How To Make a Bottle Cap Pendant- Easy Tutorial

Have you ever wondered how to make one of those cute bottle cap pendants that are so popular lately? You have come to the right place!! Not only are the adorable but they are very easy to make. OK, there's more! Not only are they ADORABLE and EASY TO MAKE but your helping out the environment by recycling/reusing those bottle caps! Making pendants out of used bottle caps is a really easy process. If you are using resin to seal your image inside your bottle cap the process takes a little bit longer but it is definitely worth the wait. Also, you may choose to use brand new bottle caps purchased from a home brewing supply company instead of used bottle caps. I prefer used because at any given day and time I can take a walk and come back with tons of used bottle caps in good usable condition.  Whatever you want to do, your finished piece will be beautiful, I am sure.  Let's get started!

• Bottle Caps (new or used)
• Mod Podge
• Paint Brush
• Art or Picture
• Scissors or 1 inch circle punch
• 2 Part Resin or Diamond Glaze
• Dremel with small drill bit or hammer and nail
• Large Jump Ring

I always put the hole in for the jump ring first thing. Take your Dremel and drill a small hole on the side of the bottle cap. Be very careful doing this.. I usually hold the cap with a small towel to avoid slipping. You can also use a hammer and nail to make a hole in the cap.

If you are doing used bottle caps and are planning to paint your cap a certain color now is the time to do that. 

Are you using used bottle caps?

If you are making your pendants from used bottle caps it will be helpful for you to first visit my hub preparing used bottle caps to make pendants. It's got some great tips on how to prepare your cap including an easy way to remove the plastic seal from your used caps.

Now is the time to insert your image into the bottle cap. The possibilities are endless! You can use images from a magazines, books, old calendars, pictures, printed images or whatever... Once you have chosen the art or picture you would like to use, take your 1 inch hole punch or scissors and cut it out.

Now take the cut out image and apply a layer of Mod Podge to the back side with a paint brush. Then apply your image down into the bottle cap (making sure to line it up with the hole you put into the side of the cap) and press down over the top of the image making sure there isn't any air trapped under it and the entire image is stuck to the metal.

*** IMPORTANT IF USING INKJET PRINTED IMAGES: Sealing inkjet printed images with Mod Podge is very important because if it isn't sealed properly the ink in the image will dissolve and be ruined after you put on the protective glaze! Make sure if you are using images printed by an inkjet printer that after you apply the image to the cap that you go over the top of the image with a couple coats of Mod Podge, making sure that you get into all the edges and cover it completely. However, I do hear that if you are using laser printed images you don't have to worry about this.

TIP: When I do inkjet images I take an extra step and put a layer or two Mod Podge on the image (front and back) before I cut it out with the circle punch. I then apply with Mod Podge into the cap and go over the top and edges of the image once it's inserted inside the cap... It's a little extra work but well worth the effort :o)

Resin or Diamond Glaze both work very well for this. I prefer resin because in the long run I believe it is more durable.

If using 2 part resin: Prepare it according to the directions, then pour a very small amount into the cap making sure to cover the bottom of the cap/image completely.

** When pouring resin usually you will see bubbles~ don't fear.. just take a straw and blow gently over the top of the resin and the bubbles will pop and the resin will become clear!

*** I use Envirotex Lite 2 part resin and have never had any problems. You can use in inside and it's always worked great for me.

If using diamond glaze: Apply diamon glaze inside cap making sure to cover the entire image with thick coat of diamond glaze.

NOW cover your caps with something like a big bowl or plastic container to keep out the dust out from the air and let your caps dry for at least 24 hours for the diamond glaze and 48 for the resin.

After your caps are all dry... take your jump ring and insert it through the hole on the side of the cap and VIOLA!! You have a beautiful handmade bottle cap pendant ready to be put on a necklace!!

Great Job!

P.S. Are you interested in making a bottle cap pendant with the image mounted on top of cap? Visit my hub How To Make a Bottle Cap Pendant Tutorial #2