bottle cap pins

Let's face it, button pins make everything more awesome. I've seen street vendors and trendy hipster stores sell custom pins for a few dollars each. I figured I could make my own easily enough and would make great gifts for friends, the best part is that I can customize each button so it's personal to each recipient.

This project uses old bottle caps as the base for each pin, clear casting resin to hold the image in place and a regular safety pin to affix it to your clothes. This inexpensive and fun project is sure to delight everyone. Did I mention it's customizable? It bears repeating because it's just so amazing!

enough talk, let's make some pins!

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Step 1 Tools + materials

tools: solder sandpaper scissors computer + printer .

materials: bottle caps casting resin safety pins printer paper disposable cups + stir sticks

Comments

[dur.sk8]

How creative!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[adrian09]

what kind of paper would you recommend?

[mikeasaurus]

I used standard printer paper. I recommend paper that is very bright white.

[Coliflower]

Any homemade/other alternatives for that resin?

[mikeasaurus]

Hmm, not that I can think of. Hot glue may work, but usually dries cloudy. Casting resin isn't very expensive and has loads of other crafting uses. What's your concern/aversion to using it?

[Coliflower]

Ah, just don't have any lying around (which means I'm too lazy to go out and buy it)

I guess I'll just go out and get some, thanks.

[rocketman7]

Very Nice! Is the 3 Month Pro Membership promotion still going on?

[mikeasaurus]

You bet! Show me what you've got!

[Kryptonite]

I hate to advertise, though here's another possible method of attaching a pin to the back. Of course, the cap would have to be so the outter rim is facing inwards, folded around the pin. This is a really great Instructable, as with all of your Instructables! Subscribed :D

[mikeasaurus]

Great suggestion, I like alternatives!
I actually used your exact method to fix a commercially made button last week.

[Kryptonite]

Great minds think alike! Or so I like to think... Its an easy fix, and it works.

I just love the pictures on your buttons.

[Browncoat]

My Kaylee umbrella pin :)

[mikeasaurus]

Great pin, I love the Firefly twist! Thanks for sharing.
Enjoy the patch and the 3-month Pro Membership!

[annoyingfeatures]

here is mine

[mikeasaurus]

Awesome, thanks for sharing! Enjoy the patch and the 3-month Pro Membership!

[carpfluff]

i like the homestar runner ones. and most of these. but what was the kicker was the bottle caps on bottle caps. its like capception.

[bajablue]

I LOVE this idea!!!!

[mikeasaurus]

I'd love to see your version of this idea, I'll bet it would be awesome!

[VHIT1717]

Heres mine i did it a little different, making the design on the outside like a fallout 3 bottlecap, and putting the safety pin on the inside of the bottlecap

[mikeasaurus]

Mmmm, I could go for a frosty Nuka Cola right about now.
Enjoy the patch and the 3-month Pro Membership!

[VHIT1717]

Thanks! I got the the artwork from Deviant Art, a pretty cool website with a lot of different stuff
http://www.deviantart.com/

[r3jt]

I think this is a great idea and just bought the materials today. Downloaded GIMP but I'm having trouble figuring out exactly how to create a grid template and put images into it. Any help would be much appreciated.

[mikeasaurus]

Download picture 3 in step 3 and open it in GIMP, then the page size to your printer paper (typically A4 / 8.5x11"); on a new layer replace my images with your own!

[perseajackson]

holy cow! thats a lot of work for one pin! but there really cute! X]

[ilpug]

I have that same exact fix it yourself pin. I think it's on my airsoft BDU. I had about five, but they all got stolen off my backpack :/

I will for sure do this project, since I have been seeing people wearing these, but have wondered how to do it.

[raviolikid]

Nice project and everything is very clear. The only thing I am curious about is when the images are put in. In this picture, it looks like you are pouring the resin into the empty bottle caps. Do you add the pictures after that and then pour another layer? Or do the images sink to the bottom of the resin? Could you please clarify.

[mikeasaurus]

I poured the resin first then placed the image on top and suck it with a stir stick. I chose this method as I found the other way could sometimes entrap air bubbles, which look weird when the resin dries.

[maltesergr8]

Pic should go in first.

[psalviati]

I have got to try this! Do you have Button Image Template?

[canucksgirl]

Very Nice :)

[depotdevoid]

What a great idea! I'll forward this to my brother, he runs a comic shop and I know he's got a bucket of handmade pins on the counter--perhaps he'll add some of these to the mix!

[susanrm]

I've been collecting caps for years, intending to do this, just never got around to it.

You can also drill a hole in the top and add a jump ring for a necklace. Or glue a magnet to the back for a fridge magnet. Two holes (top and bottom) with jump rings can turn it into one part of a bracelet.

[Lindie]

Very nice!