How to Recycle Metal Bottle Caps with Crafts, Games, and Other Activities

Don't throw your bottle caps away. There are many ways you can recycle them, and have fun doing it. Be creative and try a few of these ideas.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer
• Internet Access
• Printer
• Printer paper
• metal bottle caps

1. 

   With a strong holding glue (E6000), attach round magnets to the underside of bottle caps, and create sturdy magnets. These make thrifty gifts year round. Place in gift bags or inside a recycled altoid or mint tin.

2. Use two groups of different colored bottle caps for checker board pieces. Keep extra on hand in case some get lost.

3. Make bottle cap earrings. For complete directions, copy and paste the following Web address to your computer's address box (or click on the link in resources found below) and enter: http://familycrafts.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=familycrafts&cdn=parenting&tm=7&gps=73_709_1276_809&f=11&tt=14&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.wikihow.com/Make-Bottle-Cap-Earrings.

4. Make a bottle cap choker. For directions, copy and paste the following Web address to your computer's address box (or click on the link found in resources below) and enter: http://www.makingfriends.com/jewelry/bottle_cap_necklace.htm.

5. Make bottle cap photo frames by gluing the bottle cap logo top side down, and gluing letters inside the cap to personalize it. Print different font letters on printer paper or draw your own, cut them out and glue them inside the cap. For a photo of one, copy and paste the following Web address to your computer's address box (or click on the link found in resources below) and enter: http://familycrafts.about.com/od/craftprojectsbytype/ig/Chapter-5--Crafts-from-Trash/Bottle-Cap-Frame.htm or Web address: http://www.loosetooth.com/Art/artpics/bottlecapframe.jpg.

6. Kids can make bottle cap lockets for Valentine's Day. For directions copy and paste the following Web address to your computer's address box (or click on the link in resources below) and enter: http://www.kinderart.com/seasons/locket.shtml

7. Make Valentine's Day bottle cap pins. For directions and photos, copy and paste the following Web address to your computer's address box (or click on the link in resources below) and enter: http://www.freekidscrafts.com/index.php?option=com_events&task=view_detail&agid=258.

8. Kids can make bottle cap ladybug lockets. For a photo and directions, copy and paste the Web address to your computer's address box (or click on the link in resources below) and enter: http://www.parentstalk.com/familyfun/crafts/cr_0030.html.

9. 

   Make a bottle cap key chain. With a small drill bit, drill a hole into the top inside rim of a bottle cap, and attach a key chain with a slip ring. For more information, copy and paste the following Web address to your computer's address box (or click on the link found in resources below) and enter: http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=2022.

10. Make a musical instrument. For instructions and ideas, copy and paste the following Web address to your computer's address box (or click on the links in resources below) and enter: http://home.howstuffworks.com/musical-instruments-for-kids7.htm (bottle cap clinker) or http://www.highlightskids.com/Express/Crafts/Toys/C0497_castanents.asp (castanets)

11. Make a bottle cap fake snake for kids. For directions copy and paste the following Web address to your computer's address box (or click on the link found in resources below) and enter: http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=10795

12. Make bottle cap bracelets, however viewer must register on the Web site to view the pictures that go along with the directions. Copy and paste the following Web address to your computer's address box (or click on link found in resources below) and enter: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?board=15;action=display;threadid=247.

13. Make a bottle cap alphabet for preschoolers. For directions, copy and paste the following Web address to your computer's address box (or click on the link found in resources below) and enter: http://crafts.preschoolrock.com/index.php/crafts/bottle-cap-alphabet-preschool-craft.

14. Make a bottle cap doll. For directions, copy and paste the following Web address to your computer's address box (or click on the link in resources below) and enter: http://www.rrfb.com/pdfs/craft_book.pdf and then scroll down to page 22.

15. Make bottle cap brooches. For directions, copy and paste the following Web address to your computer's address box (or click on the link provided in resources below) and enter: http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/feature/famf117gift/famf117gift7.html.

16. Play Poison Caps game with your kids. For directions on how to make this game, copy and paste the following Web address to your computer's address box (or click on the link found in resources below) and enter: http://familyfun.go.com/games/indoor-outdoor-games/game/famfgam_poison/.

