Beer can wall

Building a sculpture out of beer cans or bottles is almost a compulsory element of student life, or just having sacks and sacks of empty beer cans around the place is, anyway. But even the most hardcore undergraduate drinkers will have to admit that, when it comes to can art, one ex-soldier has got them licked.

Philip Muspratt, 54, has built a beer garden at his home. Not only does he have an eleven metre beer bottle wall, he’s also created a beer bottle and lager can-lined fish pond, and a beer can caravan stand. Now he’s constructing a Fosters can lining to his porch and planning to build a Carling can wall in his front garden. 'It only took me about six months to do the wall, and the bottles are neck to neck so it's double-glazed,' he said. After he was forced retire from Army service through disability he became bored and took to building his sculptures.

If that all seems a bit excessive, you can still have a beer can garden feature of your own.

Find a beer can you like the design (and taste) of and empty the contents in the traditional manner. Then using a sharp hole punch - or a strong needle or pin that you can grip comfortably - gently prick out the image of the logo and graphics with evenly spaced dots – this takes about an hour, lovely for a sunny afternoon doing nothing!

Now punch a couple of larger holes on opposite sides near the top rim for a wire handle to be inserted. You might also consider cutting out a door on one side so you can get the candle in and out. Cut out the top of the can with a sharp pair of snips and insert a wire handle. Drop a tea light candle into the can and hang it in a safe place.

Beer can photograph by Green colander, used under a creative commons attribution licence

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