Introduction: Bottle Cap Brooches

About: I'm a 29 year old guy who's passionate about building and fixing things, sometimes if they aren't even broken. I get a great sense of enjoyment out of creating, designing and building new things. I also love t…

First off, I just wanted to say that there are many other great instructables on making similar projects, I just wanted to add mine to the list.

I love making little things like this, and these are very easy and cheap to make. The result is a cool little brooch that you can attach anywhere. You can modify this design to make magnets, necklaces, keychains or whatever else you can think of as well. 

I am now selling these on my Etsy shop as well: 

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/172103892/map-caps-resin-filled-bottle-cap?

What you'll need:

-Bottle caps
-Whatever images you would like to place inside the caps (I got an old atlas at a flea market for $3)
-Some watch pieces (Optional)
-Something to use as a template for cutting your images to fit inside the caps (I used a 1" diameter washer)
-Epoxy or super glue of some kind
-Casting resin (Most hobby/craft stores sell this)
-Hobby knife or scissors
-Brooch pin
-File or sandpaper
-Pen, pencil or marker for tracing your template

Step 1: Use Your Template and Trace Some Cut-outs

I used an old washer for my template, as it just happened to fit perfectly inside a bottle cap. Use you template and pen/pencil/marker to trace your cut-outs and then use your scissors or knife to cut them out. The more precise you are with your cutting, the better the finished product will look.

Step 2: Glue Your Inserts Into the Caps

Get out your epoxy or super glue and put a dab or two on the inside of the cap and then press your insert down and run your pinky finger along the inside edge to ensure a snug fit. Remember to only use a small amount of glue, especially if your inserts are a light colour because the glue could bleed through. You may think that if your images are snug enough you don't have to glue them down. This may be alright, but I would definitely recommend glue because once you put the casting resin in the cap, the paper images can float to the top.

Step 3: Glue in Your Watch Parts

Like I said, this is totally optional, but it gives a nice and unique touch to your project. I got a large lot of old watch gears from eBay for about $10. Decide where you want to place them and apply a small dab of glue where you want them and glue the pieces down. Again, the reason for gluing is to ensure that nothing floats to the top once you put the casting resin in the cap.

Step 4: Mix and Pour in Your Resin

Just follow the directions carefully that are on the package of your casting resin. Make absolutely sure that you measure precisely and mix thoroughly. If you don't it can cause the resin to never fully harden and remain permanently tacky to the touch. Just pour it in very slowly and make sure you don't let it overflow. I used approximately 2 millilitres of resin per cap. Generally, you have to allow about 24 hours for the resin to fully set before you can handle it.

Step 5: Glue on Your Pins

I got a lot of 100 brooch pins on eBay for just a couple of dollars. Now, just file or sand the two surfaces (back of the cap and back of the pin) that are going to mate and clean them. Then just apply a bit of epoxy glue to the back of the pin and glue it to the back of the cap. Give it a bit of time to dry and you're all set!

Step 6: Pin It Up Somewhere

Now all that's left to do is put your new brooch somewhere (shirt, jacket, backpack , etc.), or give one to a friend for a little gift. Like I said, you can substitute the last step if you'd rather make magnets or keychains or necklaces out of them instead.

Hope you enjoy!

Holiday Contest

Participated in the
Holiday Contest