BOTTLECAPS - How to flatten bottle caps into scrapbooking embellishments
Ranked #533 in DIY, #9,167 overall
Flattened bottlecaps for scrapbook / altered art embellishments
This tutorial will show you step by step, two different and simple ways to flatten bulky bottle caps into nice, creative, thin embellishments for your scrapbooks, mixed media, altered art or even into jewelry, such as personalized photo pendants!
How to flatten bottle caps into embellishments by using a Sizzix machine and converter plate or by using a basic household hammer.
Favorite It!
Join my fan club!
2 different flattening methods...
The easier of the 2 ways shown here today will be the use of a Sizzix machine & converter plate. Simply lay up to 6 caps in two rows on the Sizzix converter plate with the flat side up and firmly press the Sizzix handle down. You will end up with nice flat bottlecaps without having to exert any real effort or energy.If using the colored bottlecaps this method will most likely save on any scratches or paint flakes.
For those of you without a Sizzix machine or just looking for a way to release some tension :o) ...follow this easy step by step photographed guide and create some equally nice flattened bottle cap embellishments.
Step #1. Supplies
To manually hammer bottlecaps flat, you will need:- metal bottlecaps
- a hammer or mallet
- a rubber mat
Step #2. Removing the glue
Now we have to remove the glue used to seal the cap to the bottle. This needs to be removed if placing images or embellishments on the INSIDE. Some crafters choose not to flatten the caps but rather to leave them large and place the image or decoration on the FLAT part of the OUTSIDE of the cap. 
There are 2 different ways to remove the glue and both involve HEAT. You can use a crafters heat gun or a household candle.Both methods will require a pair of needle nose pliers to hold the cap because as you heat it to melt the glue it will become too hot to hold.
I have tried both methods. I prefer the candle as it leaves a dirty, smoky burnt look to the metal, aging it naturally.
Warm the glue for a few seconds (approx 8) and then start to pick at it with either a Popsicle stick or large needle...starting at the edge and moving towards the center to peel off. Hammering them flat
Place rubber mat over bottlecap
Step #3. Hammering them flat
Next, place the bottlecap FLAT SIDE DOWN onto a hard flat surface like a work table or concrete floor.Lay rubber mat OVER bottlecap(s) ...you can do several at a time once you get the hang of it.
...and start to hammer edges...they will naturally curve over creating a thinner embellishment.
Step #4. Decorating Bottlecap
Now you are ready to embellish the center with the image of your choice.Here's a great gift idea!...drill a hole into your cap, add a jump ring and family photo and create a wonderful gift for mom or grandma!
Bottlecap digital collage sheets are an easy way to quickly get your hands on several images that have already been measured and fit into/onto caps perfectly!
Simply cut out or punch out with a 1" paper punch the desired image and glue it into place! Your embellishment is complete!
At GreatMusings we have hundreds of digital collage sheets and bottlecap ones too!
Easy peasy & they look great!
Need bottlecaps?...check these out & start creating today!
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Don't want to use a hammer?...pick up a Sizzix machine....
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byBottlecap Images...
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byYou'll need a heat gun to remove that glue...
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byGreat books on Scrapbooking!
...preserve those memories in style!
Encyclopedia of Scrapbooking (Leisure Arts #15941) (Creating Keepsakes)
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 12/10/2009) 
52 More Scrapbooking Challenges (Leisure Arts #4830) (Creating Keepsakes)
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 12/10/2009)
Easy Scrapbooking Crop-a-Day: 2010 Day-to-Day Calendar
Amazon Price: $13.49 (as of 12/10/2009)
Scrapbooking Made Easy (Leisure Arts #15946) (Simple Scrapbooks)
Amazon Price: $7.58 (as of 12/10/2009)
Scrapbooking for Dummies
Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 12/10/2009)
Who's talkin about bottlecaps on Twitter?
-
- magtastic
- @boogieburger chicklets, bottlecaps, gobstoppers! candy buttons, nerds,
-
- HoezCallMeJohn
- Free: Tiers of sprite bottlecaps http://listia.com/176w
-
- shutupjemma
- And if you're getting all of your friends candy like I know most are, I like Bottlecaps and Sour Patch Kids. :D
-
- jbonasera
- Poor, even by grifter standards. He was using 3 bottlecaps and what appeared to be a crumb of cake as his setup. Un/fortunately, I carry $0.
-
- editor_b
- Xy is in desperate need of metal bottlecaps or small jar lids for a classroom project Monday. I threw out our collection when we moved.
Have you joined $quidoo yet? Want to earn money while writing about $omething you know? Click HERE and $tart earning today!
Bottlecap Stuff on CafePress
On Twitter? Follow me...
