired shape.
If you want your sculpture to stand or sit on its own, you will need to make a base that you will then cover in foil. You may need to use whatever materials are handy, particularly if the adults around you are busy preparing or cleaning up after a meal. Look to plastic forks and spoons, along with paper napkins and plates, as potential support material.
If tape is available, you can stick the pieces together before covering it in foil. You may need to tear the foil so it is easier to form around your base. Before you can recycle your sculpture, you will need to separate the recyclable foil from the other items.
You can give aluminum foil that was used to wrap food one more use before it is recycled by creating an ornament or a sculpture that lies, sits, or stands.
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