I have seen your poor post out here for a while and thought I would give you my two cents, lol....I have never done much with soda cans but what little I have done, I can tell you that the aluminum does not take paint well unless you prime with something like Zinsser or Kilz.....the paint will scrape right off the slick surface otherwise... I would really be interested to know what you have found to do with these cans because I have a ton with my sons in the house, lol.... I tried doing the cut out flowers talked about on GW forums but I like keeping my hands blood free , lol.....good luck to you