bottle cap basket

Instructions on how to make a basket from plastic bottle caps.* It takes a lot of caps so start saving up now.

It is debatable weather or not bottle caps are not recyclable because many areas only recycle #1 and #2 plastics and most caps are #5 plastic. Even if they are recyclable in places it's nice to reuse something you already have instead of spending your hard earned money on something new. I hope you enjoy this project.

*I got this idea from a basket my husband bought in Africa made from metal bottle caps. I wanted to see if it was possible to make with plastic caps, it was and I'm sharing how I made it here.

Step 1 Counting the caps

for a basket the same size as the one shown in the intro you will need 63 caps
(5 caps by 3 caps and 3 caps tall)
Here is how I lay them out to make sure I have enough. If you are using more than one color this is where you could layout what pattern you like.

Comments

[sunshiine]

This is a great idea! Thanks for sharing your hard work and great talent!

[INFUSEDgoods]

hey thanks, I like the colored caps too, I'm saving up a bunch of colors to make some more. the sewing/weaving the caps together isn't too hard, but it takes sometime. I actually don't like drilling or punching the holes the most.

[urbanwoodswalker]

I have 2 of the same kind...but they are metal bottle cap baskets from Africa. its cool to see this version in plastic. Awesome cleverness.

[INFUSEDgoods]

thanks!

[hjb93]

I really like this basket! Very neat. I was trying to find something to use for a different easter basket for my brother. I want to use ski bottle caps for the glass bottles. Do you think this project might work with just a wire basket alreay made and glue on the caps? thanks.

[INFUSEDgoods]

Hey thanks for your comment.  I don't know what ski bottle caps are but if they are metal caps I think you can punch holes in them with a hammer and a nail or some kinds of drills might work.  Or like you said you could just glue them to an already made basket.  I think for gluing caps to something else you might need to fill the concave part of the cap with something so they have more surface area to attach to the basket.  Let me know how it goes and I'd love to see pics of what you come up with!
Have a nice day.

[Shut Up Now]

Great 'ible, but I am wondering what you have done on that wall in the last photo with the circles. Could you post another photo?

[INFUSEDgoods]

Hey, thanks for the comment.  It is not the wall that you see in that picture, it's a "painting"  I did.  I just painted a canvas black and then drew circles on it with a silver sharpie.  At the time I just had it sitting on the sofa table but now it is hanging on the wall.  I looked for a picture but I don't have one of the whole thing.  I'll see if I can take one some time though.

[porcupinemamma]

Very cool! great 'ible. BTW trialex. pop tabs/beer tabs can be donated to many they sell them to aluminium recyclers.

[j-bar03]

That's a really nice project. Thanks for the clear instructions.

[INFUSEDgoods]

Hey thanks. Thank you for the nice comment on my blog too. I looked at your instructables, they are awesome!

[ChrysN]

That looks really nice. I always keep my bottle caps when I recycle the bottles, but never knew what to do with them.

[INFUSEDgoods]

Thanks, I hope you get the chance to make the basket and can enjoy having something from all those caps you've been saving.

[trialex]

Nice one! I've been saving bottle caps (and bread clips and ring pulls) for a while now with no project in mind - you project will definitely be an inspiration when I get around to doing something.

[INFUSEDgoods]

cool, I hope it will be a fun project and you will have a treasure once it's finished