Holiday Project #1: Bottlecaps
So I know we have not even hit Halloween yet, but I got a little excited and started playing with my holiday stuff. When I was in Edmonton a few weeks back I got to hang out with Caroline - one of the master creatives behind Maya Road. One of her classes used their Mega Bottlecaps. She had taken a bunch of elements, poured in some Glossy Accents, and created these very cool bottlecap embellishments. I saw them and immediately thought of holiday stuff.
Now these are not small bottle caps. They are about 2 inches across. And this is such a simple project! Here's what I did:
1. Collect up all your holiday stuff and get it into one spot (this is obviously a really general step one...but it will help you be able to create stuff over the next couple months to get ready for the holidays).
2. Pick out some small embellishments that you want to showcase in your bottlecaps.
3. Use a circle punch to cut some holiday patterned paper. I used the new Fiskars circle punch - loving this tool.
4. Layer elements inside each bottlecap.
5. Squeeze Glossy Accents (a clear dimensional medium that will dry hard) into the bottlecap - enough to cover your layered elements.
6. Let it dry. I let mine sit overnight (away from interested little hands). It looks cloudy when you first squeeze all the liquid in there but it dries clear. Mine ended up with a bunch of bubbles - it probably had to do with how I was squeezing but I decided it was cool like that.
7. Attach a magnet to the back. I used the new magnets from Basic Grey. Stick the magnets on your fridge and celebrate the season.
Here are a few places you can find the Mega Bottlecaps online:
Stamp Attic
Scrapologie
Ally Scraps
Lifetime Moments
Have fun. This is another project that could totally be repeated for other holidays/events/celebrations, etc.
And if you are looking for a way to jot down all your cool ideas for the holidays I created a holiday 2006 journal that you can find in my cafe press shop. Always nice to have a blank book on hand. I am hoping to do some sort of Christmas journal again this year...I loved Shimelle's class last year even though I wasn't able to finish mine. Shimelle are you doing one again this year?
Also, look for next week's newsletter to answer additional questions I received today regarding photos/photo philosophy/etc.. If you have a question send me an email (with NEWSLETTER: PHOTOS in the subject line) and I will try to address it next week.
wicked!
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Wow... I just want to live inside your head for a little bit -- soak up all of that amazing stuff that must be floating around in there... These are great!
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cool idea, i love it!
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those are just too cool, ali.
thanks for sharing them...
they'd make such a great little gift! :)
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Another FANTASTIC newsletter and more cool ideas I don't have time for :) I love, love, love getting your newsletter and sitting down to read it. I don't know how you do it, but a year after I stumbled on your blog, you still inspire me with a million new ideas. You must never sleep :)
Sarah (Sydney, Australia)
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Ali, what a great idea! Thanks for the latest AEzine. I enjoyed reading it whilst waiting for my little boy to fall asleep after lunch today.
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Ali! Love those bottle caps! You've totally inspired me!
Kim
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Those bottlecaps are just awesome. I'm so in the holiday mood already, I hope I don't crash and burn on it the first of December!
PS - isn't this Oregon weather just divine? Love your foliage shot below - with the cold tonight colors should start popping a lot now.
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dang it:) you beat me too it! I got some of these from a NSD contest on 2peas, and I was going to sell them to my friends and split up the set, but then I thought...ding ding ding, christmas ornaments for gift toppers or something! I can't wait to get into the new christmas stuff and make a few!
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hey ali =)
love your idea! also, i saw on shimelle's website that she is going to do another holiday journal... hoping i can keep up with and do one myself this year. loved yours last year!
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Cool idea,i will search for those bottlecaps,and give it a shot!!
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As usual you've got a million ideas running through my mind. How cute would those look with a ribbon look as ornaments? Especially for a mini tree! Thanks for the inspiration!
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love the bottle caps! thanks for sharing :)
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Ali, these are sheer genius! Thank you for spreading the word, and sharing your fab examples, about these little wonders. I can see many applications for them. Hubby is not going to be happy with me, going shopping again!
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Thanks for sharing. I have some of these bottlecaps and love this idea. I get the holiday spirit around the end of September and it doesn't end till the new year. So, thanks for sharing. Something magical about this time of year.
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woohooooo thats awesome! thanks for sharing Ali!!!!
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Hi ALi: Speaking of Christimas, did you ever finish your Christmas mini album with the circles? I would love to see it if so. Thanks Chris
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Cool idea for the Mega bottle caps! I have a few of them and have not done anything with them yet. I think I'll give it a try.
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Those bottle caps are really cool. I'm so going to do that today! My little girlies love new crafts, and I"m sure they'll love this!
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Oh this is great! I had a package of one dozen bottle caps ready to go into a yard sale this weekend. I snatched those out of the FOR SALE box and now have a fun little holiday project planned! Thanks to Caroline and Ali for the double dose of inspiration!
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Just wanted to say that I have really enjoyed your newsletters. Very informative & helpful...as well as positive & inspirational! Thanks so much!
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this is so cool
can't wait to do this one with my children!
thanks for the inspiration :)
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yes :) sign-ups will go live at the beginning of november! :)
{love the bottlecaps!}
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So stinking cute! Thanks Ali!!! http://jolenegeorge.blogspot.com/
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I love it when you include little projects like this in your blog or newsletter!!! Ordered the bottlecaps and looking forward to making them.
Thanks-K8
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