RECYCLED PLASTIC BOTTLE CRAFTS!

January 30, 2021 Leave a comment
Plastic bottle creature.

Here we are, let’s catch up. I managed to make 5 different recycled plastic bottle crafts, that being creature/animals. propped up as you can see all together.

Two into money boxes and the other three into a choice of spiders and an octopus.

The shape determined the creature I was going to make and what animal it best resembled.

Then I asked myself when it’s finished, how else can we use these creations, possibly in a more practicle way.

So as an ornament or to play with that’s fine, but they could be a bit more versatile, so I transformed a couple of these into something a bit more useful, like a savings bank.

one being a Piggy bank and the other an Elephant bank/money box (you can call it Ellie or Elliott bank any name that suits an elephant).

Let’s get on with it and start with the Elephant money box.

1) ELEPHANT MONEY BOX

Made out of antibacterial spray bottle.

RESOURCES!

What you need for this project.

  • 1 plastic spray bottle.

  • 1 2ltr milk carton.

  • Acrylic paints blue/black/white.

  • A glue gun/paintbrush.

  • A cut out paper template of an Elephants ear your choice and size.

  • scissors/stanley knife/scalpel.

  • Black felt-tip pen.

  • 2 large googly eyes.

Just like to mention.

Below are 3 craft tools that I use in all my craft projects and recommend you have within your tool kit.

A mini glue gun.
A dress makers scissors.
A standard stanley knife.

The mini glue gun is a very handy tool and takes 7mm x 100mm glue sticks. When heated up the glue stick melts easily.

This large dress makers scissors is robust and can cut through rubber, plastic and is very durable.

A very useful tool a must have to helping piercing through plastics and is very stable. It’s not flimsy and blades retracts.

Where to find:- Hobbycraft,  Amazon,  Ebay and most Art/tool suppliers.

This is how to make our Ellie/Elliott bank.

1. From the milk bottle, cut out the main part, then cut into 2 sections.
1. From the milk bottle, cut out the main part, then cut into 2 sections.
2. Flatten out and draw ears using paper template as a guide.
2. Flatten out and draw ears using paper template as a guide.
3. Cut out, as shown.
3. Cut out, as shown.
4. Lay down bottle and cut out a slit on top.
4. Lay down bottle and cut out a slit on top.
5. Apply hot glue on ear and stick on either side of the bottle.
5. Apply hot glue on ear and stick on either side of the bottle.
6. Glue on googly eyes.
6. Glue on googly eyes.
7. Mix your paints up and now paint the whole bottle.
7. Mix your paints up and now paint the whole bottle.
9. Paint the end of the nose and draw on the nostrils. This is the finished Elephant.
9. Paint the end of the nose and draw on the nostrils. This is the finished Elephant.

2) PIGGY BANK

Made from a lemon squash plastic bottle.

RESOURCES!

What you need for this project.

  • 1 medium size plastic bottle/2 Googly eyes.

  • Scissors/Stanley knife/paintbrush,

  • Acrylic paints/pink/white.

  • 4 pull-out bottle tops.

  • Black felt tip pens.

  • Glue gun/Glue stick.

  • Pink/yellow papers.

  • Flower punch.

  • Odd pieces of milk bottle plastic.

This is how to make a Piggy bank.

1. Lay bottle down and hot glue on 4 bottle tops.
1. Lay bottle down and hot glue on 4 bottle tops.
2. Position equally these are the legs.
2. Position equally these are the legs.
3. With milk bottle plastic cut out 2 ears and a long piece for tail.
3. With milk bottle plastic cut out 2 ears and a long piece for tail.
4. Flatten ears and hot glue either side near the spout end.
4. Flatten ears and hot glue either side near the spout end.
5. Glue on googly eyes in front of the ears.
5. Glue on googly eyes in front of the ears.
6. Draw a line where you want the coin to go in.
6. Draw a line where you want the coin to go in.
7. Now pierce the plastic and cut a neat slit.
7. Now pierce the plastic and cut a neat slit.
8. Mix the paints and paint ears, nose.
8. Mix the paints and paint ears, nose.
9. Paint the legs/feet.
9. Paint the legs/feet.
10. Punch out flowers glue on body and paint nostrils on lid.
10. Punch out flowers glue on body and paint nostrils on lid.
11. Curl the plastic tail with scissors and paint.
11. Curl the plastic tail with scissors and paint.
12. Hot glue on the back of the bottle.
12. Hot glue on the back of the bottle.
13. All is completed now.
13. All is completed now.
14. Add a bow of your choice if you like with hot glue.
14. Add a bow of your choice if you like with hot glue.
15. Finished Piggy bank.
15. Finished Piggy bank.

