How to Make a Hanging Plastic Bottle Fish
Many people choose to recycle plastic bottles instead of throwing them away. You can recycle by placing your bottles into a recycling bin and having them picked up when your trash is taken away, or you can use your bottles to make something new. One easy craft is to make fish out of plastic bottles and hang them as decorations.
Things You'll Need
- Plastic bottle
- Soap
- Paper towel
- Adhesive remover
- Knife
- Scissors
- Utility knife
- Needle
- Fishing line
- Spray paint
- Hot glue gun
- Googly eyes
- CD
Instructions
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1
Remove the label from a 20-ounce plastic soda bottle. Remove the cap and discard it. Use soap and water to clean the inside and outside of the bottle. Dry the outside using paper towels. If any adhesive remains, use adhesive remover to clean it off.
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2
Use a serrated knife to cut off the top of the bottle just below the neck. Also cut off the bottom the bottle, about two inches up. Use extreme care when cutting the bottle. Make sure the bottle is lying on its side and that you hold it firmly with your other hand.
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3
Dry the inside of the bottle with a paper towel.
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4
Use a pair of scissors to cut two triangles out of the bottom of the bottle. The triangles should be about two and half inches at the base and parallel to one another. This will be the fish's mouth.
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5
With the scissors, cut one of the triangular segments in half so you have two tall triangles.
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6
With a utility knife, make two 1-inch slits in the underside of the bottle, somewhere near the middle. Insert one of the long triangles into each slit to make the fish's fins.
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7
Thread a needle with a two-foot length of fishing line and pass it through the bottle opposite where the fins are. Pass the needle and fishing line back through, about a half inch further up the bottle. Tie the ends of the fishing line together.
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8
Use the tied fishing line to hang the fish from a tree outside, away from your home or any furniture.
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9
Spray the entire bottle fish with clear spray paint, making sure to hold the container at least 10 inches away from the bottle. Allow the paint to dry, which should take approximately five minutes. Apply a second coat in a color of your choosing and allow the paint to dry thoroughly.
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10
Use a hot glue gun to apply two large googly eyes to the fish's head.
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11
Make two more fish following Steps 1 through 10.
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12
Use a screwdriver to push three screws through an old CD or DVD. The holes should be about a half inch from the edge of the disc and evenly spaced. Remove the screws.
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13
Spray-paint the printed side of the disc any color and allow the paint to dry.
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14
Pass the tied ends of the fishing line through the holes in the CD, making sure the spray-painted side of the CD is pointing down. Bring together the three ends of the fishing line and tie them all together.
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15
Hang the knotted end of the fishing line over a hook in the ceiling to display your bottle fish.
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