If, like us, you enjoy making crafts and DIY projects but also care deeply about the environment, making crafts out of recycled and waste materials is the perfect choice for you. We use and throw away too much plastic, including bottles of all sizes.
In this oneHOWTO article we'll show you four answers to how to make vases out of recycled bottles. You can use them to display your flowers, of course, but you can easily adapt these crafts as DIY containers to store supplies such as pencils or kitchen utensils.
Kami no Tsubo vase with a plastic bottle
Unlike the rest of our ways to make vases out of recycled bottles, the "Kami no Tsubo" was created by a particular designer, Hiroshi Kajimoto from Japan. The Kami no Tsubo vase, made with a recycled plastic bottle and paper, is very elegant and actually quite simple to make at home.
To make a Kami no Tsubo vase at home, you'll only need a plastic bottle of any size, scissors or an x-acto knife, and paper or thin cardboard of any color or pattern longer but not much wider than the bottle. The exact size doesn't matter: if the paper is much longer than the bottle, the vase will be puffier.
- Clean the plastic bottle thoroughly and get rid of the plastic label.
- You don't need the cap.
- Cut the paper or thin cardboard into the slit square pattern you can see below.
- Perforate the small squares at the corners.
- If the paper or cardboard is plain you can paint it.
- Wrap it around the empty and clean plastic bottle and secure them by weaving the squares at the corners.
This is an ideal vase for a minimalistic or romantic silk flower arrangement.
Simple vase with a plastic bottle
This method to make vases out of recycled bottles is simpler than the Kami no Tsubo vase, and it only requires a recycled plastic bottle and scissors or an x-acto knife. It will look better with a larger bottle, but it can also be done with a small one.
- Clean the plastic bottle thoroughly and get rid of the plastic label.
- Cut the bottle horizontally, below the curved part under the neck.
- Cut straight, even strips down from the opening, 3 to 5 cm long (1.2 to 2 in).
- Weave the strips together by folding one above the next one, creating a frame around the bottle. Be careful not to cut yourself with the sharp edges.
Colorful vase with a recycled bottle
This method to make vases out of recycled bottles can be made with plastic or glass bottles. The only different is in the kind of specific paint you're going to use. You'll need a recycled bottle, paint primer, thick tape and paint spray.
- Clean the bottle well and remove the label.
- If you're using a plastic recycled bottle, cut the top away and stick tape around the edge to prevent cuts.
- Brush paint primer all over the bottle.
- Paint the vase with spray paint.
- Let the paint dry completely.
- If you want to create patterns, wait until the first layer of paint has dried. Draw the patterns with spray paint, using tape to make the design. You can remove the tape or cover it with washi tape.
Here you can find more tips on how to paint glass bottles.
Colorful vase with a glass bottle
The final method to make vases out of recycled bottles is made with colorful tissue paper and a recycled glass bottle. Here's how to make it:
- Clean the glass bottle well and remove any labels.
- Mix 1 tbsp glue in 1 tbsp water.
- Cut strips or shapes of tissue paper.
- Brush a layer of the glue mixture all over the recycled glass bottle.
- Paste the strips or scraps of tissue paper well so that corners do not stick up.
- Seal the paper by brushing a layer of polyurethane sealant. It's best if you apply it by brushing always in the same direction.
- Let your homemade vase dry.
These are four possible answers to how to make vases out of recycled bottles. Which one is your favorite? Do you have any ideas or tips? Share them in the comments section!
If you want to read similar articles to How to Make Vases Out of Recycled Bottles, we recommend you visit our Art & handicraft category.