These recycled crafts for kids made from plastic bottles are easy and creative. They are also a low-cost way to keep kids busy while learning how to take care of our planet. Each craft comes with a list of materials and easy-to-follow instructions.
Join the fun and start recycling plastic bottles today!
1. Bottle Flower Planters
What you need
- 1 clean plastic bottle (any size)
- Acrylic paint (non-toxic)
- Paintbrushes
- Potting soil
- Small plant or herb seedling
- Scissors or craft knife (adult)
- Optional: googly eyes, foam stickers
How to make it
First, cut the bottle about halfway. The bottom half will become the planter. Let kids use their imagination to paint the outside as they like: animal faces, rainbows, polka dots, etc.
Let it dry for about 30 minutes, and use a skewer or nail to poke 2 or 3 small drainage holes in the base. Fill with potting soil and pop in the seedling. Place on a windowsill and water gently. Kids will loke watching the plant grow in something they made.
I suggest to plant basil, mint or cress since these grow fast and will keep kids engaged.
2. DIY Bird Feeder
What you need
- 1 large plastic bottle (1.5L works great)
- 2 wooden spoons
- Bird seed
- String or twine
- Scissors (adult)
- Acrylic paint (optional)
How to make it
Make two small holes opposite each other near the bottom of the bottle — poke a wooden spoon through both so it sticks out each side as a perch. About 2cm above each spoon, cut a small oval opening (about 3x4cm) — birds will stand on the spoon and peck in through the hole.
Fill the bottle with bird seed, screw the lid back on. Tie a long piece of string tightly around the neck of the bottle. Hang from a tree branch and wait for your feathered visitors!
3. Ocean-in-a-Bottle Sensory Toy
What you need
- 1 clear plastic bottle with a tight lid
- Baby oil or mineral oil (fills about half the bottle)
- Water (fills the other half)
- Blue and/or green food colouring
- Optional: small shells, glitter, tiny plastic fish
- Strong glue or hot glue to seal the lid
How to make it
Fill the bottle halfway with water. Add a few drops of blue food colouring and shake gently Add any optional extras — glitter and small shells look beautiful. Slowly pour in the oil until the bottle is almost full (leave a tiny air gap).
Seal the lid tightly with hot glue so little hands can’t open it. Let your child tip and tilt the bottle and watch the ‘waves’ roll!
Tip: Perfect for babies! This is also wonderful for kids who struggle to self-regulate — the slow movement of the oil is genuinely calming.
4. Bottle Rocket
What you need
- 1 large plastic bottle (2L)
- Bicycle pump with needle adaptor (or a cork that fits the bottle neck)
- Water
- A cork with a hole through the middle
- Launch pad: a piece of wood with a nail or a purchased bottle rocket kit
- Open outdoor space
How to make it
Fill the bottle about 1/3 full of water. Fit the cork snugly into the bottle opening — the pump needle should thread through the hole in the cork.
Set the bottle upside-down on your launch pad (the nail holds the cork in place). Connect the bicycle pump to the needle through the cork. Take 5 steps back and start pumping. Air pressure builds up until — WHOOSH — the cork pops out and the rocket launches!
Experiment with different amounts of water to see what flies highest.
Tip: Always aim away from people and windows. Best done in a park or garden on a dry day!
5. Pencil Holder
What you need
- 1 plastic bottle (500ml works well)
- Scissors (adult)
- Acrylic paint or spray paint
- Washi tape, stickers, or foam shapes
- Optional: felt or fabric and glue to cover the outside
How to make it
First, cut the top off the bottle about 10–12 cm from the base. This will be your pencil holder. If the edges feel sharp, smooth them with sandpaper or cover them with washi tape.
Let your child decorate the outside however they like—paint, stickers, or colorful tape all work great. Once everything is dry, fill it with pencils, pens, or even paintbrushes.
6. Fairy House
What you need
- 1 large plastic bottle (2L)
- Scissors and craft knife (adult)
- Brown, green, and assorted acrylic paints
- Glitter, tiny gems, beads
- PVA glue
- Card or thick paper for the door
- Twigs, dried flowers, moss (from the garden)
- LED tea light
How to make it
Start by cutting a small arched door near the base of the bottle—save the cutout, as this will become the door. Then cut one or two small windows higher up. This part is best done by an adult.
Now comes the fun part—painting and decorating. Let your child turn the bottle into a magical house using paint, glitter, and natural materials like twigs or moss. Attach the door with a bit of tape to make a hinge, then place a LED tea light inside.
7. Bottle Fish Craft
What you need
- Plastic bottles (various sizes)
- Bright acrylic paint
- Card or foam sheets (for fins and tail)
- Googly eyes
- Scissors
- Hot glue or strong craft glue
How to make it
Begin by painting the entire bottle in bright colors. You may need two coats to get a nice, even finish. While it dries, cut out fins and a tail from card or foam.
Once the paint is dry, glue on the fins and tail, then add googly eyes. Finish by painting details like stripes, spots, or scales. The more colorful and creative, the better!
8. Wind Spinner
What you need
- 1 large plastic bottle (2L)
- Scissors
- Permanent markers or acrylic paint
- String or fishing line
- A skewer or pencil (to hold while spinning)
- Optional: metallic paint or foil stickers
How to make it
Cut off the top and bottom of the bottle so you’re left with a plastic cylinder. Then cut down one side to open it into a flat sheet. Draw a large spiral starting from the edge and working inward.
