Upcycle plastic bottles into vases

Amelia is an art enthusiast and writer

Decor (95) DIY (53) Recycling (5) Upcycle (3)

Are you constantly filling your recycling bin with plastic bottles? Why not convert them into a fantastic vase collection worth envying? Here's one way to upcycle your unappreciated plastic bottles into vases.

Time (drying): 1 day to a week
Time (decorating): Approx. 10 minutes
Level: Medium

Materials:
- An assortment of bottles that suit your needs (e.g. tall and slender)
- Aerosol or spray paint cans in the colours of your choosing (consider your colour schemes)
- Flowers of choice!
- Decorative elements such as beading, doilies, supports etc.
- A coin or small pebble to act as a weight if necessary
- Water
- Pegs
- String
- An overnight drying area (e.g. clothes line)
- Newspaper
- Art shirt or apron
- Breathing mask

Method

Gather all materials required, particularly your bottles of choice, apron or shirt and mask.

Remove and discard the lids of the bottles, then give them a good rinse inside and out. Try and use bottles which have their stickers intact as it is difficult to remove the residue left over once you tear labels off.

At this point you are almost ready to paint, so get your spray cans of choice ready.

Assemble some newspaper in a highly ventilated area of where it is suitable to spray aerosol (outdoors is best). If you have used your cans previously, shake extra well before use. At first, the paint does not issue cleanly from the nozzle, so be prepared to let it fizzle out for a while before it is ready.

If you are hesitant about using spray cans for the first time, practise your spraying arm on an object. It is best to spray in even lines rather than randomly all over and around the object.

Consider where your wet bottles will dry. A clothes line works really well to let 3D objects dry from every side. For these bottles I was able to use pegs tied with string to hang them, so don't forget to prep your bottles!

Hang your objects so that you are ready to paint like a genius.

You're ready to paint, so work from the top downwards - gravity won't let you win otherwise. The bottles should only require one layer of paint as they are generally quite opaque. Then let your freshly painted bottles dry overnight in a safe place.

Gather your lovely flowers and other decorative elements.

Decide if you will decorate underneath, on or at the top of the vase. Work your way up.

Depending on the type of vase, it may not be stable enough to hold the weight of flowers. You can use a small silver coin or two, or even small pebbles which should be inserted inside to give sturdiness.

Add your water and then your flowers! Pick a few stems that work well with your vase; my black vase was quite wide, hence I used the large gerbra to balance its shape.

Assess how your final vases look in the space you have chosen. If they would suit somewhere better, don't be afraid to play around and move them! They will make a statement everywhere they go, and your friends and relatives will be impressed with the simple upcycle and cheer that these vases can bring to your home.

#DIY
#Upcycle
#Decor
#Recycling

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