Instead of putting them in the recycling bin, recycle those plastic containers by making an outdoor trellis out of an old ladder. Once you've got the hang of it, you'll find plenty of ways to use bottles.
Empty plastic bottles, water or juice.
old ladder
heat gun
heavy gloves
screw
pair of large pliers
acrylic or plastic paints
drill with 1/8" bit
safety glasses
monofilament
cable
rosary
1. Remove any labels from the bottles. Make sure they are rinsed and dry before starting the project.
2. Secure the neck of a bottle in a vise and use a heat gun to soften the plastic.
3. Wearing leather gloves, grasp the bottle, twist and crumple it into the desired shape. Security Alert: Wear leather gloves when handling the hot bottle to avoid burns.
4. Remove bottle from press and let cool. Repeat the heating and shaping process on the other bottles.
5. Lightly dilute some acrylic or plastic paints with water. Also add a little water to the bottle. For clear bottles, pour various colors of paint into the bottle, replace the cap, and shake the bottle to swirl the paint. For colored bottles, apply plastic paint to the outside of the bottle so it is not hidden by the color of the bottle.
6. If you use the bottle caps in the piece, paint those too.
7. Let the paint dry.
8. Wearing safety glasses, use a drill with a 1/8" bit to create a hole in the bottom of each bottle. If you use caps on the bottles, drill a hole in each cap as well.
9. Use the monofilament or fishing line to string the bottles:Tie the end of the monofilament to a piece of wire about 8" long. Use this wire as a needle to pull the monofilament through the bottom hole and through the bottom hole. top of each bottle Inserting the monofilament into the bottom of the bottle is much easier than trying to hit the hole when inserting from the top of the bottle.
10. At the bottom of the bottle strand, place a bead and tie it in a knot.
11. Use the excess monofilament to tie the threads to the top and bottom rungs of the ladder. Create multiple strands to cover the ladder.
12. Place the new trellis in the garden with vines and plants around the base. You can also hang these colorful bottles individually throughout the garden.
