Since global warming is becoming more severe, many of us are trying to opt for more sustainable practices. Today, June 5, is World Environment Day, which is a day designated by the United Nations to work towards sustainability. The 2023 theme is “Solutions to Plastic Pollution,” which covers the impacts of microplastics.
One way to recycle plastic and reduce pollution is to turn plastic bottles into crafts. So to protect the environment, here are seven crafts.
1. Plastic cup bunny
Next time you use a plastic cup for a party, don’t toss the extra or the used ones away. As long as the cup is sanitized, you can make a bunny. Purchase a marker, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and cardboard paper. Then, cut out the ears, nose, and whiskers using construction paper, scissors, and a pipe cleaner. Top it off with googly eyes and draw a happy face.
2. Plant holders
This craft is convenient if you have an empty large Pepsi bottle. Cut the bottle in the middle. Then, paint the bottom part of the bottle white. When the paint dries, draw your favorite character. Once you’re happy with your art, add some soil and a seed. Water your plant frequently and wait for it to grow.
3. Paper cup lanterns
If you’re going to a festival, you can make a lantern. After designing your cup with patterns and doodles, hole punch two sides of the cup. Then, thread yarn through the two holes to make a handle. After that, insert a flameless candle at the bottom. Now, you have a lantern!
4. Plastic bottle flowers
You can make these beautiful flowers from used water bottles with acrylic paint, scissors, string lights, and a pen. Begin by cutting off the top portion of your water bottle near the lid.
Once you’re done, cut curved edges on the opposite side of the cap. These will be your petals – bend them towards the cap to make a flower. After, paint the flower any color you wish.
Then, reapply the bottle cap and insert a hole in the middle. You can thread a string light through the hole. And voila, you’ll have colorful flowers illuminating your room.
5. Galaxy sensory bottles
These sensory bottles filled with beautiful colors are a great tool for relaxation. Besides an empty plastic water bottle, you need glitter glue, hair gel, glow-in-the-dark paint, some glow-in-the-dark stars or moons, and super glue. After applying the glitter glue, add glow-in-the-dark paint. Then, add hair gel until the bottle fills up. The last step is to throw the stars and moons in the bottle and superglue the lid onto the bottle.
6. Fairy house
If you love fairytales, try making this fairy house from a plastic bottle. All you need to do is separate the top and the bottom sections. Then, cut the top section to add texture and apply acrylic paint. For the bottom, cut out a rectangular hole in the middle and add sand or soil.
Place a flameless candle once the soil reaches the bottom of the rectangular hole. You can also use another plastic bottle to make some flowers for the side. And bravo, you have a Disney palace.
7. Bumblebee
You can also use plastic bottles to make animals, such as bumblebees. For this craft, you’ll need to paint your bottle yellow with black stripes. Once the paint is dry, you can draw some cute eyes and add a smiley face. For the antennas, make two holes on the bottle cap, and stick pipe cleaners or use cardboard paper. You can use cardboard paper for the wings as well.
Overall, there are plenty of ways to recycle those plastic water bottles left inside your fridge and protect the environment. So next time you’re traveling, do not throw them away. Instead, repurpose them by making a craft. It will do wonders for the environment, and you’ll have a little fun too.
Featured image via Jo Szczepanska on Unsplash
Great! Have a nice day.