Carefully cut along the spiral line, then decorate it with bright colors or metallic paint. Make a small hole in the center, thread some string through, and hang it outside. As the wind catches it, your child will love watching it spin.
9. Piggy Bank
What you need
- 1 large oval-shaped bottle (sauce or condiment bottles work great)
- Pink acrylic paint
- 4 small bottle caps (for legs)
- A pink pipe cleaner (for the tail)
- Googly eyes or buttons
- Card for ears
- Craft knife (adult — for the coin slot)
How to make it
Paint the entire bottle pink and let it dry. You might want to add a second coat for a brighter finish. While it dries, cut out small ears from card.
Once ready, glue bottle caps underneath as legs and attach the ears and googly eyes. Carefully cut a slot on top for coins (adult step), then add a curly pipe cleaner tail. It’s a fun way to make saving money feel exciting.
10. Hanging Lanterns
What you need
- Clear or translucent plastic bottles
- Tissue paper in various colours
- PVA glue (watered down 50/50 with water)
- Paintbrush
- String
- LED tea lights (battery operated — never real candles)
How to make it
Tear tissue paper into small pieces and mix your glue with a little water. Brush the glue onto the bottle, then stick on the tissue paper, layering colors as you go.
Once the bottle is fully covered, add a final layer of glue to seal it and leave it to dry completely. Thread some string around the neck, hang it up, and place an LED light inside. The soft glow looks beautiful in the evening.
11. Bottle Bracelet
What you need
- A clean plastic bottle
- Scissors (adult)
- Fine sandpaper
- Acrylic paint or nail varnish
- Decorations: washi tape, fine permanent markers, glitter glue
How to make it
Cut a strip around the middle of the bottle, about 2–3 cm wide. Then carefully sand all the edges until they are completely smooth—this step is important for safety and comfort.
To shape it, warm the plastic slightly using hot water or a hair dryer so it curves nicely around the wrist. Once cooled, let your child decorate it with paint, markers, or washi tape. Leave it to dry fully before wearing.
12. Jellyfish Craft
What you need
- 1 clear or coloured plastic bottle
- Scissors
- Tissue paper, ribbon, or strips of cellophane in various colours
- String to hang
- Acrylic paint (optional)
- Googly eyes
How to make it
Cut the bottle about one-third from the bottom. The top section will become the jellyfish body, with the dome facing down.
Decorate the dome with paint if you like, then add googly eyes. Cut long strips of tissue paper or ribbon and attach them inside the rim to create flowing tentacles. Add string at the top so you can hang it up.
13. Snow Globe
What you need
- 1 clear plastic bottle with a tight lid
- Distilled water (tap water goes cloudy over time)
- Clear glue or glycerine
- White glitter or fake snow
- Small waterproof toy figures or decorations
- Strong waterproof glue (epoxy)
- Optional: a little food colouring
How to make it
Start by gluing your small figure to the inside of the lid and let it dry completely. Meanwhile, fill the bottle with distilled water and add a little glycerine to slow down the “snow.”
Add glitter or fake snow, then carefully screw the lid on tightly. Seal the edge with strong glue to prevent leaks. Turn it upside down and shake to see the snow swirl around.
14. Bottle Cap Mosaic
What you need
- Lots of bottle caps (start collecting now!)
- A piece of thick cardboard
- PVA glue
- Pencil
- Optional: acrylic paint to colour caps before using
How to make it
Draw a simple design on a piece of cardboard—anything from a heart to a rainbow works well. Then sort your bottle caps by color.
Glue the caps inside your design, placing them flat-side down. Fill in the background with contrasting colors and leave everything to dry completely. The finished piece makes a bright, textured artwork.
Tip: Start collecting caps from milk jugs, juice bottles, and condiments months in advance — the more colours, the better the mosaic!
15. Rocket Jet Pack
What you need
- 2 large plastic bottles (2L)
- Silver and orange paint (or metallic spray paint)
- Wide ribbon or an old belt/backpack straps
- Strong duct tape or hot glue
- Card for decorations (flames, dials)
- Tissue paper in red/orange/yellow for ‘fire’
How to make it
Paint both bottles and let them dry, then add any extra details like stripes or panels. Cut out flame shapes from tissue paper and attach them near the bottle openings.
Tape the bottles together side by side and attach straps using ribbon or old belts so your child can wear it. Add extra decorations like buttons or stars to complete the look.
Tip: Pair with a silver-painted bike helmet and a white t-shirt for the full astronaut costume.
Mom’s Quick Tips Before You Start
- Always supervise little ones when cutting plastic — use scissors yourself and let kids do the decorating.
- Wash and dry bottles first — labels peel off easier with warm soapy water.
- Non-toxic acrylic paint works best on plastic, especially with a layer of mod podge to seal it.
- There’s no ‘wrong’ way — let kids lead the design choices and watch the magic happen!
For more recycled craft ideas for kids, check out these posts:
- 15 Easy Eco-Friendly Recycled Crafts for Kids
- 15 Tin Can Crafts for Kids: Easy, Fun & Creative Upcycled Ideas
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