I stopped buying bottled water a couple of years ago, but I still buy soda in plastic bottles. Even though these bottles are recyclable, I try to reuse them when I can. They’re perfect for plastic bottle crafts.
Recycled plastic bottle crafts
- Water bottle wind spirals. This is a great craft for kids, and the result is beautiful wind spirals to play with or even hang in the backyard.
- Fish Mobile. This is not the simplest tutorial in the world, but it results in a gorgeous mobile with beautifully colored fish suspended from an old CD. It has a terrific hand-crafted look – you could even make these and sell them at a crafts booth. This would be great for a kids’ room, but it could also be nice on a porch or patio, with the breeze stirring it.
- Scenes in a Bottle. This is a brilliant idea, suitable for kids old enough to handle a slightly tricky scissors job. You end up with a scene inside a sealed plastic bottle. It’s like ships in a bottle, except the plastic is much easier to work with than glass, and it doesn’t have to be a ship. You can even make your own glue for this one.
- Lamp Base. This craft is especially suited to bottles that aren’t clear, such as old antacid bottles. You’re going to use a molding plastic (or plaster) to make it look more attractive, but what you want is really a plastic bottle with an interesting shape.
- Plastic Vase. You’re probably thinking “right, lop off top of bottle, stick water and flowers in.” Nope, this tutorial guides you to make a stunning looking plastic vase that passes for glass. I do wonder a little about the stability of it, but you could definitely paint the base with clear gesso to give it a little added strength and weight.
- Make a bell. This one is Christmas-themed, but you could easily adapt it. Just change the decorations on it to whatever theme you want.
- Solar hot water kettle. This one’s not just a craft – it’s really useful. A plastic bottle is transformed into a kettle. Even in 30 degree weather outside, you can use this device to heat some water up to 95 degrees. It’s perfect for hand-washing or making sun tea while camping.
