This craft was originally created for and published by design*sponge. Welcome, design*sponge readers!

I found a pile of buttermilk, chocolate milk and orange juice vintage bottle caps tucked away in a cardboard box in a lovely antique store in Savannah, Georgia. I thought, why not turn them into retro refrigerator magnets to show them off while making them useful once again?

Milk used to be carried and delivered in glass bottles starting in the late 1800s and capped the tops until around the mid 1950s. Dairies printed their names on the top of the cardboard caps to encourage return and reuse.

You can find your own from dairies all over – Indiana, Nebraska, New York, Quebec, California, and more. There you’ll also find cardboard caps for cottage cheese, whipping cream, orange drink, fruit punch and other treats as well as ads for ice cream and other items.

I just love the graphic design and typography on vintage milk and juice bottle caps. Aren’t they fun and full of personality?

My goal is to make things that are simple and useful, playful and clever. I think refrigerator magnets happily showcase these little vintage circles of art.

WANNA MAKE IT? Supply list and DIY step-by-step instructions for creating my refrigerator magnets from vintage milk and juice bottle caps after the jump –>

Supplies for making refrigerator magnets from vintage milk and juice bottle caps:

• (see current eBay auctions below) – I prefer the ones that are fully flat but they are also available raised edges. I have 10 sets of my bottle caps for sale for those who prefer that style. Just email me.
• 3/4-inch round magnets
• Glue gun and glue sticks

Please post a comment and let me know how this craft idea works for you. And share your own photos at the MerrimentDesign.com Facebook page, “I made it!” flickr photo gallery or tweet a picture to @merrimentdesign.

How to make refrigerator magnets from vintage milk and juice bottle caps

Here are current eBay auctions for vintage milk bottle caps:

Using a hot glue gun, glue the disc magnet to the center of the cardboard milk cap back.

Press and hold to attach.

Allow to dry thoroughly before using; I waited a couple hours.

Using the Wink iPhone application from Shutterfly I made some super cute photobooth-like strips of Elise – one of her swinging in Wicker Park and another of her playing with her butterfly.

Did you make it? Please post a comment and let me know how this craft idea works for you. And share your own photos at the MerrimentDesign.com Facebook page, “I made it!” flickr photo gallery or tweet a picture to @merrimentdesign. Craft and pass it on!

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use free pattern and how to step-by-step tutorial for your own personal use. Contact me for any commercial use – this includes etsy sellers.

Comments (5)  | Permalink  | By Kathy on 6/16/2010  |