How to Make Puffy Bottle Cap Jewelry

Take advantage of the unique shape of bottle tops to make unique jewelry.

Bottle caps can be 'upcycled' to make interesting jewelry crafts. The scalloped edge of the bottle cap makes a perfect frame for jewelry. Bottle caps can be collected from friends and family and you can create matching jewelry for yourself or to give bottle cap jewelry as gifts. You can also sell bottle cap jewelry once you are adept at making interesting creations. The bottle cap jewelry gives you a chance to stretch your imagination and create something uniquely beautiful. It also saves the bottle caps from the landfill.

Things You'll Need

• Magazines
• Bottle caps
• Marker
• Scissors
• Craft glue
• Felt
• Lacquer
• Paintbrush
• Hammer
• 1 inch finishing nail
• Pendant clasp
• Earring hooks
• Pliers

Instructions

1. Look through your magazines and find an image you like. If you are making earrings, you will need to find two images that are the same.

2. Place the bottle cap onto the image and use the marker to trace around it. Cut the image out. You must cut inside the marker circle as the inside of the cap is slightly smaller than the outside.

3. Place the bottle cap onto the felt fabric and trace around it. Cut it out smaller than the traced circle so it fits into the bottle top. Use the glue to stick the felt inside the bottle cap. This will make your jewelry puffy.

4. Smear the inside of the bottle cap with glue and stick the picture into the bottle cap. Leave it to dry.

5. Paint over the image with lacquer to preserve it. Leave the lacquer to dry.

6. Make a small hole in the top of the bottle cap. Make the hole in the side of the cap. Hold the nail against the side of the bottle cap and gently tap it with the nail until it makes a neat hole.

7. Thread the pendant clasp through the hole and use the pliers to press the clasp shut if you are making a necklace.

8. Thread the earring hooks through the holes if you are making earrings. Use the pliers to squeeze them shut and secure the hooks onto the bottle tops.

Tips & Warnings

• Instead of using images from magazines, you can find images on the Internet, resize them in a graphics program and print them to stick on the jewelry. Paint over the image with craft resin instead of lacquer. You can fill the inside of the bottle tops with beads, sequins or gems if you prefer. Paste these to the felt before pasting it to the inside of your bottle cap. You can also use a small drill bit and an electric drill to make the hole in the side of the bottle cap.

• Use due caution when making a hole with the hammer and nail. Supervise younger crafters who are attempting to do this or who use the scissors.