Soda drinkers and beer quaffers, rejoice! Bottle caps have caught up, design-wise, with the often intricately illustrated and graphically sophisticated art that appears on the actual bottles. In fact, they make a fun, visually interesting and easy-to-collect craft supply that’s appropriate for myriad projects, from easy to those that are more complicated.
Their versatility is key to their appeal, and bottle caps can be collected in droves without taking up too much space. They can remain unadulterated and provide a fun, artfully arranged mélange of hues and words on any surface they cover, or for a more uniform look, a collection of a single type of caps brings its own appeal. They can also be spray painted for a more visually unified effect. Whatever pre-project treatment they receive, bottle caps are tireless arts and crafts workhorses, and the energy that allows them to invigorate the surfaces they cover never flags.
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Independent state
A pre-cut piece of wood makes an effective backdrop for a folksy bottle top project that reflects the regional spirit and will add life to a casual space, from family room to front porch. A lightly drawn outline of one’s home state will create a template on which to place the bottle caps. Hot glue them on, working from the outside in. Use a variety of bottle caps or just one kind that reflects a locally made product.
A pre-cut piece of wood makes an effective backdrop for a folksy bottle top project that reflects the regional spirit and will add life to a casual space, from family room to front porch. A lightly drawn outline of one’s home state will create a template on which to place the bottle caps. Hot glue them on, working from the outside in. Use a variety of bottle caps or just one kind that reflects a locally made product.
Eclectic wall art
Create some (soda) pop art by purchasing a shadow box. Remove the back and cover it with fabric or paint. Hot glue bottle caps to create a heart, face or another recognizable image, or place them randomly in the shadow box for a more abstract feel.
Create some (soda) pop art by purchasing a shadow box. Remove the back and cover it with fabric or paint. Hot glue bottle caps to create a heart, face or another recognizable image, or place them randomly in the shadow box for a more abstract feel.
Spirited tabletop
If hundreds of bottle tops have been saved (hoarded?), pull out an old end table that’s seen better days by covering it with bottle caps. Nicks, scratches and marks left by wet glasses will disappear and the table will have new – and funky – life. Create the bottle cap design prototype, and glue caps to the table with strong epoxy, such as Super Glue. When drying is complete, pour resin over the top, taking care to protect the rest of the table. Make sure the resin is applied evenly, let it set for half a day and enjoy the new conversation piece.
If hundreds of bottle tops have been saved (hoarded?), pull out an old end table that’s seen better days by covering it with bottle caps. Nicks, scratches and marks left by wet glasses will disappear and the table will have new – and funky – life. Create the bottle cap design prototype, and glue caps to the table with strong epoxy, such as Super Glue. When drying is complete, pour resin over the top, taking care to protect the rest of the table. Make sure the resin is applied evenly, let it set for half a day and enjoy the new conversation piece.
DIY Everywhere
Jewelry keeper
Nothing could be simpler but more organizationally gratifying than this project. Organize earrings or beading supplies by gluing rows of bottle caps to a cardboard base of any size. Once the glue is dry, spray paint them in whatever color appeals. These pretty up a vanity tray or bathroom shelf and keep jewelry chaos under control.
Nothing could be simpler but more organizationally gratifying than this project. Organize earrings or beading supplies by gluing rows of bottle caps to a cardboard base of any size. Once the glue is dry, spray paint them in whatever color appeals. These pretty up a vanity tray or bathroom shelf and keep jewelry chaos under control.
Good time wind chime
This project is as varied as the potential materials chosen. The top base of the wind chime can be anything from a large can to a colander, with a series of widely-spaced holes punched along the bottom edge. Then punch a hole in the top and bottom edge of each bottle cap. (An awl works well for this.) String together caps by bending jump rings to connect them. Make the wind chimes’ vertical lengths different for added visual interest and richer sound.
This project is as varied as the potential materials chosen. The top base of the wind chime can be anything from a large can to a colander, with a series of widely-spaced holes punched along the bottom edge. Then punch a hole in the top and bottom edge of each bottle cap. (An awl works well for this.) String together caps by bending jump rings to connect them. Make the wind chimes’ vertical lengths different for added visual interest and richer sound.
DIY Everywhere
Cute confection
These lovely faux mini-macaron cookies can be hung or strung on a Christmas tree or placed in a small bowl to add a French flair to a tabletop. Simply glue a pair of bottle caps together (toothed sides touching, smooth sides facing out) and spray paint them a favorite pastel color. Hot glue some sequins or small beads in the same color around the center for the “filling.” Trés mignonne!
