A LITTLE SPARKLE With a Secret: Recycle Crafting

As if this jeweled accessory isn't cute enough, but for more fun it has a secret:  A little trap door in the back to hide a note or a picture of someone special.  And we are recycling with the use of an old squeeze bottle cap.

Use these message lockets to spice up a pair of jeans, a backpack, your lunch box, wear it as a pendant or use it as a key chain.

SUPPLIES:
  Squeeze bottle cap
  Wire  -  24 gauge craft wire
  Beads
  Hot glue & Hot glue gun
  Duct Tape
  Drill & Small Drill Bit
  Head pins - jewelry findings
  Floral arranging marble or large round bead
  Hook & Eye

You are going to need to cover the hole in the squeeze cap, and the best way to do this is with a small piece of duct tape.  Cut it to size and stick it inside the cap.

For this project I used eight holes and then one for the hook & eye.  Just drill straight through the cap.  One hole for every head pin you want to use.

I tend to keep jars and jars of beads around, so I find that it is always important to make sure that I have enough of a specific bead for an entire project before getting started.

String the pattern onto the head pins leaving enough room at the end of the head pin to fit through the squeeze cap and have a twist made to the end to keep it in place.  I have added a picture of this below to help explain.

For each pin you will need to secure it in the cap with hot glue.  This is a tedious process, but is important for the overall look.  Add a blob of hot glue on the head pin curl.  Make sure to stick a finger on the head of the head pin and push the pin tightly into the cap.  That way as the glue dries, the beads will be nice and tight.

Now that all the outside beads are secure, you will want to add some hot glue into the cap.  This glue will serve as the base for the beads that will decorate the center.  You will not need to fill the entire cap.

The center is made with a wreath of beads and a center floral marble.   Using a piece of craft wire, I strung on the number of beads necessary to fit around the edge of the cap. Make sure to tuck the end down so that it doesn't show.  Hot glue that wreath in place. 

I did add a little more hot glue to the center of the cap so that the marble would stand up a little higher.

I'M SO BLESSED.