How to Recycle Soda Bottles into Craft Projects
Turn used soda bottles into craft projects that help teach your kids that recycling can be fun, as well as helpful for the environment. Choose a project that interests your child and that meets his skill level. Depending on your child's age and ability, supervise or complete any project steps requiring scissors or other sharp objects. Look through crafting websites for inspiration and ideas for modifying projects.
Things You'll Need
- Plastic 2-liter bottle
- Paper towel
- Vegetable oil
- 12-inch wood dowel
- Nail
- Scissors
- Strong cord
- Birdseed
- Craft knife
- Plastic sandwich bag, non-sealing
- Sand
- Brown craft paper
- Green tissue paper
- Red tissue paper
- Decoupage sealant or other gloss finish
- 1-inch sponge applicator
- Clear tape
- Glue stick
- Polystyrene foam disk
- Wood circle (such as lid or coaster, must fit width of bottle)
- Deer moss
- Silk flowers
- Leaves
- Artificial butterflies
- Twine
Instructions
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Bird Feeding Station
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1
Remove the cap and label from an empty 2-liter soda bottle. Soak the end of a paper towel in vegetable oil and rub it over any part of the label still stuck to the bottle to finish removing it. Wash off the oil.
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2
Poke a hole large enough to fit a 12-inch wood dowel through each side of the bottle base, using a nail. Cut a "U" shape about 2 inches above these perch holes on each side of the bottle and bend the flaps out and up.
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3
Punch two holes under the rim of the bottle and string a piece of strong cord through them. Tie the cord ends together to create a loop and hang the feeder outside.
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4
Push the dowel through the holes at the base and fill the feeder with birdseed through the top. Replace the cap.
Apple Paperweight
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5
Cut 2 1/2 inches off the bottom of a soda bottle and recycle the top portion.
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6
Fit a non-sealing sandwich bag inside of the bottle, leaving some hanging over the edge, and fill it with sand to the brim.
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7
Roll up a piece of brown craft paper to create a stem shape and glue the edge to hold it shut.
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8
Cut a 2-inch-long leaf shape from green tissue paper and apply decoupage sealant to both sides of the leaf.
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9
Attach the bottom 1/2 inch of the leaf to the stem and stick the bottom of the stem into the sand.
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10
Pull the edges of the bag over the sand in the middle and tape the bag closed.
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11
Cut strips of red tissue paper long enough to reach from the bottom edge of the soda bottle base, up and over to the bottom on the other side.
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12
Apply decoupage sealant to one side of each strip, then lay them one at a time over the bottle and bag. Cover the entire base, working around the stem, and repeat the process with a second layer of red tissue.
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13
Cover the whole apple form with decoupage sealant and allow it to dry completely before using it as a paperweight.
Dome Display
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14
Remove the cap and label from a soda bottle. Soak the end of a paper towel in vegetable oil and rub it over any part of the label still stuck to the bottle to remove it. Wash off the oil and dry the bottle.
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15
Cut off the top of the bottle at the point where it stops curving. Recycle the top portion.
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16
Cut a polystyrene foam disk to fit the width of the bottle. Glue the disk to a wood circle, which also needs to fit the width of the bottle, to create a display base.
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17
Glue moss over the entire foam surface and add fake flowers, greens and butterflies to the moss, as desired.
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18
Place the bottle dome over the base several times during the decorating process to make sure that everything fits and looks how you want it to.
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19
Position the bottle dome over the display when you're satisfied with the set up and glue the edge to the wood base. Wrap twine around the seam and tie it to further secure it.
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20
Glue flowers, leaves or other decorations on the top of the soda bottle to finish the project.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Do not allow young children to cut or poke holes in the bottles; do this step for them to ensure their safety.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Bottles of mineral water with a glass. Isolated image by mashe from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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Great idea
