Thursday, February 17, 2011

Project: Bottle Cap Basics


This little instructional is the one that I get asked how to do all the time. Even if you know how to do this already give it a read for some of the fun tips and tricks! ENJOY!


Products you need:

Circle Punch- 1 inch for standard bottlecaps
Located in scrapbook sections. We love Fiskas and Whale Punches!
Glue Stick
Any kind, I prefer Elmer’s purple stick that dries clear
Standard Bottlecaps
Any are fine, uncrimped plain ones are available in many colors online. For colors we recommend professional factory enameled caps. Caps that are spray painted can frequently have flaws, bubble, crack or peel.
Your choice of sealer
We prefer Enviro-Tech Lite or Colores 2 part resin for the superior sealing and glassy look
Flat tipped paint brush
1 inch digital image sheets
Please visit Etsy for loads and gobs of pretty images. Search bottle cap image and you should find anything you are looking for!
Long reach lighter if making a few, butane torch if making a bunch



Starting out

When making caps try to work in an area that is free of dust or other particles. If these get in the sealer it’s hard to get them out, especially if they are in the drying stage.

There are millions of products that can be used for a lot of these steps. We have featured the ones we like to use the most.

  1. Prepare your paper punch embellishments.
We choose the path of least resistance and have our images printed out at our local CVS or Walgreen’s. The paper in the Kodak instant printer is printed to be waterproof so images are far less likely to run when covered with sealer. They run about $.30 for a 4 by 6 page. Not a bad deal when it means you aren’t chewing up your ink cartridge in you personal printer at home. You can use images printed at home, sealed with a clear spray sealer, or with a Xyron machine. To us it’s one more thing to fuss with. Pass.

Take your paper punch and punch out images for caps to your hearts content. 



  1. Embellishing your caps.
Use your glue stick to cover the top flat portion of the cap. A few swirls around will do. Place your punched out circle onto the top of the cap. Press firmly. We use the palm of our hand for a nice even pressure.

3.   Applying sealer.


Mix your resin according to the manufacturer instructions. This is super easy if you use disposable medicine cups and a popsicle stick. Get out your paint brush and brush on evenly on the top. When painting on it seems to produce less bubbles or paint strokes when using it at about a 45 degree, where it’s a little less than nearly flat against, it rather than at a 90 degree angle. Less is more. These resins will run down the sides if you apply to much and once its dry there is no saving it. After you have the top covered if you want you can go around the edge of the imgae for a finished polished look. Use your lighter or butane torch about 5 inches from the caps to de-gas. This will make any fine bubbles in the sealer pop so they don't dimish the look of your finished product.


  1. Drying
Set aside to dry for the listed time on your resin product. Let dry in a child and fingerprint free area for 24 hours. We place ours in the oven. It’s completely closed and dust free and no kids mess with things in there. We really feel like it should get some use too. It’s not like we use it for cooking outside of major holidays and the odd meal here and there.

  1. Add Embellishments
Add any embellishments. We like to use found buttons and flatback glued on with E6000.

  1. Use and create!
For use on clippies or hairbows our favorite method is to buy floor protectors at Wal-Mart in the hardware section. They are felt like disks cut to a 1 inch circle and the depth of a bottlecap. We add some E6000 under the cap, place the stick side of the disk then add more E6000 and glue to our bow or clip.

If you want to use the caps for jewelry punch a hole with a 1/8 inch circle hole punch (scrapbook section or specialty jewelry metal punch) add a jump ring and attach to earrings or necklaces.

Experiments that we loved the look of:

Adding family photos for custom gifts.
Gluing bottlecaps on frames with ribbon accents for boutique looks on the cheap.
Adding to bobby pins and woven headbands.
“Monogrammed” caps for custom bow orders.
Glitter caps! Spray with gloss spray paint, add glitter, spray again to seal, and add buttons.

Did you get to all the way down here?!?!

Well then... all you FABULOUS people deserve a present! Leave your email addy in the comments and we will be happy to email you a free sheet that looks just like the pic below but in high resolution just ready for printing! Free sheet offer expires midnight central time on Feb 24, 2011. SEND YOUR FRIENDS! (we will be emailing these out at the end of the day for the next week so if it doesn't arrive instantly there's no reason for bunched panties. It's free!) 

**FREEBIE OFFER HAS EXPIRED**

53 comments:

  1. where do you get Enviro-Tech Lite or Colores 2 online? great tips princessariellesbows@live.com

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  2. ninaplat@yahoo.com

    Thanks so much for the tutorial. Nina

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  3. Thank you! You are awesome! maggie@sweetappleboutique.com

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  4. info@twonieces.com

    do you really just brush it on? I pour mine on but haven't tried brushing it on.

