Lately, I’ve noticed that I have tons of plastic water bottles. It’s extremely hot in Florida, even during winter, so keeping hydrated is a must. However, with all the water I consume, I always have plastic water bottles left over. Recycling is probably the best option, but I decided to make something out of the bottles I used.
There are so many projects involving plastic bottles, but the one that inspired me the most was these little quirky light coverings. This is a simple project that can turn ordinary lights into something much more beautiful and creative. Read on to learn how to make this amazing project.
Materials:
- Plastic bottles of any color (size should be 20 ounces or less)
- Scissors
- Glue
- LED lights on a string (like the ones you see around the holidays)
Directions:
1. Remove the label from the bottle if there is one. Then cut the bottle in half. To do this, take the scissors and poke a hole in the bottle. Poke the scissor blades into the hole and cut around the bottle until the bottle is cut in half. Be careful with this step, as the plastic is difficult to cut. I recommend gloves for this step as a precaution.
2. Decorate the bottom half of the bottle. The top half can be used, but I find that the bottom half is easier to use as there is more surface area to decorate. There are many different ways to decorate the bottle. I have listed a few below:
- Permanent markers: Draw designs on the plastic. Be careful not to smear the markings!
- Paint: Sherri Osborn, a family crafts expert at About Home, uses transparent glass paint to decorate her light coverings. Paint the plastic a solid color, or maybe paint designs.
- Glitter: Cover the plastic with glitter. To do this, rub liquid glue all over the surface of the plastic, and then roll it in the glitter of your choice.
- Beads: Glue beads on the plastic using some strong glue.
3. One half of a bottle will be used for each light. Using the scissors again, create a hole on the bottom of the bottle. Then, insert the light into this hole so that the plastic completely covers the light. I would recommend using super glue to ensure the plastic light covering stays attached.
Once finished, you now have a beautiful string of lights that is great for decorating a dorm room. You could also create different sets of lights for different holidays. Be as creative as you would like and have fun with these lights!
Photo Credit: David Batchelor