Bottle Cap Snake Toy

Looking for a fun toy that's eco-friendly? Make a Bottle Cap Snake Toy from Heidi Borchers! Kids will love this recycled craft.


 

Materials:

• Plastic water bottle caps - assorted sizes- approx. 20-25 for each snake
• Acrylic paints - colors to match your fabric
• Cosmetic sponges- (cut into 3 or 4 pieces) for applying the paint
• Fabric
• Glue (I used the Aleene’s Tacky Glue )
• Drill with 1/16” drill bit
• Plastic drinking straws
• Wax paper
• Fishing line or jewelry wire - the length you want your snake (for mine I used approx. 19”)
• Buttons, beads for finishing
• Bead crimps
• Bead crimper
• Eyes

Instructions:

1. Pre-drill all of the plastic water bottle caps on the top in the center. Except for one for the head, drill on the side.
   
   
    
2. Place the plastic water bottle caps onto waxed paper. Dab sponge into paint, then dab onto the cap, until covered with paint. Let dry. Repeat if necessary.
   
   
    
3. To cover the water bottle caps, cut or tear fabric into strips, the widths of the plastic caps. Cut and glue various fabric prints, to fit on the side of each cap.
   
   
    
4. Continue to glue the fabric strips onto the bottle caps. Next, lay the prepared caps out on work surface in the order they will be when you assemble the snake.
   
   
    
5. The spacer beads are made from the plastic drinking straws. Cut pieces of plastic drinking straws (the depth of each water bottle cap). Place glue onto the straws or straw pieces, then place fabric into the glue. Each straw spacer will be approximately 3/8” to 5/8”.
   
   
    
6. To make the snake head, use the plastic water bottle cap that has been drilled on the side. Cover with fabric as shown in step 3. Cut a circle of fabric to fit on the top of cap. Glue onto the top.
   
   
    
7. Glue eyes onto top of cap.
   
   
    
8. To connect the caps together, push the beading wire through the hole in the side of the prepared head. Place a bead on first, then the bead crimp. Crimp the bead crimp into place using a bead crimper.
   
   
    
9. On the outside of the head place a bead and two or more buttons.
   
   
    
10. Then place a fabric covered prepared water bottle cap onto the beading wire.
    
    
     
11. Next place a prepared fabric covered spacer straw bead.
    
    
     
12. Continue placing a cap, then a straw spacer, until all have been placed onto the beading wire.
    
    
     
13. To end the snake, place buttons and beads onto the beading wire.
    
    
     
14. Place a crimp bead onto the beading wire last and pull out excess slack and, using a bead crimper, crimp the bead tightly to hold in place.
    
    
     

There are more games you can make out of recycled materials in our collection of 14 Easy to Make Water Bottle Crafts.  Tic Tac Toe, anyone?