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Trash to Treasure: Bottle Caps in Scrapbooking

© Merrideth Chenoweth

Bottle caps have become one of my favorite embellishments for scrapbooking, or to give as gifts to my friends for their scrapbooking layouts.

You can visit your local scrapbook store to find beautiful pre-packaged and decorated bottle caps waiting for that special layout. The only problem is, I'm not comfortable paying almost a dollar per bottle cap, when I can get them for free from my neighbors and I can customize them to my layouts!

In this article, we're going to look at different way to decorate your bottle caps; but the first thing you have to do is gather your supplies.

Supplies:
•Bottle Caps - new or used. You can find new ones from a Home Brewing supply store in your area, or use one of the links listed at the bottom of the page.
•Paper - Use acid/lignin free, of course, but you choose the color and design to coordinate with your page.
•Liquid Embossing - This will be used at the end of the decorating to seal everything together, and protect your hard work.
•Paint Pens, various colors
•Rub-ons and stickers
•1-Inch Circle Punch
•Xyron Create-a-Sticker

Instructions:
1. Collect, wash, and dry bottle caps. This step is self-explanatory, but you'd be surprised how many people skip this because they're excited to get started, and later wish they hadn't.
2. Use a paint pen to cover all logos and markings on the bottle caps. Acrylic paints may also work, as would spray paint. Don't limit yourself though, try new techniques!
3. Decorate the bottle cap. This could be accomplished in any number of ways.
•Use a 1-inch circle punch to make a sticker with your xyron machine. Add any artwork, doodling, or writing on the paper before you attach it to the bottle cap.
•Use markers, stickers, or rub-on on the painted surface.
•Emboss with embossing powder, attach buttons, dried flowers, or any other small relatively flat embellishment
•Use your imagination, don't limit yourself to what's written in this article.
4. Seal your art work on the bottle cap with the Liquid Embossing.
5. Allow your bottle caps to dry for 48 hours.
6. Using foam dots, or pieces of folded paper, attach to your scrapbook pages.

Think beyond the basics of stickers and rub-ons; try a mini collage using torn scrap paper, wire, or charms. Try using embossing powder for a little extra dimension, or glitter for a little extra sparkle. Punch holes in the apron of the bottle cap to string a few together, or "hang" things from them on your page.

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