Clean, empty food or beverage containers can become useful craft projects before they enter the recycling bin. Start with a container in good condition, wash it and let it dry. For these projects, leave detergent, pesticide and other chemical containers out of the craft box.
An adult should do all cutting and hole-making. Reject a project if you cannot leave every accessible edge smooth and safe. These are craft containers, not newly approved food-storage items; keep snacks in containers intended for food.
1. Make a supply container
A wide-mouth container with its original smooth rim is the easiest choice for pencils, markers or crayons. A bottle can also work if an adult removes the narrow top and makes the rim safe, but there is no need to cut plastic simply to follow a design.
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Decorate the outside with materials suitable for the container and the child’s age. Add a paper label for the contents and let paint or glue dry fully. Keep the container on a stable desk or craft shelf. Do not leave a detached, sharp bottle top as a makeshift lid.
For travel, choose a secure purpose-made lid or a zipped pouch so pencils and loose supplies do not spill. A homemade open cup is better suited to stationary use.
2. Turn a bottle base into a small planter
Choose a container large enough for the plant’s roots. Have an adult prepare a smooth opening and drainage holes, then place it on a stable surface with a tray underneath. Use potting mix suited to the plant and leave space at the top for watering.
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Paint the exterior if desired, keeping decorations out of the drainage holes. Water according to the plant’s needs and empty collected water rather than leaving the base standing in it. A bottle planter can still tip over, so check its stability after filling.
Inspect outdoor plastic periodically. If it becomes brittle, cracked or sharp, move the plant into a suitable pot. A small ornamental plant is a straightforward starting project.
3. Create a bottle piggy bank
Use an intact bottle so there is no need to cut and rejoin its body. An adult can prepare a coin slot and check its edges. Draw the eyes and nose, then add paper ears or other simple decorations. Keep the bank on a stable shelf rather than relying on decorative feet to hold it upright.
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This is an older-child project with adult supervision: coins, bottle caps and small decorations can be choking hazards. Keep them away from children under three and anyone who mouths objects. CPSC guidance on small parts explains the particular risk to very young children.
Choose a project you will actually use
One well-used pencil holder is more worthwhile than a cupboard full of unwanted crafts. When a project wears out, separate materials where possible and follow your local recycling rules; paint, glue and mixed materials can affect acceptance. Reuse is useful, but it does not make every finished craft recyclable.
