Recycled Bottlecap Embellishments {Altered Element}

This is my first post as part of the new Altered Element Design Team, so I've been keen to work on something that's versatile and can be used in many different types of projects. Whether you're a seasoned crafter or a beginner, you'll be able to use these cute embellishments in your jewellery, interiors or scrapbooking projects - and as a bonus they're made from stuff that most people throw away.

What You'll Need:

Glossy Accents - A versatile 3D clear, gloss medium that you can use for lots of things. There's also a Matte, Sepia and Crackle version - so good!
Cord - I actually used a lovely Leather Cording, but I think these pretty Metallic Cords would be perfect with winter colours.
Bottlecaps - If you're not a big drinker, fear not. Ask friends or relatives to collect them for you or head down to your local bar, ask nicely and flutter eyelashes. Works for me!
Spray Paint - I used Plastikote Project Paint in matt white and bronze, but if you'll be sticking your embellishments down instead of hanging them, you can skip this.
A Selection Of Bits & Pieces - I used punched paper circles, buttons, small seashells and beads in my embellishments. These Alpha Beads and Spangles & Trinkets would also be excellent and are on my wishlist for next time I make these!
Hammer & Screw - Optional for adding a hole to hang your embellishment.

1. Before The Beautifying - You might like to clean up your bottlecaps by boiling them for a few minutes to get rid of any residual beer stains and tarnish. If you want to remove the small plastic inner, boiling will also help to loosen it up, but be careful trying to take it out while it's hot. We'll be covering this up anyway, so there's no real need to try this unless you're one of those people who like things to be as perfect as possible.

2. Painting - I used Plastikote Project Paint to re-colour my bottlecaps. Just lay your bottlecaps face up on a sheet of newspaper and, with the spray about a foot away, lightly mist over your bottlecaps. A couple of light coats if better than one heavy, clumpy one.

3. Adding A Hole For Hanging - If you'd like to add a small hole to your bottlecaps so that you can use them as ornaments or jewellery charms, it's pretty easy to do. Grab yourself a screw and a hammer. Hold the screw at the edge of your bottlecap, hit it really hard a few times with the hammer and voila. (Using a screw instead of a nail might seem counter-intuitive but I find that they don't bend and are, therefore easier to use!)

4. Creating A Collage - I like to line the base of my bottlecaps with a punched paper circle. (If you haven't got a punch for this, just draw around the base of your bottlecap and cut out - or use beads and spangles to cover the base instead.) Layer up your collage using additional punches, stickers, sparkles and beads - sticking them down with a little dot of Glossy Accents to keep them in place.

4. Using The Glossy Accents - Don't shake the bottle - this will add bubbles. Just turn your bottle upside down really quickly, then squeeze onto a piece of scrap paper. Start adding to your bottlecap around the outside and then around the edges of your accents, then fill in the remaining space. Try to make sure that the hole for hanging is clear, but don't worry too much - it's easy to bang in another through the Glossy Accents.

5. Leave To Set - Your Glossy Accents will look less than glossy at first, but leave them to dry overnight (somewhere level) and by morning they'll dry to a hard, clear and glossy finish.

6. Hanging Your Charms - Use your screw to ensure that your hanging hole is free of Glossy Accents (just wiggle it about a bit - technical term) and then thread through some leather cording, knot and hang.

I'm planning on adding these embellishments to my scrapbooking pages, gifts, mini-albums and jewellery - and how cute would these be on your Christmas tree? There's so many ways to make them work in your projects!

As always, if you have any questions or have a go at making some I would love you to let me know in the comments.

And Now For The Good News.....

I'm On The Altered Element Design Team!!! I am absolutely delighted to be joining The Altered Element Design Team. If you haven't visited The Altered Element before then I think that you're in for a treat. The shop is full to the brim of the most amazing supplies - and is especially proud to stock some of those hard to find items.

I'm joining a seriously talented team of crafters and you can, of course, keep up with all of our design team projects over at The Altered Element Blog However, could I also encourage you to check out everyone's personal blogs? It will be worth it! Visit them here - Anikraft, Adorn, Crafty Makes, Welcome To My World, Mixed Media Musings, Jasmoon Butterfly, Gingersnap Creations, Crafty Dawn, Zuzu's Petals and Inspired Scilly.

And, as if that's not enough good news - I have a new job! I was due to end my current contract at the end of October and, with mum suddenly becoming ill, I had hardly managed to start looking for a new role. I managed to complete an application form for the one job that I really, really wanted. I was invited for an interview, which for obvious reasons, was difficult to attend while mum was ill. But, I knew that she would want me to attend the interview - she always did want what was best for us - and perhaps in some ways, having something else on my mind took away all my usual pre-interview nerves because I was offered the role.

I started last Monday and I can honestly say that I already feel settled. I'm doing a role that I love - working in a university careers department - and my new team are amazing.

For all this - and for the lovely comments and e-mails I've received since my last post - I am extremely grateful x

Surrounded By Love

Some of you may have wondered a little at my absence from blogging over the past couple of months. At the beginning of September, I was all ready to start a couple of projects and was settling down to the serious business of crafting.

Only, on the 3rd of September, I learnt that my mum had developed lung cancer. For a short time - the shortest time imaginable - we thought that she might have a chance of beating it and we were busy preparing ourselves for the fight of our lives when we suddenly found out that the cancer had spread into her bones and was terminal.

On the 17th of October, mum passed away. My only comfort is that we spent those last few days with her, showing her the love and care she had always shown us and that she died at home, where she fervently wished to be, with her family and surrounded by love.

Thanks for sticking around while I've taken a little break from the on-line world. I'll be back in business at the beginning of next week. In the meantime, just know that I appreciate you being out there.