Recommended for lower elementary school students! A collection of plastic bottle craft ideas made with everyday materials.
Crafts with plastic bottles packed with amazing potential! Here you’ll find heart-thumping ideas that make you think, “I want to make this!”—like a Bubble Maker you can enjoy with lower-grade elementary school kids, and a Rolling Engine that older kids will get totally absorbed in.
The materials are all easy to find around the house, so it’s great for getting started right away.
Nurture imagination through making, and enjoy the fun of playing with the finished creations.
Let’s dive into a variety of plastic-bottle crafts!
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Recommended for lower elementary school students! A collection of plastic bottle craft ideas (21–30) made with familiar materials
hydrangea
Like a work of art: here’s an idea for making hydrangea decorations from plastic bottles! Cut the plastic bottles into small squares, and make a cross-shaped slit in each one.
Then prepare a lit candle.
Holding a square with tweezers, pass it over the flame; it will curl up like dried squid and start to resemble a hydrangea blossom.
Thread wire through the center of each finished flower and twist several together to complete the piece! Since you’ll be using fire, be sure to keep water nearby and take proper safety precautions.
water clock
Let’s try making a water clock using small empty plastic bottles! A water clock looks like an hourglass, but instead of sand inside, you use items like gel beads.
These days, you can find colorful ball-shaped air fresheners at 100-yen shops; using those makes it easy.
Prepare two empty bottles, fill one with the air freshener beads, apply adhesive or hot glue around the mouth, and place the other empty bottle on top.
Once the glue dries, wrap the joint securely with vinyl tape, and you’re done.
It’s a fun project to watch, and the gentle vibration as the beads plop down is enjoyable too.
handheld vacuum cleaner
A practical DIY idea: a plastic bottle handheld vacuum! It’s recommended for anyone who wants to try electronic projects.
Attach a cup holder fitted with a motor and propeller to a plastic bottle with the bottom cut off.
Use soundproofing tape to secure it firmly.
After that, connect the motor and a battery-powered switch with wires, and you’re done.
To ensure it actually sucks properly, precision in making the propeller is crucial.
Carefully check ruler markings and build it to the exact dimensions!
wind chime
It’s easy to make in about an hour, so it’s great for people short on time.
First, cut a plastic bottle in two.
The cut edge is sharp, so cover it with masking tape.
Hang a string inside the top half of the bottle and shape it like a wind chime.
For the sound-maker, a bell, a metal piece, or even a hard piece of charcoal will work—hang whatever you like.
If you attach a small strip of paper at the bottom with the word “summer” or “ice,” it will look even more like a wind chime!
Sparkly Piggy Bank
Try making a sparkly coin bank adorned with gem-like, beautiful beads! Cut a plastic bottle in half and place it on a base made from cardboard.
Cut a slot for inserting coins, and then all that’s left is to decorate it with beads and more! Feel free to embellish it however you like—“cute” or “luxurious,” just the way you imagine.
If you make use of the lines already on the plastic bottle, your decorations won’t end up looking messy.
The cap area stands out the most, so you’ll want to give it extra special attention!
Korokoro Engine
Here’s an idea for a rolling engine you can make with just three things: a plastic bottle, rubber bands, and a pair of chopsticks.
First, cut the chopsticks into a 5 cm piece and tie together three stacked rubber bands.
Place the chopstick piece at the center of the rubber bands, then tie it so that one end of a loop tucks underneath the end of the other loop.
Once it’s tied securely, insert the chopstick through the bottle’s mouth into the inside, and thread the remaining chopstick piece through on the opposite side.
After that, twist the chopstick several times—and you’re done! Lay the bottle on its side and see if it rolls.
You can glue colored paper on it to make it look like fireworks, attach a paper plate to turn it into a UFO—once you’ve built the engine, the ways to customize it are limitless!
5 Easy DIY Crafts You Can Try
Kids love crafts, but as first graders it can be hard to stay focused for a long time.
So here are some quick craft ideas you can finish in a short time.
You can make five things: a moving boat, a guitar, a fortune slip (omikuji), a ghost that pops out of a box, and a spinning top.
The materials are mostly recyclables—things you likely have at home—such as milk cartons, plastic bottles, wooden chopsticks, straws, ice cream sticks, and plastic bags.
You can play with each item after you make it, so once you’re done, decorate it however you like and put it to use as a fun at-home activity.