Oddly enough, this project came about because of Sandy. Andy and I walked to the beach everyday to investigate the clean up process (see more here). After seeing all of the debris, I decided to start collecting stuff. Sadly, plastic bottle caps are are a dime a dozen on the beach after a storm. I picked them up in handfuls.
Making a bottle cap tree is easy. All you need is:
- bottle caps in all sizes
- paint
- rhinestones (I used Tulip self stick crystals, they come in rows!)
- ribbon
- marker (for the trunk)
- hot glue gun
- white card stock
Paint ’em. I painted them different shades of green. I just added white to one shade of green and painted a few each shade.
This is not necessary (or really even that helpful), but I was trying to find a way to put the bottle caps in the same order I had them before I painted. I ended up making up a new shape, oh well.
Draw a trunk on with marker. Make it longer than you think you want it. Then, use the glue gun to glue on your bottle caps to a piece of card stock.
I made a little bow out of scrap ribbon, and glued it to the top. I piled on the bottle caps. I like the layered look.
Now, it’s time to decorate. I just peeled off the self adhesive crystal strips and stuck ’em on the tree! Easy as pie.
I taped my bottle cap tree on top of the glass of this frame. It had a green border, and was about the right size, perfect!
I just taped the piece of card stock to the outside of the glass of an existing frame. (Like I did with the computer key pumpkin.) It’s a real C.R.A.F.T., nice and free! Have you ever made anything with bottle caps? How’s the Christmas decorating going? Do you make decorations or buy them? I’d love to hear…
This is awesome! I love the 3-D look to it with all the different sized bottle caps.
Wow! Very cute!
I haven’t made a lot of Xmas decor this year, but last year I was an. Ornament making fool! I made a ton of glittered paper ornaments and my crowning jewel from last year was a mounted Rudolph head I made out of foam core board, complete with a light up nose! I am making a tree topper out of bent balsa wood, but that will probably be it for this year.
Nikki Kelly @ the ambitious procrastinator
This is so cute! I’d love for you to share this with the pin inspiration party! http://www.addhousewife.com/2012/12/pin-inspiration-day.html
Linked it up 🙂 Thanks for letting me know!
What a unique idea. I love that you used different shades of green and varying heights. Cool project.
so that looks great, i would never have thought of this, especially since the bottle caps weren’t green to begin with. it rocks that you did something so cute with this waste…is that bad to say waste? you said this was all over the beach. storm or not, people could take things home and recycle, yeesh. unless they all came flying out of the trashcans around there or something.
This is such a cute project, Jamie. Layering the caps really makes it extra fun & pretty.
Thanks, Sheila 🙂
This is adorable!! I even like the 2nd order to the tree better than the first, it was great dimension and shape!!
Adorable! Love the shades of green and the bling! If I start saving caps now mabey I cold do one for valentines day 😉
Jaime, I love it! I’m always collecting things I think might be useful in a project down the road too. Great idea!
Would like to try something like this on a smaller scale on the side of a wine bottle Do you thin it would work? Do u have any ideas for wine bottles?
I’m the Editorial Assistant for Fun Family Crafts and I wanted to let you know that we have featured your project! You can see it here:
http://funfamilycrafts.com/bottle-cap-christmas-tree/
If you have other kid-friendly crafts, we’d love it if you would submit them. If you would like to display a featured button on your site, you can grab one from the right side bar of your post above. Thanks for a great project idea!
Very clever and very lovely!
Wow! I love this idea for christmas. Thanks for sharing!