- alteredkat
- aka alteredkat
- 2,949 followers
- 2,946 following
-
- Got my 1st Christmas card of 2009 in the mail today! :o)
-
- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29040618 vintage ephemera ( canceled stamps postage ) great for altered art embellishments
-
- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36493926 sold & relisted lot of 6 silver heart charms $3 #Etsy great for jewelry & earrings
-
- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36487513 sold & relisted #Etsy Scrabble tile earrings $5 great gift!
-
- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36481316 lowercase alphabet wood mounted rubber stamp set...cute hearts & flowers too. $5
Creative Supplies on Etsy...
You need to select some items to show.
My art on quality CafePress products...great gifts!
HOPE Note Cards (Pk of 10)
Send someone the message of HOPE with these afordable postcards
Price: 11.95
HOPE Postcards (Package of 8)
Send someone the message of HOPE with these afordable postcards
Price: 7.95
Large Framed HOPE Print
Give someone the message of HOPE with this beautiful print of my original collage.
Price: 39.95
Your chance to tell me what you think...
-
Reply
- GoGreenBeans GoGreenBeans Nov 21, 2009 @ 11:10 am
- What a great way to get some aggression out (hammer!) and turn it into something beautiful! Love it!
-
Reply
- spirituality spirituality Nov 18, 2009 @ 10:35 am
- Great lens, blessed by a squidangel :)
-
Reply
- nightcats nightcats Nov 2, 2009 @ 11:53 am
- A truly great lens. I'm recommending you on one of my crafting sites. Thanks so much.,
-
Reply
- ChapelHillFiddler ChapelHillFiddler Sep 2, 2009 @ 7:53 am
- Well that's interesting, I never heard of this before. And there's a machine to flatten bottlecaps? Amazing. The folks that make giant puppets use flattened bottlecaps as washers when they drill through the paper mache into support struts, so they won't tear out. Thanks for this!
-
Reply
- BevsPaper BevsPaper Aug 9, 2009 @ 7:58 pm
- What a cool lens! Never heard of this use before but I like it!
- Load More
More about this crafter:
Lensmaster alteredkat has been a member since January 23 2008, has rated 1,071 lenses, favorited 192, and has created 43 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "How to make a Scrabble Tile Pendant". See all my lenses
My Bio
I am AlteredKat. I love creating art + jewelry.
I also sell art supplies to artists + scrapbookers to help with bills as I am a WAHM who loves her #1 job of raising the kids.
In between altering art + laundry, you'll find me in the kitchen; cooking + baking The only tv I watch is Survivor. I'd rather be geo-caching with the fam.
My Website:
My Etsy Shop:
Check out these great lenses...
-
- How to make a Scrabble Tile Pendant
So you want to learn How to make a Scrabble Tile Pendant! Well, scrabble tile jewelry, and more specifically scrabble tile pendants are one of the latest/hottest crafting crazes! This free step by step Scrabble tile pendant DIY tutorial will show y... view lens -
- Diagnosed with Breast Cancer - My story
It's "surreal", even now as I sit and stare at the url "my-breast-cancer-story", it's as if I'm writting about someone else. My children are at school, there is a bruise on my right breast from the biopsy and as I type the words it feels as if they... view lens -
- How to create STEAMPUNK jewelry art
Wikipedia defines Steampunk as "a subgenre of fantasy and speculative fiction that came into prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. The term denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used-usually the 19th century, and o... view lens -
- Digital Collage Sheets by Greatmusings.com
Digital Collage Sheets are the fastest and most affordable way to obtain images for your art & projects. Greatmusings.com started as I built up my own collection of vintage images that I used in my own altered collage art. However, due to Canada... view lens -
- AlteredKat's Lensography...who is AlteredKat?
I have been selling online for about 7 years now...completely "part-time" inbetween my duties as a stay at home mother; laundry, cooking dinners and raising 2 wee ones that fill my heart. Many people have asked me how I started, where I started, how... view lens
by alteredkat
I am AlteredKat. I love creating art + jewelry.
I also sell art supplies to artists + scrapbookers to help with bills as I am a WAHM who loves her #1...
Explore related pages
Cheap & Easy Scrapbooking- Scrapbooking is one of today’s most popular hobbies or crafts. Why? Scrapb...
Digital Scrapbooking- Digital Scrapbooking, is not only an incredibly fun way to join your computer wi...
Scrapbooking- Scrapbooking is not a new art, in fact it was very popular in Victorian times wh...
How to make a Scrabble Tile Pendant- So you want to learn How to make a Scrabble Tile Pendant! Well, scrabble tile je...
CRACKLE techniques with white glue and Fragile Crackle- In this DIY crackle tutorial I will show you two different techniques of crackli...
How to alter and stain with WALNUT INK Crystals- Walnut ink is very easy to use and can be used in several different ways. It is...
