Reusing empty plastic bottles is an excellent way to reduce waste and get creative with crafting. With a little imagination, these discarded bottles can be transformed into fun, functional items for your home, garden, office, or classroom. We’ve compiled 20 of the most ingenious ways to give empty bottles new life.
Make Cute Coin Banks
Turn plastic bottles into whimsical coin banks for saving up spare change. Clean and dry the bottles thoroughly. For a piggy bank, glue on googly eyes and pink construction paper for ears and a snout. Use a utility knife to cut a coin slot in the top. Get creative with shapes and decorations—you can make a robot, owl, unicorn, or anything you dream up!
Create Vase Centerpieces
Fashion plastic drink bottles into chic centerpieces. Cut the bottoms off, then thoroughly clean and dry the leftover tops. Grab some fresh flowers from your garden or a bundle of baby’s breath and arrange them in the bottle tops. Cluster a few together for wedding receptions, luncheons, or everyday dining room decor.
Craft Clever Pencil Holders
Organize writing utensils in repurposed bottles. Thoroughly clean and dry the bottles, then decorate with stickers, acrylic paint, ribbon, and other embellishments. Fill with pencils, pens, markers, paint brushes, and more. Make one for your desk at home, the office, or your child’s classroom.
Build Bottle Cap Magnets
Transform plastic bottle caps into magnetic memo holders and art. Cut out shapes from scrapbook paper, photos, comic strips, calendars, or wrapping paper and adhere them to the underside of caps with a strong glue. Coat the exterior with clear nail polish or Mod Podge to seal. Glue magnet strips to the back and stick them on your fridge for an instant memo board.
Fashion Spoon Vases
Adorn your kitchen or dining room table with decorative spoon vases made from plastic bottles. Clean and dry the bottles, then carefully make a few angled cuts with a utility knife to create a neck. Glue the neck of the “vase” around a spoon. Arrange small flower bouquets or succulents in the spoons.
Craft Rain Sticks
Make musical rain sticks from empty bottles. Add some kid-friendly creativity to this project by decorating the outside with stickers, paint, glitter, ribbons, and more before filling. Then simply add beads, beans, rice, bells, or anything that makes noise. Seal the tops with hot glue and let the gentle rainfall sound soothe you.
Create Bottle Wind Chimes
Upcycle bottles into tranquil wind chimes for your porch, balcony, or garden. Clean and thoroughly dry the bottles. Cut the bottoms off and make sure the leftover tops are sealed shut. Attach an S-hook to the underside of each top, then string together with fishing line and a bead between each one. Hang in a breezy spot and enjoy the peaceful tones.
Fashion Bottle Votives
Light up the night with homemade luminaries. Clean and dry empty plastic bottles. For round-shaped bottles like soda and water jugs, poke holes all over the sides with a nail. Tea lights or battery-operated candles placed inside will make the bottles glow once it’s dark out. Arrange them along pathways or your patio for ambiance.
Make Trendy Plastic Yarn
Get crafty with plastic yarn made from plastic bags and bottle strips! Use scissors to cut plastic bottles and bags into long strips, similar to yarn or twine. Then simply tie them together for knitting and weaving fun. This “plarn” can be used to make baskets, rugs, rope, bracelets, and more.
Craft Clever Sprinkler Toys
Transform discarded bottles into summertime sprinkler toys. Poke holes all around the sides of the bottle, then attach a standard garden hose fitting to the mouthpiece. Turn on the water and let kids run through the rain shower created or move the bottle around to water plants.
Create Bottle Bird Feeders
Attract beautiful birds to your yard with easy DIY bottle bird feeders. Remove all labels, then cut a large opening on one side of the bottle with a utility knife. Thread twine, ribbon, or string through the mouthpiece and cap to hang. Fill the bottle with birdseed and watch your new feeder become a hit with local birds.
Make “Message in a Bottle” Notes
Write heartfelt notes and secret messages, then ceremoniously place them in bottles found on the beach or repurposed empties. Decorate the outside of the bottles with paint, lace, shells, or sea glass for extra oceanic flair. Gift your bottles to loved ones or create a driftwood and bottle centerpiece display filled with your notes.
Build Bottle Bowling Pins
Enjoy an afternoon of family bowling with handmade bottle pins. Gather empty plastic bottles in varying shapes and sizes, fill them with sand for weight, and seal. Arrange like traditional bowling pins. Then take aim with a soft ball to try for strikes and spares. This is a fun backyard game for kids and adults alike!
Craft Bottle Cap Magnets
Turn plastic bottle caps into magnetic memo holders for the fridge. Cut out shapes, photos, comics, or words from magazines, wrapping paper, old calendars, and stick them to the underside of caps with strong glue. Seal with clear nail polish or Mod Podge. Glue on magnet strips, and you have custom magnets for reminders, art, and more!
Create Hanging Planters
Upcycle plastic bottles into hanging vases and planters. Clean thoroughly, then paint or decorate as desired. Punch holes near the bottom and thread rope, twine, or wire through to hang. Add potting mix and small houseplants, succulents, herbs, or flowers for a budget DIY hanging garden. Hang by a windowsill or on the patio.
Make Luminaries
Light up the night with clever luminaries made from plastic bottles. Clean thoroughly and remove all labels. For round bottles, punch holes all over the sides with a nail. Place a tea light or small battery-operated candle inside, and the bottle will cast a beautiful glow when the sun goes down. Line walkways, patios, or gardens.
Build Bottle Cap Tables
Create cute mini side tables from plastic lids and caps. Adhere four large, flat caps or lids together in a square shape with strong glue. Screw on short legs made from dowels or scrap wood. Get creative with decorating using paint, decoupage, tiles, or miniatures to make the table tops picture-perfect.
Create Bottle Vases
Turn plastic bottles into chic vases for fresh flower arrangements. Cut the bottom portion off then thoroughly clean and dry the leftover top half. For slimmer necks, carefully make angled cuts going downward with a utility knife to shape. Decorate as desired, add water and flower stems, then display around your home.
Conclusion
With a little creativity and some basic DIY skills, empty plastic bottles can be given exciting second lives. Help reduce waste while crafting practical, decorative, and fun items for your home, office, garden, and more. Which of these plastic bottle crafts and projects will you try first? Get your family involved and turn recycling and upcycling into enjoyable activities. Our planet and wallets will thank you!