Creating a bottle cap art mosaic tabletop was on my art project bucket list until recently. With all of the new craft beers coming to the market, there are so many bright colors, whimsical logos, and creative lettering. Beer and soda companies take that extra step to remind you to be a loyal follower of their brand. Before tossing that cap away, look at the creative message shouting, “Remember me!” Some of my favorites are Blue Moon, Shock Top, and Fat Tire.
I have been saving bottle caps for the last few years because I thought they would make a nice art project. I was thinking of something in the line of a bistro table, and end table, or a mirror frame. The table I used was on its way to the dump, until my husband decided to rescue it for the yard. It is quite larger than I originally wanted for my project. Never the less, I took on the challenge to create my bottle cap art mosaic tabletop. Just to get this clear, I did not have a plan or pattern throughout this project. I just dove in hoping to let inspiration guide me along the way. This is my approach as follows:
Materials for Bottle Cap Art Mosaic Tabletop
Tile adhesive
Small putty knife
Beer caps
Grout powder, or premixed
Grout sealer
Sponge
Trowel
Bucket
Polyurethane clear satin
Process for Placing Bottle Caps
The first thing to do is to separate each bottle cap into color categories. This will determine how many you have of each color. By doing this, you know how many you need as you work from small areas to large areas on the table. Start from the center and work to the middle of the table. For each row, decide if you want all of the same bottle cap brands to be placed in random patterns or all next to each other. When switching the pattern up and using different tile pieces throughout the design, it will create a more interesting finished project. For my table, I wanted it to look more organic and rustic. The Dollar Store has a good selection of glass dots, pebbles; ground up stone pieces, and even seashells. I used glass and stone tiles of different sizes left over from our kitchen backsplash. I also had a bag of shells I collected from a weekend getaway at the beach.
With this in mind, the various sizes and textures of the tile pieces will cause the pattern to have dips and imperfections. For this reason, you can apply the grout so that it doesn’t perfectly surround each beer cap, tile, shell, and stone. Otherwise, it draws attention to each individual flaw. For each row, move the tiles around until you find a pattern you like for your project. Once you have placed a few rows or sections, apply the adhesive to the tabletop. Since the bottle caps are hollow inside, you will need to apply the adhesive directly to the tile.
Tip for Your Project
Adhesive needs to be thick around the sides of the bottle caps so that it adheres to the adjoining pieces. This is what holds it in place before applying grout. For the other tile pieces, you can apply the adhesive to each one individually, if you prefer.
At this point, the bottle caps, tiles, stones, and shells are placed to the middle of the table. Now work from the bottom until all pieces meet at the middle. This is where the small ground stones and shells are able to tie the bottle cap art mosaic tabletop together. The smaller pieces of stone and shell allow the gaps between the bottle caps and tiles tie together.
Now that your bottle cap art mosaic tabletop design is securely placed, it is time to grout. There is premixed grout and powdered grout in various colors. Regardless of which ever one you choose, be sure to cover all spaces and gaps with the grout. Once everything is covered, you will wipe off all the excess grout with a damp sponge. Please read instructions on the product for optimal results. After the grout dries you will need to apply a grout sealer. Most sealers are a bit pricey. I chose to use Polyurethane clear satin finish instead. It comes in a gloss also, but I prefer the satin. The finish works great and will help protect the top.
Conclusion for Bottle Cap Art Mosaic Tabletop
Taking on a big project can look overwhelming. The best way to approach this type of project is to think of it like a puzzle. The puzzle is completed one piece at a time. Be sure to enjoy the time of creativity and relaxation.
Please be sure to leave me a comment below. I would love to hear your ideas and suggestions so I can continue to offer more helpful blogs to my audience.
Most home owners will find themselves with leftover paint they have used from a variety of projects. So what can you do with all that paint besides storing it for the next decade? Here are some simple ways to get rid of leftover paint that I have used in the past.
Try these simple suggestions
1. Reuse your paint for other home projects. It is amazing how far a little extra paint will go on some of your random home items. Above, I have some examples of home projects I painted as a way to get rid of leftover paint. With this in mind, I had a little over a half gallon of white paint I was able to use to complete my projects.
2. Consolidate the paint for a larger project. If you have several quarts of Interior paint, you can consolidate them to use for a larger project. For instance, I consolidated a few quarts of paint together to paint one accent wall for a bedroom. First, I made a mental note of colors I had on hand. Here is where to apply some color wheel principles to your color mixing.
