Does anyone have any uses for used plastic soda pop bottles?
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There is a product called the ReCapper that I purchased for 99cents from AC Moore. I cut the bottle to the size I want and use the cap to make a storage container out of it
If kids are about, they can use them for bowling pins, the bottles can be empty, or weighted with a little sand or water. Or, cut off the bottom of the bottle, and let the kids use them for sand/water scoops and funnels. Another game is to fill several bottles with different levels of water and blow across the top, or plunk with a pencil to get different sounds.
If slugs are about, remove the bottle lid; cut off the top 1/3 of the bottle, turn that upside down, and put it back into the bottle. Staple at rim to keep together. Put slug bait inside the bottle, lay it on its side in the garden. This keeps the bait away from pets, and makes it hard for slugs to find their way back out.
They can be used in the garden for drip irrigation; fill the bottle with water, poke a pinhole near the bottom, and set next to a plant.
Another garden use is to cut off the bottom of the bottle and set the bottle over small plants as a mini greenhouse. The bottom part that was cut off can be used as a saucer under a plant pot.
You could put water in the bottles and freeze them to take up unused space in your freezer, or to put in coolers for picnics.
Fill with warm water and use for a hot-water bottle to warm your toes. - MC
Fill a large 1 or 2 liter soda bottle with warm water & cap tightly & use as a foot massager by rolling your feet on it.
Fill a bottle with water & freeze & use as a cold pack for a lunch or picnic box. Use a frozen bottle as an ice pack for injuries. -
Alekscat the frugal feline/Richmond,VA
There is a lady in my area who cuts them into
pretty lanterns.I tried one but still need Lots more practice.I guess I should have drawn the lines on before I cut them.First I cut off the top & bottom,then I tried to cut at 1/4" intervals.When I got all the way around I pinched each strip in the middle.Then I guess you can punch a couple of holes in the top & hang them over a light bulb.I even filched 2 red bottles out of the recycling dumpster to match with my green ones for Christmas Decor.My friend Judi makes angels out of them with that pleated Craft paper for Robes & Wings,pipe cleaner arms & halos & styrofoam balls for heads.I guess she uses yarn for hair & paints on the faces with craft paint or markers.This works with any size bottle.
For the large soda bottles I use them to put kool aid in, they lay nicely in frig. Put water in to make ice.
The little ones, like 16 oz or 12 oz I take the cover off the outside and with an ice pick put several holes in the top to make salt and pepper shakers.
This idea can also be used for the twist off type bottles, Beer bottles for those beer drinkers as a gift.
Twist off bottle types drill a hole in the top to fit the little light bulbs in and you have your own drink style outside lighting string.
I wash them out.Paint designs on them with patio paint. Use dollar store spray enamel to spray them. I then cut out a few holes in the bottom. Two on each side at the neck area so I can add a wire to hang them. Then I cut two holes about the size of a quarter on one side and beneath those holes i cut slits and I paint twigs(nice ones) and place as perches. You have a nice insulated,decorative birdhouse that stands up to weather. They can be made into feeders too. Just make holes all over another bottle. I cut my holes with an exacto knife and scissors (Boy are they awsome)
The plastic rings around the neck can be taken off and tied together to make sturdy trellises for climbing vines. Any type of drink rings can work like that. You can also tie them together and use them for a temperary fence for your flowers.Just Use sticks at each side of your flower bed and attatch the rings on them.Also if you have enough, stick twigs in the ground around your beds(plant beds) and just place the rings on the twigs stacking them up on the twigs.
Paint folk art designs onto them with patio paint. spray with a sealer. Don't use the caps.Turn the bottle upside down and place it over twigs around your flower bed.You could even go cheap and just use a few colors,nothing real fancy.Patio paint is like $2 and it's sold near the acrylic paint.This is a great way to reuse old exterior house paint.
The plastic ring below the cap and a metal beer bottle cap fit together perfectly and make cool pins for shirts and hats.
Whenever we've finished the soda from a 2-liter bottle, I don't throw it away. I'll reuse the bottle by making powdered drinks (like lemonade) or juice in it.
By Bea Westrate
I haven't yet tried it, and I don't remember where I read it (maybe here), but I have started collecting 2 liter bottles. I am going to be using them to "wrap" Christmas gifts this year. Once you remove the labels, you slit the bottle from right below the neck, almost to the bottom. This is where you insert the gift. But before you do, you can decorate the outside of the bottle by painting it, or stickers, or even glittery paint. When dry, insert the gift. I envision like a tshirt or maybe some small towels, bath and body lotions or whatever. Then I think you seal up the slit with clear packing tape. Finish with a ribbon garnish or a raffia tie around the neck, and you're done. I have a few younger nieces & nephews that I thought might get a kick out. Something different.
We keep almost (but not completely) full 2 liter bottles of water in the freezer:
1. Keeping your freezer full saves on energy usage.
2. Great for keeping the ice chest or cooler cold.
3. Drinking water, either for emergency use or when you're at the beach/park/fishing trip, etc. with that same ice chest or cooler! :)
use them to make ghost bowling pins or any type for fun. make little costumes for them set them up and get a small bowling ball kids size or a regular 8 pounder it saves money and gives you a great game idea for parties..