These lovely faux mini-macaron cookies can be hung or strung on a Christmas tree or placed in a small bowl to add a French flair to a tabletop. Simply glue a pair of bottle caps together (toothed sides touching, smooth sides facing out) and spray paint them a favorite pastel color. Hot glue some sequins or small beads in the same color around the center for the “filling.” Trés mignonne!
One-of-a-kind keychain
Bottle caps, when flattened, open up a whole new world of project possibilities. For this quick craft, simply buy a budget-friendly plain keychain – the cheapest and plainest are often found at big box home stores. Hammer the cap flat, punch a single hole in it and decorate using a multitude of materials: spray paint, photos, magazine images or beads. For photos, use something to seal the image to the cap, such as Mod Podge. These are ideal for stocking stuffers or a gift to one’s self that’s perfectly personalized.
Bottle caps, when flattened, open up a whole new world of project possibilities. For this quick craft, simply buy a budget-friendly plain keychain – the cheapest and plainest are often found at big box home stores. Hammer the cap flat, punch a single hole in it and decorate using a multitude of materials: spray paint, photos, magazine images or beads. For photos, use something to seal the image to the cap, such as Mod Podge. These are ideal for stocking stuffers or a gift to one’s self that’s perfectly personalized.
Fun and games
Create a to-go checkers game to pull out when the kids are fighting in the car or while waiting with them at the doctor’s office. Cut a square of any color felt, draw a checkerboard pattern on it with a marker and gather 12 of one type of cap and 12 of another to delineate players. Grab a piece of raffia or ribbon and a piece of tulle or burlap. Roll up the felt checkerboard and checkers, and tie up the game for travel.
Create a to-go checkers game to pull out when the kids are fighting in the car or while waiting with them at the doctor’s office. Cut a square of any color felt, draw a checkerboard pattern on it with a marker and gather 12 of one type of cap and 12 of another to delineate players. Grab a piece of raffia or ribbon and a piece of tulle or burlap. Roll up the felt checkerboard and checkers, and tie up the game for travel.
Unique earrings
Round up a pair of colorful matching bottle caps. Hammer a small hole on the top of each one with an awl, and add earring wire and earring backs. Add optional sparkle with some beads above the caps, strung on the wire pieces. These baubles will get noticed for sure. For a quirkier look, use a few different bottle caps.
Round up a pair of colorful matching bottle caps. Hammer a small hole on the top of each one with an awl, and add earring wire and earring backs. Add optional sparkle with some beads above the caps, strung on the wire pieces. These baubles will get noticed for sure. For a quirkier look, use a few different bottle caps.
Beery Christmas
For the beer connoisseur, craft a bottle cap wreath: Plenty of ale bottles are topped with green, red, and gold tops. Collect those, buy a Styrofoam wreath base, and go to town with the hot glue gun. Any hardcore fan of suds will appreciate this handcrafted door décor that can grace a family room or man cave.
For the beer connoisseur, craft a bottle cap wreath: Plenty of ale bottles are topped with green, red, and gold tops. Collect those, buy a Styrofoam wreath base, and go to town with the hot glue gun. Any hardcore fan of suds will appreciate this handcrafted door décor that can grace a family room or man cave.
Frame of reference
Bottle caps infuse whatever they cover with a color and a certain playfulness. By covering a picture frame or a wall mirror with them, a space gets an injection of personality – stat. It’s up to the designer whether to leave the caps as is or make a more elegant piece by adding a coat of paint so the texture of the caps is the main visual event.
Bottle caps infuse whatever they cover with a color and a certain playfulness. By covering a picture frame or a wall mirror with them, a space gets an injection of personality – stat. It’s up to the designer whether to leave the caps as is or make a more elegant piece by adding a coat of paint so the texture of the caps is the main visual event.
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What’s cooking?
To keep kitchen clutter under control, fashion a utensil holder for the countertop from a large, plain flowerpot or thick glass vase. Hot glue a vibrant mix of brightly colored bottle caps to the outside of the vessel. The colors of the caps are bound to pick up on others in the kitchen color scheme and add an energetic feel to a cooking space.
To keep kitchen clutter under control, fashion a utensil holder for the countertop from a large, plain flowerpot or thick glass vase. Hot glue a vibrant mix of brightly colored bottle caps to the outside of the vessel. The colors of the caps are bound to pick up on others in the kitchen color scheme and add an energetic feel to a cooking space.