For example, red and yellow creates orange. Blue and yellow creates green. Blue and red creates purple. Tip:If you mix a color that is too green, you add a little bit of the color that is opposite from it on the color wheel. That would be red. It is a good way to correct a color without starting over. If you want to create a lighter color paint, start with white as your base color. Then add your other colors next a little at a time.
Passing on leftover paint
3. Donate the paint. There are many places that will take your leftover paint. You can contact art clubs, school art classes, list it on Facebook market place, join a free cycle community and list it there. Even craigslist will have an ad section for free items.
4. Drop your cans off at disposal sights. Many communities will have drop off locations as a way to get rid of leftover paint. Your local Waste Management transfer station (local dump) will take it free of charge. However, they may have a limit per household. Some smaller hardware store will also take leftover paint. But, call ahead to verify.
5. Dispose of it correctly. Disposing dry paint into your trash bin is acceptable if it is thoroughly dry. The best way to dry paint is to remove the lids and set it in a sunny open area where it won’t get knocked over. Depending on the conditions, it doesn’t take long to dry.
Summary
Applying any of these 5 ways to get rid of leftover paint is environmentally friendly for everyone. Also, you will save money reusing or consolidating your paint for projects later. Not to mention, you save time shopping for paint you may not even like once you get it home.
Do you want to make a chalkboard with cute phrases, motivational or inspirational messages to add a nice warm and welcoming touch to an environment? It is a popular way to market menus at cozy gathering places like small bistro’s, cafes, and coffee shops. It is also an inviting, eye-catching way to make a statement for your home.
I have been wanting to create some inspirational messages in my home, but not sure how to do it. After looking at a few Pintrest ideas, I came up with my own simple version. After pondering what message I wanted to write and what I wanted to put it on, I happened to find something while on one of my thrift store treasure hunting trips. It was a brand new chalkboard with a nice barn wood frame. It was perfect!
Creating a Message
First we need to create the message. It is easiest to create and edit a document in Microsoft Word. There are so many fun and whimsical fonts to choose. Experiment with a variety of different fonts and sizes that you would like to see on your board. Adjust the sizes of the fonts until your cover the amount of the surface you will cover on your board.
Materials
- Chalkboard
- White Graphite Paper
- Mechanical Pencil
- White Color Pencil
- White Chalk
- Scissors
- Simple Green
- Rag
Layout to Make Chalkboard
After you create the design you want, cut out the letters and place them onto the graphite paper. Secure the in place with a small piece of tape away from the letters themselves. This will help prevent the letters from slipping. You will also need to tape the graphite paper to the board to keep it in place.
Tracing the Letters
Use a sharp pencil to trace the letters. I prefer to use a mechanical pencil to achieve small details. Help keep the paper secured by holding the ends of letters down with your other hand.
Finishing the Details
Once you remove the paper, you will be able to see any areas that did not go through the paper. The marks from the graphite paper will not smudge. The beautiful thing about using a white color pencil is that you can get a sharper line and finer details. It doesn’t get smudges while you are working on the details. * When you compare at the picture of the traced letters with the layout of the letters, you will see I made some changes. I did not like where I place the word patience next to the letter P. I remove the word with some Simple Green applied to a rag then rubbed it off so it was clean. Soap and water didn’t work as well. After it was dry, I moved the word closer to the letter P.
Design Details
Once the letters are highlighted with a white color pencil, you can use the remaining space to create a design by freehand or using the same tracing process. *I used a piece of white chalk to freehand draw a design to fill the space. After I completed the design, I used the white color pencil to trace over it. Once it is complete, wipe the board gently with a damp rag. Use Simple Green on a damp rag and apply it to smudged areas that are hard to remove.
Faux Paint Stone Finishes
If you have ever wanted to know how to faux paint stone finishes, but your not sure how, I will give you some basic steps to get you started.
Specialty faux finishes have been around for centuries, but are sometimes subtle. Other times they are used to create dramatic effects. They are applied to walls, furniture, light fixtures, even in set designs.
Particularly, Faux painting techniques are used to create the illusion of images, textures, and natural surfaces. In spite of trends, there are always useful ways to apply faux painted finishes to your home.
Apply the following techniques to your walls, floors, home accessories such as, mirrors or picture frames, or furniture. With this in mind, enjoy the complete one-of-kind look you will create for your personal space.
