I collect all sorts of things that members of my family consider junk or garbage. I save bottle caps, but I’ve also bought bottle caps to use for fun craft projects like this bottle cap flower that’s in my herb garden. I left my bottle cap flower out all year through snow and rain, so now it has a rusty finish that I love!
While they are considerably different from this project, my tropical paper flowers are fun to make too!
I made this project for one of my latest books, Button Mania: Buttons, Bottlecaps and Beyond!, which is available now on Amazon!
Make a Bottle Cap Flower
As you can see from this photo, the bottle cap flower doesn’t start off rusty. If you prefer it to stay shiny you’ll need to keep it from the elements. But I still can’t guarantee that it won’t rust. Bending bottle caps causing stress on the metal and could cause them to rust. But that’s what I love about it!
This book was a lot of fun for me. There are quite a few projects in it that I’m fond of. One of my all-time favorites is this rag doll horse made from tons of bottle caps. I shared him on Instagram (below). He sits on a shelf right inside the door of my studio. So I see him every time I walk in the door.
RELATED: Have some prescription pill bottles saved up? Instead of tossing them, repurpose them and use them in so many different ways! See 20 Uses for Prescription Pill Bottles to find inspiration.
Another project I love from this book is my button lamp. It sits on my desk right next to my computer in my studio. I love all the different colors and just how easy it was to make. Haven’t had a single button fall off either, so that’s a great sign. :)
A photo posted by Amanda Formaro (@amandaformaro) on
I also shared this flower on Instagram. If you are an Instagram fan, you can follow me at @amandaformaro.
So let’s make a flower from bottle caps, shall we? You can collect your own bottle caps, or you can buy them. These are the ones I bought but I also used beer bottle caps around the outside of the flower.
Note: some links above and below are affiliate links. That means if you happen to buy something, a small percentage of that sale goes back into this site, which enables me to continue to bring you free tutorials such as this one. So, thanks!
As always, a full printable supply list and instructions are at the end of this post.
For this project you will need the following supplies:
- 12-inch wooden dowel
- Canning lid
- 15 bottle caps
- Pliers
- Strong bond glue, such as E6000
Use a pair of pliers to bend 12 of the bottle caps in half, like a book.
Just so you know, bottle caps that actually come on soda and beer bottles are sturdier. Quite a bit sturdier. They are harder to bend, but you can definitely do it. The bottle caps that you buy are specifically made for crafting and are not as thick, thus much easier to bend.
- Glue a bottle cap to the center of the canning lid.
- Turn two of the “petal” bottle caps so that they are back to back. Do this with all of the petals; you will have 6 pairs.
- Glue all six pairs of the bent bottle caps to the canning lid, going around the center bottle cap.
- Glue two bottle caps to the sides of the dowel as leaves.
- Allow the glue to dry completely before trying to move the flower.
I accidentally broke my dowel in the spring. That’s why my little flower ended up at the front of my herb garden. The dowel is still attached, it’s just a lot shorter now. ;)
I hope you enjoyed this project! Remember to check out my book, Button Mania: Buttons, Bottlecaps and Beyond!, which is available on Amazon.
A couple more you might like:
- Rainbow Button Wind Chime
- Bottle Cap Necklaces – Dollar Store Crafts
Bottle Cap Flower
Supplies
- 12- inch wooden dowel
- Canning lid
- 15 bottle caps
- Pliers
- Strong bond glue such as E6000
Instructions
- Use a pair of pliers to bend 12 of the bottle caps in half, like a book.
- Glue a bottle cap to the center of the canning lid.
- Turn two of the “petal” bottle caps so that they are back to back. Do this with all of the petals; you will have 6 pairs.
- Glue all six pairs of the bent bottle caps to the canning lid, going around the center bottle cap.
- Glue two bottle caps to the sides of the dowel as leaves.
- Allow the glue to dry completely before trying to move the flower.
This post was originally published on this blog on July 31, 2015.
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Bria Lawrence says
I am doing this craft at the library next week and had bent all my petals, etc. Today I started gluing and it just does not stick. I am having such trouble. Is there a secret? I am using the glue you recommended. And trying to glue the “leaves” on the dowel. Not working.
Thank you!
Amanda says
Thank you so much for telling us what kind of glue you use. So many tutorials leave that out! I see a lot of crafters using hot glue guns, but they never tell you what they are using. I have everything from the cheap “kid” low-heat hot glue all the way up to Gorilla glue sticks. Strength is everything in the crafting world. So, Thank you for a well explained and displayed tutorial! I can’t wait to make some of these for myself.
Amanda Formaro says
Thanks so much for saying so Amanda! :)
Linda aka Crafty Gardener says
Just found this idea, and have already made one flower from a really old stash of bottle caps. I’m on the hunt for more. I’ll be sure and give credit to your page when I share it on my website. I’d be happy to preview your book for you and do a post about it. I’ve done other crafting idea books in the past.
Sue Charlton McEndree says
Amanda, I hope it’s is ok to share the link to this… I wanted my niece to see them & also for my son to save me some bottle caps. I think this is a cute craft.
Amanda Formaro says
Of course!
JANICE PIATT says
Love your garden flower and am looking forward to making some. I’ve been looking for items to make using metal bottle caps. This is great.
Joy Calhoon says
Hi Amanda,
Do you do anything with aluminum pop tabs from soda cans? I have a bunch but don’t know what to do with them!
Love your site!
Joy
Amanda Formaro says
I’m afraid I don’t have any of those. I found this Pinterest board that may give you some inspiration though! https://www.pinterest.com/sherron/pop-can-tab-crafts/
Donna says
give the pop tabs to the Ronald McDonald House…
Audra @ Renewed Projects says
Amazing! I have a jar + a bag of bottle caps set aside for a project “someday.” I LOVE the flower and the rag doll horse. You are AMAZINGLY creative! Thanks for the inspiration! I can’t wait to make some bottle cap flowers for my garden. Finally, I flower that I can’t kill and will look better with age (rusty musty!).
Amanda Formaro says
Thanks Audra, I hope you have fun with the projects! The horse is my favorite :)
Pam says
I love this craft. My 9 and 11 yr old grand daughters have shown interest in crafting this summer also and are wanting to make something. I do believe I have found that “something” thank you so very much for sharing!
Amanda Formaro says
How fun Pam! Hope you guys have a great time! ;)
Heidi says
The bottle cap flowers are adorable! Can’t wait to make some! Thanks for the tutorial.
Amanda Formaro says
Thank you Heidi!
Judith says
You are on pinterest so you know how important it is to pin something interesting, right. Well please explain to me why we can not pin your bottle cap flower?
Amanda Formaro says
Hi Judith. I’m not sure why you are having trouble pinning the flower. Did you try clicking on the Pinterest icon that is on the top of the post, just below the post title? It works on my end… and I just checked, there are plenty of people that have been able to pin it https://www.pinterest.com/source/craftsbyamanda.com/ Maybe there was a glitch when you visited, perhaps you could try again?
trenna says
I can not see the pictures. I am so sad.
Amanda Formaro says
Hi Trenna. I’m sorry you had trouble. They seem to be okay right now, maybe try again?
Graywolf12 says
Refresh the program. I use Yahoo, and often have that problem.