How to Make a Water Bottle Wind Spinner

Use an empty water bottle and some electrical tape for this simple craft idea.

A kitchen may be full of waste materials that can be recycled into creative projects. Every family will have some empty plastic 20 oz. bottles in their possession at some point. Instead of claiming the 5 cent deposit, you can obtain a few decorative materials and an X-Acto knife, and construct a wind spinner that will add some magic and enhance the appearance of your yard. A plastic bottle wind spinner is an activity that can bring the family together for an hour or two of quality time.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Empty 20 oz. water bottle
• Colored electrical tape
• Pencil
• Measuring tape
• X-Acto knife
• Glitter (optional)
• Construction paper (optional)
• Scotch tape (optional)
• Cordless drill
• Drill bit
• Paperclip
• Ball bearing swivel
• Fishing line

1. Set your water bottle aside to dry once it is empty. If the bottle was used for holding liquid other than water, or has come into contact with sticky liquids, wash the bottle before use and let dry. Peel off any and all labels covering the surface of your plastic bottle. Remove the bottle cap but keep it handy, as it will be used for the hanging mechanism.

2. Surround your water bottle with rings of colored electrical tape. The tape serves three purposes. First, it's a decorative element that will brighten the appearance of your wind spinner. Second, it can cover any blemishes left by labels or adhesive glues. The electrical tape will also increase the surface tension of your plastic bottle, allowing you to make cleaner cuts that are more accurate and leave less blemishing caused by stressed plastic. Run about five lengths of electrical tape around the center of the plastic bottle. Restrict your taping to below the part of the water bottle that begins to taper inward.

3. Wrap the measuring tape around your water bottle so that only a small, narrow strip of electrical tape shows above the measuring tape. Make markings with your pencil in intervals of 3/4 inches. Remove the measuring tape and puncture the plastic bottle with your knife at one of the markings, and then cut a vertical line straight down to the bottom of the electrical tape section. Repeat this at every point that a pencil marking has been made. It's okay if the lines aren't exactly straight.

4. Squish down your plastic bottle so that the strips naturally fold out. Increase this fold by creasing the middle of each strip. When you have made what looks like one uniform crease surrounding the middle of your plastic bottle, twist the tops and bottoms of each strip to create a triangular fold that will help the plastic bottle catch wind and spin. The strip tops should be folded 45 degrees to the right, while the bottoms are folded 45 degrees to the left.

5. Decorate your wind spinner if you'd like; this step is optional. Some ideas include clipping shapes from the colored electric tape; clipping shapes from construction paper to be attached with clear tape; or applying a light adhesive and some glitter. Substitute your own ideas and be as creative as you'd like.

6. Create a hole through the top of the bottle cap using a cordless drill and a drill bit. The size of the drill bit doesn't matter, so long as two straightened ends of a paperclip can fit through. This step should be completed by an adult.

7. Straighten the paper clip out and thrust one end through the hole of a ball bearing swivel. A ball bearing swivel can be purchased at any store dealing in fishing accessories, and it helps the wind spinner turn freely without twisting the line. Bend the paper clip in half so that two pieces of paper clip, similar in length, hang down from the ball bearing swivel. Push the paper clip through the opening in the bottle cap until the ball bearing swivel is just above the bottle cap. Fan out the two paper clip ends underneath the bottle cap so that the ball bearing swivel is anchored in place.

8. Screw the bottle cap back onto the wind spinner. Attach a length of fishing line 2 or 3 feet long to the other end of the ball bearing swivel, allowing the wind spinner to hang freely. Find a branch or other appropriate hanging implement in your yard to tie the other end of the fishing line around. Try to pick an area of your yard that experiences more wind.

Tips & Warnings

• The use of sharpened instruments, such as X-Acto knifes, should only be attempted under adult supervision. Adult supervision is also recommended when using lighters. The drill should be used by an adult.

References

• CraftsForAllSeasons.com: Pop Bottle Wind Spinner
• FreeCraftUnlimited.com: Plastic Pop Bottle Wind Spinners