Materials Needed
Before you gather your paints, keep in mind that you don’t need to have exact colors. Pick colors you would find in a sample piece of stone. Consequently, you will achieve the necessary colors during the blending process. Overall, your colors will depend on the type of stone you want to create. Importantly, coordinate then with the area where they will be applied. For example, I used six main colors.
- Buy flat paint ( deep gold, chocolate brown, antique white, stone gray, cream white, bisque white)
- Use only cotton t-shirt rags
- Purchase only 2 in. & 4 in. throw away brushes
- Use small artist brushes for details
- Bring foam or plastic plates (apply paint and water to plates to dab colors and thin paint for blending technique)
- Lay down drop cloth
- Apply only blue tape
- For easy prep, use painters paper or plastic
- Don’t forget stir sticks
Preparing the Area
- First, cover surrounding walls with painters paper or plastic and blue tape. (Blue tape is less tacky and will be less likely to peel paint).
- Cover floor with drop cloths.
- Set paints aside in a place where you can move back and forth to various colors.
- Set a bottle of water aside to easily dilute paint when needed.
Techniques for How to Faux Paint Stone Finishes
- Paint the smallest part of the space first in order to get your momentum going.
- Apply the darker paints first with a large brush. Do not leave brush strokes.
- Dab and pat in gaps with softer colors using a damp cotton t-shirt rag. Overlap each color and blend the edges of the paint into each other. Don’t overwork the paint. For this reason, you will pull away the recently applied layers which creates light spots.
- Cover the entire wall with paint.
- Allow painted surface to set overnight so paint dries entirely.
- Dilute lighter colors and randomly apply to all areas that need to be blended into each other. Keep in mind, you want to create a softer more natural look.
- Create veins by pushing one side of the rag into the surface. Then blend into the finish.
- Create fine lines with a small artist brush. Blend with a lighter or darker color on one side of the line.
Painting Tips
- Keep the base color of the wall the same to save time and money.
- Use the same paint that is used on the adjacent walls as one of the faux paint colors. With this intention, it helps keep the colors coordinating with the rest of the room.
- Frequently, stir paint to keep color consistency and prevent it from drying out.
- Clean up the edges with a small artist brush after the paper and tape is removed.
Check out this example:
Create your own ceramic tile art piece using permanent markers. They make great gifts for loved ones they can cherish forever. Creating a Little Masterpiece This tile art project is guaranteed to wow both children and adults alike. If you have ever had a birthday party or family get together with lots of kids around you have probably thought, “I wish I had something to keep them busy and…
Salvaged Corrugated Metal
Do you want to know how to fix rotted wood sheds? We used salvaged corrugated metal because it is an inexpensive way to save both the shed and the metal sheets. Corrugated metal is becoming very popular for do-it-yourself home projects. You will see it used in many interior and exterior commercial buildings as well. Typically, it is applied for decorative accents.
We had several sheets that were given to us to use for future creative projects. These metal sheet are very durable and like new on one side with a nice rusted patina on the other side. I like the rustic shabby chic look so they were just perfect for our DIY shed repair project.
Our rotted wood shed was structurally sound, but needed some water damage repair around the base of the shed. The corrugated metal sheets are great for protection from harsh weather and water.
Starting the Repairs
First, we remove all of the rotted wood. Then we replace the rotted pieces with new plywood. Once the wood repair is complete, we cut 2 1/2 ft. corrugated metal sheets then screwed them to all four sides of the shed. Add wood trim to the top of the metal sheeting, to prevents water from getting trapped between the corrugated edges and the wood siding. Always use painters caulk on the trim where it is applied to the shed to prevent future damage. Then prime and paint the wood.
The trim will give the shed a finished look. Also, the salvaged corrugated metal applied above the repair line of rotted wood sheds hides the line and give it a decorative look.
Since there was a small amount of damage to the shingles on the roof, we repaired them with Liquid Nails instead. It is also be too difficult to find the right matching color shingle. Later, we will be replacing the shed roof at the same time as the main house they match. This is a simple, inexpensive, and effective way to fix the damage.
Conclusion
By adding the salvaged corrugated metal to fix rotten wood on sheds is an easy way to cover up the repairs. If you don’t like the look of metal, you can use stone, brick, shake and shingle siding for a custom look.
Check this out for examples:
https://www.certainteed.com/siding/shake-and-shingle/