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Bottle Cap Bracelet

M. Elizabeth Lee
Rubber Roadsters
Advanced Stamping Team Designer/Writer

Preparing Bottle Caps

There are two methods for preparing the bottle caps for use.  Purchased bottle caps have either a cork lining or inside plastic ring.  Little prepping will be needed for the cork disk since it will pop right out when pried with a table knife.  Recycled bottle caps from beverages sold in glass bottles have an inside plastic ring, which will need removing.  Heat the bottle cap with a heat tool and pull the ring out with a tweezers.  Wash bottle caps with soap and water and rinse well to remove any soap residue.  Dry immediately as opposed to drip drying since water tends to be a little harsh on metal substances.  This step will help prevent any rust from developing on the outside of the bottle cap.  However, on a non-jewelry item, a rusty bottle cap can offer simple charm to a design.  Rusty tin is currently considered shabby chic in the crafting arena.

Supplies
Medallions stamp set (TAC, The Angel Company)
5 Purchased Cork-Lined Bottle Caps (eBay)
Glossy Accents (Ranger)
Black StazOn ink stamp pad (Tsukineko)
White card stock scraps
Lime, Red, Blue, Peach, and Yellow Watercolor Markers (Tombow)
Bracelet Blank (Artisan’s Stamps, Phoenix, AZ or www.Eloxite.com)
E6000 Industrial strength craft adhesive (Eclectic Products, Inc.)
5 Gold Rose Beads (Fire Mountain Gems)
1” Circle Punch (EK Success)

Instructions

1.    Prepare bottle caps as described above.   

2.    Ink up the square Medallion stamp with the Staz-On ink pad and stamp the image onto the white scrap paper five times. 

3.    Render color to the images using Tombow markers; each floral Medallion is one solid color.

4.     Punch out the center floral designs with the circle punch and glue to the bottom of the bottle caps using Glossy Accents.  When set, apply Glossy Accents to the top side of floral designs and spread to the edges of the bottle caps as well to provide a tight seal when dry.  Other finishing methods to choose from are listed below. 

5.    Center a rose bead on each flower motif and let dry.

6.    Line up bottle caps on bracelet blanks.  Apply E6000 glue to the blanks of the bracelet that will hold the bottle caps.  Attach the bottle caps and let the glue cure.

Various Top Coat Methods to Seal Bottle Cap Art

There are several approaches to processing the heated embossing powder or Glazes used for the final finish coat for the stamped image inside the bottle cap.

Method #1.  Using a dimensional glaze can be suitable for all types of bottle cap art.  Stamp the design on card stock with dye ink, punch out, and attach to the bottom of the bottle cap with Diamond Glaze by Judikins or Glossy Accents by Ranger.  When set, apply the glaze to the top side of the design.  Run the glaze flush with the bottle cap edge.  This provides a sufficient seal for the design.

Method #2. When embellishing a card, the dimensional glaze or heat embossing with UTEE can be omitted entirely.  Stamp the image on Glossy card stock, punch out with a circle punch, and glue directly into the bottle cap.  The Glossy card stock already has a shiny finish.  It is not a jewelry item exposed to elements and does not need the extra UTEE or dimensional glaze coating to protect it.

Method #3. Heat emboss design with UTEE before gluing it into the bottle cap.  Use dye ink to stamp the image onto card stock for line rubber stamps.  These are stamps that have any open areas in them and are not solid.  Apply Versamark ink to the stamped image using a Direct to Paper technique.  Sprinkle on the UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Powder) and heat emboss.   Punch out the design with the circle punch and glue into the bottom of the bottle cap.  The Versamark ink becomes part of the paper as it is absorbed.  As a result, the UTEE bonds better with the paper for a more permanent finish when the Versamark Ink is used.  

Method #4. Heat emboss design with UTEE after gluing it into the bottle cap.  Once the design is stamped onto card stock with dye ink, it can be punched out first with the circle cutter and then glued into the bottle cap.  Dab on Versamark ink to the design with a sponge or sponge applicator.   Sprinkle on UTEE and heat emboss with a heat tool.  Hold the heat tool at a distance to avoid blowing out the UTEE granules. 

Method #5. This process is for creating several bottle caps designs at one time.  Stamp design with dye ink onto card stock, punch out, and glue into the cap.  Dab on Versamark ink with a sponge or sponge applicator.  Sprinkle UTEE into the bottle caps.   Heat emboss in a toaster oven on 250° F. until melted and let cool.  Keep an eye on the oven during this process because it only takes a matter of seconds to melt the UTEE.  Make a personal note of the time for future reference since the heat of toaster ovens vary among the various models.

Published previously on SS Reflections

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