17. Make a bottle cap belt. For directions, copy and paste the following Web address to your computer's address box (or click on the link provided in resources below) and enter: http://www.essortment.com/hobbies/makebeltoutbe_tvdt.htm

18. Make doll house furniture with metal bottle caps. For ideas copy and paste the following Web address to your computer's address box (or click on the link in resources below) and enter: http://family.go.com/entertainment/craft-ff-25201-dollhouse-furniture-t/.

19. Adults can make a mosaic style table. For more information, copy and paste the following Web address to your computer's address box (or click on the link found in resources below) and enter: http://www.layersuponlayers.com/bottle-cap-art-by-dee-henderson/.

20. Make frugal toys, such as painting them with glow in the dark paint, and playing a hide and seek game with them. For Mr. Thrifty's ideas, copy and paste the following Web address to your computer's address box (or click on the link found in resources below) and enter: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf64496315.tip.html

21. Make a wind chime using metal bottle caps. For directions copy and paste the following Web address to your computer's address box (or click on the link found in resources below) and enter: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/windchime.

Tips & Warnings

• Round magnets can be purchased at large retail stores such at Wal-Mart.
• Glue two round magnets together, then glue to the bottle cap, for a super strong magnet.
• Book suggestion: "Wind Chimes and Whirligigs" Kids Can Do It, by Renee Schwarz.
• Always use caution when using glue products or sharp tools.

Resources

• Make Bottle Cap Earrings
• Bottle Cap Frame
• Bottle Cap Choker
• Bottle Cap Christmas Frame/Ornament
• Valentine's Day Bottle Cap Lockets ~ Kids Crafts
• Bottle Cap Ladybug Lockets ~ Kids Craft
• Make a Bottle Cap Keychain
• Bottle Cap Musical Instrument
• Bottle Cap Fake Snake
• Make Bottle Cap Bracelets
• Make Bottle Cap Castanets
• Bottle Cap Alphabet Preschool Craft
• Craft Book ~ Bottle Cap Doll Craft (pdf)
• Bottle Cap Valentine Pins
• Family Fun ~ Bottle cap brooches
• Poison Cap Game with Metal Bottle Caps
• Decorate a frame with bottle caps
• Make a bottle cap belt
• Make doll house furniture
• Mosiac Style Table Art by Dee Henderson
• Frugal Toys ~ see post from Mr. Thrifty
• Create a Unique Wind Chime
• Fun N'Games ~ Wind Chimes
• Bottle Cap Fun ~ Classroom class
• Doll house stove using bottle caps

[turtledove]

on 3/10/2009 A lot of good ideas. I love key chains, so I think I might try this one first.

[ScarlettOHairy]

on 1/23/2009 Really great article chock full of ideas on how to use bottle caps. Thanks! I love this. Favorited and 5*.

[TheEcoMag]

on 12/22/2008 Looks like I got cut off...

Check out this website:
http://recyclingweek.planetark.org/recycling-info/bottle-tops.cfm

Here’s an excerpt:

Steel (Twist) Tops

The easiest way to check if a top is made from steel is to try to pick it up with a magnet. If a magnet sticks, it’s steel.

Steel bottle tops are too small to go straight in the recycling bin; they will fall through the sorting machines. The best way to recycle them is to collect them in an empty steel can and when the can is about half full squeeze the top closed and put the can and tops in the recycling bin. At the recycling station, magnets will pick up the steel can, with the tops inside and drop them in a collection basket ready to be melted down and reused.

[TheEcoMag]

on 12/22/2008 Steel bottle caps are one of the easiest things to recycle. An amazing 70% of each cap can be reused to make more bottle caps or other steel products. I can fit 75 steel bottle caps into one empty steel can (vegetables, baked beans, etc.), then I close the top and lock it by inserting another steel bottle cap between the gap. That one filled steel can is equal to four empty steel cans by weight. That’s a lot of steel being recycled, and it’s much better for our environment than throwing them into the trash which ends up in our landfills.

Check out this website:
http://recyclingweek.planetark.org/recycling-info/bottle-tops.cfm

Here’s an excerpt:

Steel (Twist) Tops

The easiest way to check if a top is made from steel is to try to pick it up with a magnet. If a magnet sticks, it’s steel.

Steel bottle tops are too small to go straight in the recycling bin; they will fall thro

[Amewzing]

on 12/15/2008 Wow, you packed a lot of ideas into one article. I found your article by looking for other recycling articles like mine: http://www.ehow.com/how_4678888_recycle-calendars-crafting.html. Good ideas, thanks!