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.

Step 2: Tools Needed

these are the�tools you�need:
wire (I used�steel 18 gage)
wire cutters
needle nose�pliers
1/16" hole punch

cut the wire�to these lengths:
3 pieces of�wire 19" long
5 pieces of�wire 16" long
4 pieces of�wire 22" long

AND FOR SAFETY you should wear safety goggles so you don't poke your eyes with the wire, and gloves so you don't get too scratched up.

Step 3: Punching the Holes

punch 4 holes in each cap�

after you punch the first hole�punch the second hole directly�across from the first

punch the 3rd and 4th holes in between the 1st and 2nd

(just make sure they are all evenly spaced)

Step 4: Begin the Construction

take one of the 19" wires and�one 16" wire and string them through the holes that were punched�

Step 5: Adding Caps

on the 19" wire place 4 more caps on it, then string the other 4 - 16" wires though those caps (as picture shows)

Step 6: Adding More Caps

string on another row of caps then place a 19" wire through those caps

Step 7: Adding the Last Row of Caps for the Bottom/base

add the last row for the bottom section and string the last 19" wire through those

Step 8: Preparing the Sides

push the caps together and straighten them as best as you can then bend up the wires on each side

Step 9: Caps for the Sides

add one row of caps all the way around the basket, this will take 16 caps

then string one of the 22" wires through those caps, you may need to use the needle nose pliers to help guide the wire into the punched holes
(see next photo/step)

Step 10: Putting a Side Wire Through

the caps might slide up when you are putting the wire through (this is ok) you will be able to push them back down later

Step 11:

when the 2 ends of the 22" wire meet bend them in and then twist them around each other on the inside of the basket

then clip the ends leaving enough to bend the point of the wire into the caps

Step 12:

once all the sides are done�you will want to square out the basket, just mold it to look good and have straight walls

once you have your basket in a shape you are happy with you will need to place the last of the longest wire around the top of the basket,
keep it in place by bending the wall wires over it (see picture)�

also where the ends of the wire meet twist them around each other and bend the ends up into the nearby caps

Step 13: Finishing the Basket Off

once you have bent down the wires trim them leaving just enough to bend them up into the caps (see photo)

Step 14: Done!

I hope you enjoyed this instructable, there will be more to come. I also have a blog at www.infusedgoods.com

Thanks.