How to Paint a Plastic Bottle
Let your kids help you turn trash to treasure by painting empty plastic water or soda bottles to become functional objects like paperweights, door stops or containers to hold objects such as paper clips, spare change or tiny shells from the beach. Create the colorful containers to match your favorite shades or the tone of the other room accessories. Use the proper tools and technique to coat the bottles with acrylic paint and ensure the painted designs won't flake or peel.
Things You'll Need
- Plastic bottle
- Dishwashing soap
- Scissors
- Paper towels
- Newspaper or plastic sheet
- Acrylic paint
- Paper plates
- Paintbrushes
- Decoupage glaze or acrylic paint sealer
Instructions
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1
Wash the plastic bottle you plan to paint in warm water using dishwashing soap. Let the inside of the bottle dry overnight.
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2
Prepare the outside of the bottle for painting by using scissors to remove the label. Wipe the bottle with paper towels to remove any water drops or water spots left from the washing process.
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3
Protect your table from paint spills by covering the work surface with newspapers or a plastic sheet.
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4
Pour the acrylic paint colors onto paper plates to make them easy to access. Provide a paintbrush for each shade so you won't have to repeatedly wash and dry a single brush throughout the painting process.
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5
Apply a bottom coat of acrylic paint to the entire bottle with a dry paintbrush. Apply two to three coats of the background color since the first thin coat may appear translucent. Let the paint dry for at least 20 minutes between coats.
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Add detail to the bottle such as stripes, polka dots, flowers or geometric shapes with a dry paintbrush using contrasting or complementary colors of paint. Allow the designs in one color to dry for at least 20 minutes before overlapping them with designs in another shade so the colors don't blend.
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Seal the designs by painting the bottle with a layer of clear decoupage glaze or an acrylic paint sealer using a dry paintbrush. Let the bottle dry overnight before using it.
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Tips & Warnings
If the bottle label leaves scraps of paper or sticky adhesive residue on the surface, apply three drops of an adhesive remover solution and use your fingernail or a blunt wood stick to scrape off the deposits. Apply three additional drops of solution; then wipe the solution off with a soft cloth to remove any cloudy film that remains.
To make the acrylic paints appear vibrant and opaque on the plastic bottle with just one or two coats, apply a thin layer of white gesso---a paint-like artist's medium sold at craft, scrapbooking and art supply stores---with a paintbrush. Let the gesso dry for at least 30 minutes before applying the acrylic paint.
Turn the painted bottles into paperweights or door stops by pouring marbles, small rocks or glass pebbles into the bottle until it is half full.
Discard the cap of the plastic bottle if younger children are helping you paint the craft projects. If a child is still in the habit of putting small objects into his or her mouth, the small plastic shape can pose a choking hazard.
