Based in the Midwest, Cyndee Kromminga has been writing craft and interior design articles for 15 years. Her articles and craft designs have appeared in Crafting Traditions Magazine, Easy Holiday Crafting Series-House of White Birches Newsletter and Country Woman Christmas Books. Kromminga's education is in interior design and she has experience operating a craft and design business for more than 20 years.
SUPPLIES
- Metal bottle cap
- Sculpey clay
- 1/2 inch magnet disk
- Oven
- Pie pan
- Craft glue
- Acrylic paint
- Dimensional fabric paint
- Paint brush
- Wood skewer
- Spray acrylic sealer
Overview
Recycle your old bottle caps to make adorable bottle cap magnets to hold your kid's special artwork and important papers. These magnets are made from metal bottle caps from soda and beer bottles. This craft is fun and easy to do with a class of elementary-age students, after-school programs or a scout group. Make a basketful for your next craft show. Bottle cap magnets can be made very quickly and because they use few supplies, students can make several as gift sets.
Step 1
Soften a bit of the Sculpey clay and roll a ball approximately a 1/2 inch in diameter. The color is not important because it will be on the back of the bottle cap magnet. Place the clay ball inside the bottle cap and press gently to flatten and fill the cap. If it is overfilled, simply take the clay out, remove some, roll into a ball again and repress into the bottle cap. Center a magnet disk in the clay and press gently to cause an indentation. Remove the magnet and set it aside.
Step 2
Place the bottle cap right side down on a pie plate and bake in an oven according to Sculpey Clay's manufacturer directions. Allow the bottle cap to cool. Apply craft glue to the back of the magnet disk and glue into the indentation on the back of the bottle cap. Allow the glue to dry.
Step 3
Place the bottle cap on your work surface with the magnet side down. Paint a base coat on the bottle cap using the acrylic paint. Allow the paint to dry. Apply a second coat to better cover any labeling that is still visible, if needed. Allow the paint to dry.
Step 4
Paint designs on the bottle cap magnet using a paintbrush and the point and blunt ends of the wood skewer for dots. Use the dimensional fabric paint to further detail the bottle cap magnet. Allow the paint to dry.
Step 5
Spray the painted bottle cap magnet with the spray acrylic sealer. Allow to dry. Note: You may have to wait overnight for the dimensional fabric paint to dry before applying the spray sealer.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- TIP : Bottle cap magnets are a perfect base for painting lady bugs, smiley faces, pumpkins and sports balls. Use your imagination to come up with the perfect design for your refrigerator.
