Over the weekend, Chitter and I made snowmen ornaments out of bottle caps. They’re easy to make and you might even have the supplies on hand-I did. The finished ornament is too cute!
You need:
- Ribbon or yarn pieces, I keep all kinds of scrap ribbon. I find it especially hard to throw away the pretty ribbon that comes on things you buy.
- Bottle caps painted white on the inside. I used spray paint.
- Hot glue.
- Buttons or other small items like sparkles/spangles.
Make a loop in the ribbon to hang the ornament from; then glue the first bottle cap on. I’m showing you the back side, but it’s easier to glue when the inside of the bottle cap is facing you and the ribbon is laying flat. That way you can make sure the bottle cap is on straight.
Glue the next 2 bottle caps onto the ribbon-making sure they are snug against the cap above them. Again, it is easier to glue if the bottle caps are facing you.
Once the bottle caps are glued in place use a marker or a paint brush to add dots for eyes, lips, and buttons. Add a orange triangle shape for a carrot nose.
To finish the snowman off, give him a scarf by tying a piece of ribbon or yarn around his neck and gluing on a button or other form of decoration for his scarf.
The snowmen look adorable on the tree and they make a cute addition to gift wrappings as well.
I’m a creative person, I love to make things, but somehow it pleases me even more when I can make something from the things I already have on hand. I don’t know if that means I’m resourceful or a cheapskate.
Tipper
This post was originally published here on the Blind Pig in December of 2012.
Love the snowman made with bottle caps….one year, I made snowman pins using white buttons, putting tiny black beads in holes of middle one , top now turned sideways so black beads for eyes, used red felt for scarf….I made tiny ones too into earrings….I still have a pair I wear every Christmas.
Brenda ….transplanted from middle NC to Florida….still using A/C here!
Cute idea, and I don’t think it’s necessarily cheap; I think it’s resourceful and is a craft even a young child could help to make.
God bless.
RB
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These are cute ornaments! Creative!
This is adorable!!! A great recycling project.
Pam
scrap-n-sewgranny.blogspot.com
I learned a good saying from my Grandmother, “use it up, make do or do without”. Saved me in my young years.
Now in my old age, I appreciate it even more, because I don’t have to!!!
Tipper,
Don’t have any bottle caps handy….I do have a bunch of white medicine bottle caps….thought I would use those and give this little snowman a go….”Make it do or do without” mentality, I suppose. Yep, I’m a saver of odd pieces of this and that…Drives my husband nuts…”Are you going to save that!” he asks. Then he found a bag the other day of used and washed (survivor) Spam cans…he gave up and said…”Where do you want these?” ha I am planning to E6000 glue them on a board in a shape to hold my short paint pens..May spray paint them or now..sort of “kitchy” using the natural advertising! ha .Those plastic pen storage “thingys” at the craft stores cost over 10 bucks with tax..each!
Being a mixed media artist, I have a large plastic bin with bits and pieces of scrap paper, foil from everything, ribbons and strings, plastic tabs, ties, different sized netting and fasteners from produce bags, different sizes of tops (for dipping in paint to make odd size circles), bits of bubble wrap to use for textures, etc., little rusty pieces of metal…Yep, when walking on new ground, at a different place and I spy a broken piece of washer, bolt or metal it goes home and in the decoupage box! I do had two mashed, rusty bottle caps, but used one already in a painting!.ha
My new style medicine bottles are wonderful for storing needles, buttons, etc. The tops of four I used Halloween to make those glowing eyes, to hang in bushes…by gluing those mini-battery powered votive candles in them. They worked great and my grandchildren and there friends got a kick out of them…
Thanks Tipper for this post…I could talk about crafts and make do forever…ha
I think the snowmen hung on a evergreen tree (outside) will bring a winter snowstorm?
Just sayin’ !
Paint the inside of the top one red, the middle one yellow, and the bottom one green and you have yer self a stoplight. Just thinking.
I had forgotten about this creative idea. This would be a great classroom idea or something children can make for a hospital, rehab center, or rest home tree. Thanks for the reminder. I, too, keep los of little things. I really enjoy your creative side.
Tipper,
I enjoy making things too and while my youngin’s was still young, we made things together. We always had a rooted Christmas Tree too. Back in the 80’s, we had a Frazier Fur and planted that booger shortly after Christmas. It’s 40 or more feet tall now, lots of memories…Ken
I vote for resourceful and frugal! Wasteful was the dreaded word used for folks who spent money carelessly and as a result were unable to “make ends meet.” Through times of hardship and prosperity, it seemed my early Appalachian teaching remained constant. There was always the need to go by the old adage, ” a penny saved is a penny earned.” On the opposite end was being called tight, chintzy, or even worse branded as stingy. But above all there was always the instruction to be giving, sharing, and assist those who have suffered “hard times.”
There was once this trend to make cute little toy furniture from soft aluminum cans. It took a good pair of scissors, tweezers, spray paint. I spent hours with this, and the resulting toy furniture was enjoyed by children in the family. Also, a good Barbie clothing pattern came in handy, which I have kept all these years.
Enjoyed your hand made ornaments. Remembering the Christmas tree of my Grandparents covered with popcorn balls, popcorn garland, and lots and lots of tinsel. No electricity in their house, but those oil lamps flickering near the tree created a beautiful picture.
Another great post from The Blind Pig!
Those are too cute. Finding use for things where others don’t is part of your creative spirit. I dislike throwing things away that I can imagine a use for. I also think it is part of our heritage to be thrifty and it is a virtue in my book. We are not that far removed from ancestors who had to make do. It’s part of our Appalachian Heritage.
I like it when I can make things out of what I have on hand and I call it being resourceful. I find I can make gifts much nicer than I can afford to buy, and at the same time, spending less money.