She Used Old Bottle Caps to Make the “Tiles” for This $3 Serving Tray
Pink glitter covered a clearance serving tray that cost less than $3, but its shape and cutout handles made it worth keeping. Paint took care of the original finish, while a collection of old bottle caps became the material for a new surface.
Michelle from Sweet Something Designs primed the tray, painted it glossy white, then spray-painted the caps in Blue Ocean Breeze, Ivy Leaf, Pumpkin Orange, and white. She placed them in a staggered pattern across the bottom before covering them with a clear two-part material.
Acrylic water, a product used to create water effects in floral arrangements, filled the spaces between the caps and hardened over their tops. The result looks closer to a colorful round-tile mosaic than a collection of discarded bottle caps.
Pink Glitter Hid Under Glossy White Paint
Primer covered the glitter before glossy white paint went across the interior, sides, and handles.
The tray also had enough depth below its handle openings to accommodate the caps and the clear layer that would cover them.
Four Spray Paint Colors Covered the Bottle Caps
Collected caps came from different drinks, so spray paint removed the mix of logos and branding. Blue Ocean Breeze, Ivy Leaf, Pumpkin Orange, and white created the palette.
Orange, aqua, green, and white were mixed rather than arranged in separate color blocks.
Staggered Rows Filled the Tray
Caps went face down so their smooth painted tops formed the visible pattern. Each row was offset from the one beside it, fitting more circles into the rectangular space.
Small gaps remained between the metal edges and around the perimeter, leaving room for the clear material to flow through.
Acrylic Water Sealed the Pattern
She used acrylic water, a two-part clear casting material sold for floral arrangements, to lock the bottle caps in place. After mixing both components, she poured it across the tray until the liquid flowed between the caps and covered their tops. Like clear epoxy resin, it self-levels before curing into a hard, transparent surface.
The tray had to stay untouched for 48 hours while the material cured. Some caps can rise as the liquid moves underneath them, so she recommends watching the surface during the pour and using a skewer or toothpick to push any floaters back down. Clear casting epoxy can serve a similar purpose, but the product used for this project was acrylic water.
Clear Resin Turned the Caps Into a Flat Surface
Pink glitter disappeared beneath glossy white paint, while blue, green, orange, and white bottle caps turned the plain base into a colorful mosaic. The clear finish gives the pattern a glass-like surface, making the painted caps look more like small round tiles than recycled bottle tops.
Old Materials Gave the Tray a Second Life
The makeover reused the clearance tray and a collection of bottle caps that could have ended up in the trash. Both became part of a new piece instead of being discarded and replaced.
It also shows how small leftover materials can become the feature of a project rather than something hidden or thrown away.
What other small items would you save for a project like this?
Image credits: Sweet Something Designs.