3) SPIDERS/OCTOPUS! (use same method for all 3 types of creatures)

Made from plastic mineral water bottles.

RESOURCES! (to make 1 creature.)

What you need for this project.

  • 1 Plastic mineral water bottle.

  • Acrylic paints Black/White/Blue.

  • Paintbrush.

  • Scissors/Stanley knife/Scalpel.

  • Glue gun.

  • Black felt tip pen.

  • 2 Googly eyes.

This is how to make our spiders/octopus.

1) These are our 3 characters.
1) These are our 3 characters.
2) Start off by cutting away the spout.
2) Start off by cutting away the spout.
3) Now draw 2 fangs and 8 equal legs all the way round.
3) Now draw 2 fangs and 8 equal legs all the way round.
4) Cut carefully all the legs.
4) Cut carefully all the legs.
5) Remove all bits inbetween the legs.
5) Remove all bits inbetween the legs.
6) This is how a large spider or octupus would look like.
6) This is how a large spider or octupus would look like.
7) This is what a smaller spider would look like with wider legs and a smaller head part.
7) This is what a smaller spider would look like with wider legs and a smaller head part.
8) Now mix up your paints blue/grey for octopus and black for a spider.
8) Now mix up your paints blue/grey for octopus and black for a spider.
9) Decorate with streaks and dots.
9) Decorate with streaks and dots.
10) Now glue on the googly eyes.
10) Now glue on the googly eyes.
11) This is the finished octopus.
11) This is the finished octopus.
12) This is the finished spider with fangs.
12) This is the finished spider with fangs.
13) Spider and octopus.
13) Spider and octopus.
14) These are the 2 types of spiders. One with fangs and smaller friendly spider.
14) These are the 2 types of spiders. One with fangs and smaller friendly spider.

TIPS!

  • Acrylic paints work better without water, Plastic tends to repel watered down acrylic paint.
  • Allow the paint to dry, before applying a second coat, so the colour will be more denser.
  • The milk bottle plastic is softer and can be curled with the sharp side of a scissors. Use this method ot curl the ears and tail.
  • To take the money out of the Piggy or Elephant bank unscrew the lid or the top of the bottle and tilt unit for money to roll out.
  • I always collect bottle tops, knowing they will come in handy one day and the pigs legs/feet are the spouts off kids drinks.
  • If you desire a glossy finish you can apply PVA glue all over your creature. This is optional.
  • With the piggay bank, as a final touch you can tie up some ribbon into a bow. (optional)
  • Reminder for childrens safety, adults to do the cutting with stanley knife or scalpel as these are sharp instruments.

TO CONCLUDE!

I have shown you how you can whip up simple recycled bottle crafts. That being a Elephant money box, a Piggy bank, a couple of spiders and an Octopus.

Simply don’t throw out your plastic bottles any kind, including your plastic milk bottle. Collect them and keep them for these kind of projects.

It’s also good to have enough resources on hand. A simple glue gun is very useful tool to have, acrylic paints, cutting tools and embellishments.

You can decorate how you like. I have used what resources and tools I already have. (keeping in mind recycling) and of course you can follow my ideas.

Finally, check out some recommended items which might be of use to you. These tools are in my repertoire of art equiptment and would defintely be without, as mentioned above.

HEADS UP!

I will be featuring more plastic bottle crafts as we move on, so watch this space for future projects!

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