Ideas--most with pictures:
www.make-stuff.com/
familyfun.go.com/
familyfun.go.com/
jas.familyfun.go.com/
jas.familyfun.go.com/
familyfun.go.com/
www.yougrowgirl.com/
I use the smaller ones for making fish. you take the cap off and using a pair of needle nose plyers heat the cap and contort the opening to resemble the mouth of a fish. i generally use a candle and do this outside. then cut the bottom about a half an inch up all the way around. On a piece of paper draw a simple fish. just top fin bottom fin and tail. I usually cut a V in the top with the larger part more towards the back and the same on the bottom. For the back fin i pinch the sides together to make it as flat as i possibly can and just cut a cresent out of the plastic. Your fish will look very odd. Here is where the magic happens. Use decopage, paint, anything you would like and do it on the inside of the bottle. Then staple about 2 inches up from the tail fins towards the mouth. this will create a body and the fins will pop up. I usually staple a piece of fishing line on the top of the head to hang. They actually look like glass fish and you can hang outside. I even went as far as placing them around my deck with some clear lights inside. I have never done one with the 2 liter bottles but am sure you could. Just would be the big one that didnt get away.....Hope you have fun. great craft to do with kids too.
cut off top about 3 inches down and stick top without cap into soil of houseplants. Pour water into it like a funnel. Lets water really get down to roots and keeps mess to a minimum
I made Halloween ghosts and used the plastic soda bottle as a base. Fill with water, replace the lid. Attach a filled balloon a top with tape. Using BIG flour cloth (cheap at surplus, dime stores) dip cloth in a stiffening solution of elmer's glue and water. Drape wet cloth over form. Tie a string around the base of the balloon to make the head. Stuff tissue paper under wet cloth to "form" ghost. Use straight pins to hold form together, making arms in position. Let dry.Now all you do is paint a face and maybe add some of that creepy cotton like stuff around bottom and on places on the ghost. I put a witches hat made of felt on one and on the other I put a play tiarra on top and had it holding a wand - a witch ghost and a princess ghost. You could probably do the same and make a snowman.
The bottles are great to save paint when painting a room. Since the surface is smaller than in the paint can there is less "skin" on the top of the paint. You can see what color the paint is. Before pouring the paint in the bottlel (with a funnel) add a couple of marbles. When needed simply shake well and use. No need to stir as the marbles did the work for you. My daughter has saved paint in both the small bottles as well as the 2 liter bottles. Use permanent marker to write name of brand, color, room used in, etc.
Stanlie
Great idea Stanlie. I'd never thought of using marbles to be able to mix up the paint.
My boyfriend takes one filled with water when he goes out hunting. If he's going back the next morning, he'll leave it. One less thing to carry to his "spot".
The 2 ltr. size is just right for holding tea, Kool Aid, reconstituted milk, ice water and whatever other liquid that seems suitable.
All sizes are good to reuse... replace the original contents with your own tap water, cola, or whatever. Here, they're also good for storing (Brita) filtered water.
Place any sized bottle filled 2/3 full of water into the freezer. Let it freeze. The resulting giant ice 'cube' can cool other things like in a tailgate cooler or a smaller one in a lunch box b4 it melts which then is used for drinking. The bottle isn't filled completely to allow for expansion as it turns to ice.
If you don't mind using a funnel, you can store dried or powdered foods, birdseed or small pet kibble.
Cut a few holes in a 1 or 2 liter sized pop bottle, large enough thru which you'd place biscuits or other treats then give it to your pet to play with. It will keep him occupied while pushing it around, hearing the resulting noise then working to extract the treats thru the holes you cut.
There are instructions on the web on how to make a terrarium in one. Use your imagination :o)
I am looking for a recipe for making Santas out of 2 liter soda bottles. I cannot seem to find the instructions for the clothing which I believe is made from old tea towels and some sort of stiffening agent. I would so appreciate any help anyone can provide. Many Thanks for a great site.
Susan McArthur dmcarthur4 AT cogeco.ca
I have cut the top and bottom of 2-litter pop bottles cut from the top to the bottom to make a large rectangle. On this I paint fishes that I then cut out and hang unto a wire hanger that I rounded up into a mobile for my grandchildren. Use fishing line of different length to hang the fishes. Very bright and colorful. I use patio paint if it is for outside and acrylic paint if it is for inside. You can also paint pretty flowers from your plastic rectangles. Try it.
You can do a great floating construction for cool water fun activities.
You need:120 plastic 2L bottles, duct tape, scissors, any hard light cover (plastic, plywood, etc, for instance, your old table cover)
Preparation: Make sure all the bottles are empty and caps are put on tightly.
Step 1.
Put 10 plastic bottles on the floor in a row, side to side and stick them together with duct tape. Make 11 more rows - twelve in total.
Step 2.
Make the first level from 6 rows and stick them together with duct tape. Make the second level the same way.
Step 3.
Stick both levels together by duck tape.
Step 4.
Put the hard light cover (plastic, plywood, etc, for instance, your old table cover) on top and tape it on with duct tape to two levels of plastic bottles.
It can hold up to 2 grown up people and will most likely become your best water friend.
check the pictures here: livegreenstyle.com/
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