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  5. Thanks Wendy!!

    princessbammboutique@gmail.com

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  6. Thank you - lanarinadesigns@gmail.com
    It does not seem to hard to do another project to add on my to do craft list
    Bonnie

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  7. Thank You So Much for the instructions! mommy2rylie@ymail.com

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  8. I've never tried a paint brush...I'll have to give that one a whirl.

    twinmum2006@ymail.com

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  9. thanks so much!
    kitty14819@aol.com

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  10. I have always wanted to find some detailed instructions such as these! Thank you so much!

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  11. emmylaw1998@yahoo.com Thank you I picked up some new tips!!

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  12. Thanks for the Info!! takajones@aol dot com

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  13. Thank you wendy. These instructions look easy enough for an oldster to put together. I have some supplies here reasy to try, and I can't wait.
    Pat(peme12345@aol.com)

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  14. Thank you very much! Sreg23@yahoo.com

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  15. Thank you Wendy!
    manyblessing@gmail.com

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  16. Love the images

    skyler05@comcast.net

    Thank you! : )

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  17. thank you just tried a few days a go and botched them gonna give it another try with your tips.. thanks a bunch..
    cindy

    alyssamg05@yahoo.com

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  18. Your always on top of your game Wendy! Thanks
    Minidivacreations@gmail.com

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  19. Thanks for the tutorial!

    loribalasa@comcast.net

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  20. I will have to try the new tricks! Thanks

    stitchnlove@gmail.com

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  21. Aww you are awesome. Love the new blog.

    stephie_email2009@yahoo.com

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  22. Super cute images Wendy girl!

    Hugs ~ Shannon O. ~
    sassykinsboutique@cox.net

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  23. Do you still get a dome glass finish when you brush it on? Great tutorial, with so much detail and info. Thanks

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  24. Oh how awesome. I am so glad I read the whole thing. Thank you for the free offer. If I figure out how to make the 1" images. I'd love to share back. Thank you.
    laura.momintraining3@gmail.com

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  25. For the Envirotech or Colores Resins they are available online. If you google either you should come up with several stores that have it. Envirotech is also available at many major craft stores like Micheals or Hobby Lobby.

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  26. When brushing it on I would suggest using cheapo art brushes from the kids craft section. The liquid is so fluid it will not leave any marks in the resin when it dries. I don't pour because it is so fluid mine run off the edges. It will still be just as glassy when applied with a brush. I do add about one drop of the resin off the brush to the top of the cap after brushing on because i like a really full dome covering. Brushing it on thin will still seal your image.

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  27. Thanks Wendy!!!

    Lisaandkids3@gmail.com

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  28. Always enabling!!
    bmhk04@yahoo.com
    ~Amanda

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  29. Awesome tut!!
    froggy7973@hotmail.com

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  30. I've always brushed my resin on too, but you're the first person I have seen that agrees with that. Cute images. Looking forward to using them! Thanks!! Karoline.SewCuteBoutique@gmail.com.

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  31. Thanks so much for the free images Wendy, please email to jessmdls5@yahoo.com
    You're the best! Jessica :)

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  32. Thanks so much Wendy! Jeanne jeannebree@gmail.com

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  33. Thank you for sharing! :)

    cashmonygirl16@yahoo.com

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  34. Thanks for the great tips! keishahopping@yahoo.com

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  35. Thank you. You're awesome. allabout57@yahoo.com

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  36. Thankyou for sharing some great tips, Wendy! : ))

    gnamare70@gmail.com

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  37. Thanks for the tutorial and I'd love the images, darlingricki74@hotmail.com !

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  38. Thank you. It's nice to have all the info I need in one place to refer back to!!

    taraclegg@ymail.com

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  39. THANKS!!! I have one question: I tried using my scrapbooking 1/8" hole punch and all it did was bend. What did I do wrong? Another question how many of the chair leg pads do you use when you put them on hairbow? And do you ever put magnets on them? Please share. And yes I would love the freebies: melissawilds@yahoo.com

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  40. Really enjoyed your tut! Keep them coming! Great tips AND entertaining!
    gb2345@Hotmail.com

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  41. Melissa, when i used the 1/8 punch i had it was like new so it was super sharp. Even then it was hard and I had to really push them together very hard to get it to punch. I did about a dozen and then went and bought a metal jewelry punch. Some people also use a drill or dremmel to punch holes but I am pretty clumsy and figured power tools were a bad idea for me. The felt pads i can get by with one if I am using them on a bow with a center knot. If you need it to be flat then I think you need to use 2 of those. I don't normally put magnets on regular caps. I buy flattened caps for that type of project.

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  42. Wendy, I'm an ET Lite girl, but may want to try Colores. Have you tried it? If so, what's your opinion?

    glitzieritzieboutique@gmail.com

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  43. I only use Colores because it seems to work better in humidity. Since we live in the equivilant of the Amazon ET lite and I were not getting along.

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  44. ahhh okay :) I'll put it on my "wish list." LOL

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