Recommended for lower elementary school students! A collection of plastic bottle craft ideas made with everyday materials.

snow globe

Sparkly and beautiful: a snow globe made from a plastic bottle — DIY craft video

This is easy and you can make it right away! The slow-moving liquid part of a snow globe is made with laundry starch (liquid glue).

First, fill a plastic bottle about 70% with water, then just add your favorite glittery items.

You can also write any words you like on a piece of plastic sheet and put it in.

After that, add the laundry starch and close the lid.

You can decorate the bottle itself too, so try making a sparkly snow globe!

Beaded accessories

One of a kind in the world! PET bottle beads

The material of plastic bottles curls up when heated.

We can use that property to make beads.

It’s easier to work with the larger 1.5L bottles.

First, cut the bottle to make a plastic sheet about 6 cm by 10 cm, and draw any design you like on it with a marker.

After drawing, cut it into 3 cm by 3 cm squares, place them on crumpled aluminum foil, and heat them in a toaster.

Keep an eye on them to judge the heating time.

That’s it—your beads are done.

Now you can thread them onto string or pipe cleaners and have fun!

propeller plane

A plastic bottle propeller car powered by rubber

Use the power of rubber bands to turn a propeller.

In the past, there were lots of toys that used rubber.

You’ll need 20–30 rubber bands, a bamboo skewer, and two plastic bottles.

Cut the plastic bottles in half and make slits at the cut edge like octopus legs.

You’ll need four blades.

Carefully shape the cut pieces into a propeller by applying gentle pressure.

Link 20–30 rubber bands together to make a single bundle and attach it to the bamboo skewer with glue—this becomes the power source.

Fix this inside the other plastic bottle, then attach it to the propeller you made first.

You can use the same principle to make an airplane too.

Give it a try!

Mini Aquarium

How to Make a Mini Aquarium for Summer Vacation Crafts with a Plastic Bottle! A simple craft adults will love too! Create a plastic-bottle aquarium where fish gently sway! Let’s make a plastic-bottle Cartesian diver toy! Suitable for lower elementary grades.

You know those little fish-shaped containers that hold soy sauce in bento boxes, right? We’re going to use one to make a mini aquarium.

First, attach a weight to the opening of the soy sauce container.

Add water and close the cap.

Adjust it while testing how much it floats.

Decorate the fish with any patterns or colors you like.

Fill a plastic bottle with water and tint it lightly.

Then just drop in the prepared soy sauce container.

Getting the floating and sinking balance right is a little tricky!

Rocket

Super Easy: How to Make a Real PET Bottle Rocket!

This is a craft project for long vacations.

There’s something romantic about launching a “rocket” you made yourself, isn’t there? You’ll make it with a plastic bottle, but it requires more precision than you might expect, so if it’s your first time, please get help from your mom or dad.

The nozzle and launch port, in particular, can be tricky even if you listen to the instructions.

When you actually launch it using a bicycle pump, always do it with an adult! And be careful about where you launch it.