Creative Ways to Reuse Plastic Bottles

Recycle and repurpose plastic bottles.

Recycling and reusing is important for the health of our planet and while taking your plastic bottles to a recycling plant is surely an effective way to eliminate waste, consider using the bottles as the basis for craft projects. Using these bottles for crafts both reduces waste, and allows you to use your creativity in a positive way.

Baby Toy

Create a one-of-a-kind baby toy from a recycled plastic bottle. Remove the label from and boil a plastic water bottle or 12 ounce soda bottle. Once the bottle dries, fill it half way with a variety of different items that make noise; dried rice, uncooked macaroni, coins or paper clips, for example. Fill the inside of the cap with non-toxic glue and tightly twist it back onto the bottle. Cut lengths of colorful ribbon and tie them tightly around the top of the bottle. Babies will enjoy shaking the bottles to hear the noise they make, as well as feeling the ribbons.

Vase

Turn a plastic bottle into a decorative flower vase. Again, thoroughly clean out and remove any labels from the bottle. Use a craft knife to remove the top portion of the bottle. Decorate the outside of the bottle with different colored acrylic paint, faux gemstones and beads. Once the decorations on the bottle have dried, fill it with water and set a bouquet of fresh flowers inside.

Bowling Game

Recycle several plastic bottles and use them as bowling pins. Remove the labels from and clean out 10 plastic soda or water bottles. Use acrylic paint to decorate the outside of the bottles any way you wish and fill them 1/3 full with water to give them some weight and make the easier to stand. Once the paint on the bottles has dried, arrange them in a triangular formation on the ground. Stand a predetermined distance away from the plastic bottle pins and use a small ball to try to knock them down. Give players two chances to try to knock all of the pins down. This is an ideal game for children or a backyard party.

Candy Dish

Make a goblet-shaped candy dish from an empty plastic soda or water bottle. Clean out and remove the labels from an empty plastic bottle. Use a craft knife to cut the bottom off of the bottle. Remove the lid from the bottle and run glue around the top of the opening of the bottle. Place the top of the bottle inside the bottom portion of the bottle that was cut off; the bottom portion of the bottle serves as the base of the goblet. Once the glue dries, fill the bottle with candy and set it out.

References

• Kaboose: Kids' Goblet