Decorative Light Switch Cover

This instructable is going to show you how to take an empty drink can (Monster) and make a cool cover for a single switch wall plate. My teenage loves Monster, but this will work with any drink can, but bigger cans are easier.

Recycling at its best.

Please be sure to have all the supplies before beginning

• An Adult (required when cutting aluminum and removing/replacing wall plate.)
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Screwdrivers
• Tape
• A Pen
• Safety Glasses
• A clean drink Can (washed out)

Many cans are tapered at the top. You will want to cut at the taper or the top to leave as much of the material around the image as possible. I found using a flat head screwdriver to push in the can will help get you started. Be careful! The aluminum can be sharp or break off. You shouldn't need gloves but safety glasses are important. It may be hard to cut evenly across the top and bottom. We will clean that up later.

Do the same along the bottom. Try to keep as much material as possible.

Next cut along the back of the can. You want to cut opposite the logo. This will allow us to unfold the can.

Lay the aluminum flat and trim up the edges. I had to dry mine at this point it was wet from being rinsed out.

Tape the rectangular aluminum face up and hold the wall plate over the image in the way you want it to display.

Use a straight edge and pen to draw a line about 1/4th of an inch for the wall plate. Don't worry if the pen didn't write on the can, It will scribe a line that will be visible from the back.

When you flip over the aluminum you will see the scribe lines you drew. Carefully cut along the lines.

Lay the front of the wall plate flat on the blank side of the aluminum. Carefully fold the long edges over the plate so the image on the front is centered and there is a little material folded over each edge. I folded the aluminum with my hand but you may use the ruller or other straight edge as needed.

Next use a pen to mark the screw holes and the switch hole. This will be faintly visible in the front.

Don't fold the top or bottom until later.

Find the rectangle we drew in the middle of the plate. Use a flathead screwdriver to push through the aluminum. Go from center to corner edges which will leave a rectangle open. From the back, fold the material down trimming as needed.

Use a philips screwdriver or a pen to push through the screw holes we marked, they will be faint but visible.

Using the scissors trim the corners of the aluminum so we can fold over the top and bottom. Cut a square of material so the top can fold down over the wall plate but not bunch up. To do this I made a cut from the edge of the material to the wall plate and the top of the material to the wall plate removing a square piece. See picture.

Have an adult check your work. Make sure the wall switch has no exposed wires that could come in contact with the metal. Make sure all metal is trimmed and folded back. Use tape around inside edges if need.

Screw in Wall Plate cover.

You now have the coolest recycled light switch cover.

If you enjoyed this project please let me know. Don't forget to Vote