DIY A Succulent Planter Decor Pieces Using Old Bottle Caps

Are you looking for a creative way to upcycle old metallic bottle caps? Instead of tossing them in the trash, use them to create cute succulent decor. This DIY is a fantastic way to turn trash into art with just a few cheap supplies. The best part? These are plant lookalikes that you can't possibly kill, even if you leave on vacation or don't have a green thumb. 

With this DIY, reuse your old bottle caps to make them look like small faux succulents by changing their shapes to look like leaves. With just a bit of paint and glue, you can create these beautifully delicate metal plants and use them in a planter instead of indoor succulents – or even place them next to some real ones to mix things up. The metal plants are like a trompe l'oeil that look surprisingly like the real deal. 

To get this done, you'll need some paint. Choose ones that mimic the natural color of succulents, like this Ciona matte chalk paint in French light green or this Colorantic lavender chalk paint. You'll also need some hot glue to attach the bottle caps together and a receptacle to use as your planter. Because you don't need to water faux plants, you can use materials that are not resistant to water. For example, reuse an old styrofoam box and paint it brown, a small cardboard box with black paint, or a small metal tin. There are no shape requirements for this either, so choose which size to use based on how many faux succulents you plan to make. 

To create your faux succulents, turn each bottle cap into a leaf by squeezing the metal cap in between your forefinger and thumb. Repeat with each bottle cap. There are two types of succulent decor pieces you can make: One requires five bottle caps, and the other eight — all painted the same color. However, you can alternate colors between each succulent decor piece. Paint them accordingly and let them fully dry. 

Attaching the caps together is simple. Both types of succulent pieces start off the same: Attach five pieces together in the center with hot glue to look a bit like a star. To make a more complicated pattern, repeat the same steps but attach three more caps vertically at the center. There you go; you now have some beautiful metallic succulents! 

Fill your planter of choice with something that mimics soil. For example, use fake moss or some rafia strings like this Sukh natural raffia ribbon to fill the planter and then gently deposit the faux succulents on top. This planter is also a great spot to place more fake plants for some variation. Consider adding some Cys Excel color glass gemstones to tie it all together. This planter will be great as a centerpiece on a table, on top of a credenza or dresser, or even on a small coffee table.