This Post Shows Two Different Ideas for Ball Cap Upcycling. One With Metallic Foil. The Other Converts a Cap into a Sun Visor.
In the above photo, it’s hard to tell that this was once a badly faded cap.
But yet here it is just before it’s metallic foil makeover.
First Question for Ball Cap Upcycling – To Toss or Not To Toss?
This cap belonged to my husband. Probably one of the first caps we ever bought him as a married couple. It had served him well over the years. But now after 37 years of marriage (as of this writing), most of his caps say Harley Davidson. So this one was collecting dust in the closet.
While doing a purge one day, it caught my attention. I moved it out of his collection since he prefers his Harley caps.
Now I had to decide what to do with it. When possible, I will usually give things away on Facebook Marketplace or take items to our local Helping Hands.
However, if something looks really bad – I don’t give it away. I will first give upcycling a try. Perhaps convert the item into something else. Or at least use pieces and parts of the item.
Tossing is usually the LAST thing I’ll do if an item is still useable. (It bothers me to know useable things end up in landfills somewhere.) However, it looked so bad. Who would ever want to wear it?
Ball Cap Ownership Changes Heads
It was obvious, that after multiple washings, this cap had sustained really bad fade spots right at the perspiration line. It looked like a lost cause.
Then I tried it on and realized it has the low-profile style that I REALLY like. (No trucker hats for me). And do you know how hard it is to find low-profile caps on Amazon? So many say “low-profile” but they don’t mean it.
In an instant, the cap became mine. Wheels started turning in my head. How could I do some ball cap upcycling? I started thinking about ways I could cover the faded areas. But I had no solid idea, yet!
Floral Metallic Foil Sparks Inspo for Ball Cap Upcycling!
A couple days after discovering this faded, sad cap, I received my order from Artistic Painting Studio. The fabulous place where I purchase my metallic foil supplies.
I had placed an order for the creamy, luxe Moscato Marble foil (part of our game room table transformation – but its not ready yet). And while I was online, I also ordered a few foil samples. I like to do this periodically because the foils themselves provide me with inspiration.
Just look at this beauty! This one is called Mackenzie’s Floral. (I knew I had to have it when I first saw it!)
BAM! The beautiful red flowers sparked an idea! I remembered the faded cap had red letters and red trim around the bill. The decision was made. This gorgeous foil was the answer for my ball cap upcycling on this lost cause of a cap.
I immediately started applying the foil adhesive, lol. I was concerned the foil adhesive might soak into the fabric, so I applied a heavier coat.
In the photo below you can see the adhesive is starting to dry on the brim. And to my delight, the adhesive did not soak in. It behaved just like it does on furniture and other hard surfaces. The ArtsSyVille foil adhesive is amazing stuff!
PLEASE NOTE: In my excitement, I used the ArtsSyVille adhesive I had. But I have since then discovered that Artistic Painting Studio sells another adhesive that is specifically for textiles (fabric). This other adhesive may be better for something that you plan to wash frequently. You decide.
Metallic Foil Takes This Cap from Faded to Fabulous!
This ball cap upcycling project completely transformed what used to be a sad, faded cap. I strategically cut the foil. And strategically applied the adhesive so I could place the flowers where I wanted them. Then I used other parts of the foil to hide the remaining faded spots around the entire perimeter of the cap.
Here’s the final result. Even my husband was impressed 😊
For full details on working with metallic foil click here
Another Idea for Ball Cap Upcycling
Someone gave me this plain blue ball cap. I kept it because I like navy blue. And the adjustable band is nicer than most ball caps. But I never wore it. Why? It was just too plain for my taste. Plus, this one was sort of medium profile instead of the low-profile that I prefer.
An Easy Conversion from Cap to Sun Visor
There is something that I prefer even more than a low-profile cap. And that would be a sun visor! A sun visor shades my face from the sun while allowing me to wear favorite, hot-Texas-weather, hair style: messy up do.
So, I cut the top part off of this cap. When doing this, you want to be sure to leave about a half inch of the exterior fabric above the band. This allows you to fold it down so you can close it up with glue. Otherwise, you end up with a frayed edge like this.
I folded down the exterior fabric and used hot glue between the folded down fabric and the inner band. In the following photo my fingers are showing the gap where you would place the hot glue.
You could stop here. It’s decent as a plain sun visor.
Or you could push your project to Fabulous with guipure lace. I found this beautiful trim on Amazon, in the same navy-blue color.
I played around with the placement of the lace before tacking it down with hot glue. Be sure not to use too much hot glue or it will squeeze out through your lace. Not a good look ☹
A sun visor works great with a messy up do.
Materials Used
Artist paintbrush (to apply adhesive)
1.5” by 3.5” Nylon nail brush (to apply foil to adhesive)
Metallic foil (so many choices)
Guipure lace in various colors
Tools Used
Scissors
Take Away
There are endless ideas for ball cap upcycling to create unique, one-of-a-kind caps. For example, metallic foils can also be stenciled or stamped on. The options for trims and lace are unlimited. Plus you could add 3-D patches and pins.
And the BONUS is that you are keeping a useable item from going to a landfill 😊
Here’s to upcycling and Making it Fabulous!
Where To Learn About Working with Metallic Foil and Where to Purchase Metallic Foil
I learned all about making beautiful updates with metallic foil by watching tutorials from Jennifer Ferguson at Artistic Painting Studio. She makes all sorts of fun, interesting projects with foils (and other mediums) while offering many in-depth tutorials on her YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@ArtisticPaintingStudio
Make sure to subscribe to her YouTube channel and emails to stay informed about new ideas and new foils as they become available.
Speaking of new foils, her selection of metallic foils is unmatched and ever growing on her website. https://shop.artisticpaintingstudio.com/pages/metallic-foils
She also carries all the other supplies you’ll need to get started.
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Feeling Motivated? Find Even More Inspiration for Upcycling
Check out this post where I used pink metallic foil to amp up a pair of boots
You might also be inspired with these other posts from my Fashion DIY
If metallic foil has piqued your interest, see this post where I‘ve used it on furniture and bathroom counter tops