Going Green: Crafty Ways to Recycle and Reuse Your Plastic Bottles

Plastic bottles have many different uses so reuse them instead of throwing them away. Less waste is always a good thing. Here are some ideas that will help you recycle your plastic bottles instead of throwing them away.

Plastic bottles can be cut in half in order to make self watering planters for seedlings. Fill the top of the bottle with dirt and plant your seeds in them. Making sure the dirt is packed in the bottle well, next remove the cap, and place the pot in the bottom half of the plastic bottle and water it. This setup will water the plant itself and require you to water the plant less. The plant will soak up the water from the bottom part of the bottle.

You can also cut the bottom part of a bottle and fill it with potpourri. To disguise your bottle hot glue some lace or ribbon around the top of the bottle. You can also add beads or strands of a fancy braid to the top in order to add some fun to the piece.

Plastic bottles are also helpful when making wind socks. Simple cut the ends of the bottle to create a cylinder. Paint it on the inside and poke 3 holes in the top of the bottle. Now tie 3 strings to the holes and make them into a knot. This is the part of the thread that you will hang the wind sock with. Now attach ribbons or strips of fabric on the other end of the tube. You can tie them into holes, or you can glue them on with a glue gun.

Plastic bottles also make great funnels. I particularly like to use the bottles that have handles. In order to make a plastic bottle funnel cut the bottom of the bottle off. You can make different size funnels with different size bottles.

You can also make ice packs with plastic bottles. Simply fill them half way with water and freeze them. Now you can have ice packs free and whenever you want them. You can also freeze different size bottles for different problems.

Another awesome use for plastic bottles is to make a chandelier. Simple make a hoop out of some wire, and string the bottles around it. This works especially well for bottles with handles, but bottles with regular tops can be wired to the hoop. Next you will need a string of lights and put a light in each bottle. Tie some rope to the top of the hoop and hang the lamp.

I hope these ideas inspire you to make things out of plastic bottles that you wouldn't normally make. Next time you are going to throw something out think about what else you could do with it!

Recycled Teen Crafts: Purses

 

Recycled crafts are very popular, and they should be. It is good to use recycled materials when crafting, and it is something that your teens will enjoy. This article will provide you with step-by-step instructions for creating several different purses out of recycled materials; and you teen will love completing these projects with you.

Dish Towels Purse

Dish towels come in many fun patterns and designs, and they are inexpensive. Teens will love the purses they can make with dish towels. For this recycled craft you will need needle, thread, ribbon, scissors, and a dish towel.

Start by folding the dish towel so the outside is on the inside, but allow about 3 inches of extra material on one side. Help teens thread the needle, and sew the sides together. Make sure to sew them a few times to make them stronger.

Help teens cut the ribbon so it is long enough for a shoulder strap and sew it to the inner sides of the purse. This teen craft is quick and it uses recycled materials to create a unique purse.

Pocket purse

Another easy purse can be made using recycled pockets, fabric glue, scissors, needle, thread, and ribbon. Start this craft by cutting out a couple pockets from different items of old clothing. Then decide how to assemble your purse. An easy way to do this is by starting with the biggest pocket, and gluing the smaller pocket onto the side of it. Remember you can sandwich the pockets together to create multiple areas to this purse craft.

When all of the pockets have dried, help teens cut a piece of ribbon long enough to be a strap. Thread the needle and sew the straps to the inside of the biggest pocket. This unique recycled purse is a great way to get your teens to be creative.

Pant Leg Purse

Instead of throwing away your ribbed pants, teens can recycle them into a purse. For this craft you will need an old pair of pants, scissors, needle, and thread. Start this craft by cutting off the bottom of one pant leg. Make sure you cut straight across the leg and it is long enough for your desired purse length.

Turn the pant leg piece inside out, and thread the needle. Help teens sew across the cut edge of the paint piece and tie the thread in a knot to secure it. Then cut three long strips from the other pant leg, and braid them together. Tie the ends in a knot and sew the knot to the inside of the purse to complete this recycled craft.

Creating recycled purses is fun for teen, and it will allow them to understand how important it is to recycled. Try these crafts with your teens, and you will both have a great time.

3 Fun Recycled T-Shirt Crafts

 

Everyone has t-shirts that they love but they no longer wear. Maybe you outgrew your favorite t-shirt, or maybe it got a hole in a very unflattering place; either way there are some awesome ways you can recycle your t-shirt to make it last many more years. There are several fun ways to reuse old t-shirts, and this article will inspire you to bust out your old shirts and get crafting.

My favorite simple t-shirt craft is the t-shirt pillow; it is easy and a great item you will use for years to come. All you will need for this project is an old t-shirt, needle, thread, scissors, and some stuffing. Now simply cut the sleeves of the shirt and the neck of the shirt so it makes a square. Next you will need to turn the shirt inside out, and thread your needle. Start sewing at the left or right side corner of the shirt where you cut the sleeve off. Continue sewing until you have sewn completely three sides around the square. Now sew half of the final side, and turn the square right side out. Fill the pillow with stuffing until it is a good density, and sew until the square is completely sealed. This project makes an awesome pillow out of a shirt you might have thrown away.

Another fun shirt project is a shirt purse. This project is easy, and it is a good way to recycle; all you will need is a shirt, scissors, and needle and thread. Simply turn the shirt inside out. Sew the top edge of the shirt, where your head would go, shut. Next cut the sleeves off of the shirt, and sew the holes shut. If this shirt is long sleeved this is helpful, but you can use short sleeved shirts as well. If the shirt has long sleeves you can use them as a strap; if not you can use a strong ribbon or piece of felt. Just sew the sleeve ends to the sides of the bottom of the shirt, and you have an awesome bag.

Another fun way to save a t-shirt that means a lot to you is making a t-shirt pot holder. For this project you will need a piece of felt, an old shirt, scissors, needle, and thread. Now simply cut out the part of the shirt you like. If there is a picture or a fun pocket cut out a square that is suitable for a pot holder. Next cut a piece of felt slightly bigger than the t-shirt piece. Now lay the shirt on top f the felt, and sew around all of the edges. Cut a small strip from the felt and sew it to one of the corners of the square. Now you have completed your potholder, and you have recycled one of your favorite shirts.

There are many ways to recycle things found around your home into fun and useful craft projects. I hope these ideas have helped you to reuse some of the items you might throw out.