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Little girl talking into the can phone - can you hear me?

Hi, My name is Calli. I keep a blog called Make it Do. I am thrilled to be back at Skip to My Lou Craft Camp.

Since my kids and I love to create together, 30 days of craft inspiration is just the ticket for the long summer days ahead.

Today I’m sharing a project that most of us have made at least once in our life.

It’s the original, “Can you hear me now?”

No, not a cell phone… but a Can Phone.

In our world of high tech gadgets, a can phone is as low tech as it gets. Most kids today have never even heard of one before. It good to know that some thing don’t change, and just like when we were kids, a can phone can still provide hours of fun. What could be better than sitting across the yard on a summer afternoon telling your sister secrets and knock knock jokes?

But first you’ve got to make your phone. I’m not sure which my kids enjoyed more, creating or using their phones. Here’s how:

Supplies needed to make can phones - 2 recycled tin cans, gloss Mod Podge, foam paint brush and decorative paper.

To make can phones you will need to cans or cups and a long string. That’s it. I told you it was low tech.

But since we love to craft at our home, we also spruced our phones up a bit.

Little girl applying Mod Podge to the can sealing the decorative paper that has been applied to the can.

We used only what we had on hand, a little scrapbook paper and some cut out paper butterflies to cover our cans using Mod Podge. My girls LOVE Mod Podge.

The best part about a can phone is you can use whatever fun decorations you have on hand…. stickers, ribbon, or crayons.

My girls kept it simple with just the butterflies and a little rickrack for fun. When my girls had their cans just the way they liked them, we set them aside to dry.

Punch a hole in the bottom of the can using a hammer and awl or nail. The hole must be large enough to put string through.

Once dry, I poked a small hole in the bottom center of each can. You can use a nail or an awl with a hammer. Make sure the hole is small, just barely big enough to put the string through.

Decorated cans with holes punched and string for the phone line.

You’ll need a long string. The type of string isn’t important, just be sure it’s something that doesn’t stretch too much so you can pull it taut. A taut string is the key to this project working.

My kids wanted a long string, so we used about 40 feet. The distance also doesn’t matter so much either, so long as the string is taut. I think you can go as long a 100 feet and have it still work.

Insert a long piece of string through the hole in the can and tie a knot in the string on the inside of the can.

Thread the end of the string through the hole in the can and tie it in a large tight knot. Because my string was nylon, I used a flame to burn the end and keep it from fraying. Repeat for the other can, and your “phone” is done.

Two friends talking on the can phones.

The kids experimented and found it worked only when the string was straight and tight. It didn’t work going around corners and doors in the house. But when it’s straight….

Keep the line between cans taut and have fun.

“It WORKS!” I just heard her! Hold the can to ear and you can hear the person on the other end of the string speak.

“Which Looney Tune character says swear words?” Gee, I don’t know.

Little girl surprised by what she is hearing.

“The ROAD RUNNER!” “Beep beep!”

Oh, to be young again, and telling 3rd grade jokes on a can phone. That is the life.

Happy summer crafting everyone!

Thank you Cindy for inviting me to join the fun here on Skip to My Lou Craft Camp!

Be sure to drop by Make it Do and say hi. I’ll be sharing more simple fun projects and great recipes all summer.


About Cindy Hopper

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Comments

  1. If you run a hand can opener around the open end of each can a few times (at least twice) it will crimp down any sharp edges the can might have. This is a great craft. I remember doing it when I was growing up and when my kids were growing up and I am looking forward to doing it with my grandson one day soon.

  2. This is so awesome and I LOVE the pictures. It would be funny to have a cell phone case that looked like a can. Hahaha!

  3. How CUTE is this!
    Brings back so many memories!
    Just pinned this to my Pinterest board!
    Such a FUN summer project!
    And…how CUTE is that bandana!!!!!!!
    xo

  4. I was absolutely tickled by this craft and post! How adorable is this??!! So nostalgic and sweet. ♥

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