We see it all the time at bars and parties - bottle caps getting tossed to the side and forgotten about. Poor things, so much potential use gone to waste. Bottle caps can be used in so many different ways. From scrapbooks to self adornment, the humble bottle cap is ripe for reuse. Today I want to show the very easy process of creating bottle cap magnets.
What you'll need:
First, it's a great excuse to go out and buy some Stewart's Orange Creamsicle Pop
I like to use old desk calendars as my designs (saving some paper while we're at it!) but of course you can use anything (ie: old magazines are great too!).
The size of one quarter is a perfect fit for the inside of a bottle cap. This is what I use to measure the image I wish to cut out.
You see it's a perfect fit! Next comes probably the hardest part of the project (which isn't hard at all) and that's mixing the resin together.
Resin? Wait a minute, how are you helping the environment using that stuff?
I understand your concern, but there are earth-friendly resins available that are less petroleum and more water-based, even corn resin (also known as polylactic acid or PLA). Moving along, you follow the instructions provided on the box - usually it's just mixing one part resin, one part hardener. Slowly pour your resin into the cap, do not fill it to the top or it will get pretty messy.
I use a toothpick to try to pop any big air bubbles that may appear and to also keep the image flat on the bottom, it will want to push up to the surface so you must keep an eye on it for the first couple of minutes or else it will dry unevenly. Let the caps dry overnight. Once ready simply glue the magnet cap to the back and presto! Your own unique magnet!
Feel free to use other parts of the image in other new ways too...
Marilyn ~ pulpsushi.etsy.com
9 comments:
That's awesome, Marilyn! Thanks!
I have seen this done, but only with diamond glaze, instead of resin. :)
Great tutorial!
question: how do you flare out the edge of the bottlecap? I've always wondered how that happens...
Pretty cool!
The caps with the flared out edges actually came that way. I use different onces. I think those are unused.
I flare my edges out by hitting them with a rubber mallet.
You can use/recycle the magnets from your old plastic shower curtains. They are the perfect size and why throw them out when you are done with the plastic curtain?
I have been looking online for eco-friendly resin or corn resin and I cannot find a retailer or online store that sells it. Do you by chance know of any? Thank ya.
where do you find this polylactic or corn based resin?
resin has to be used pretty quickly, right? so if you make a big batch of it???
how do you pour the resin into the cap with accuracy?
thank you!
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