6 fun things to create with plastic bottles

With a little imagination your kids can have lots of fun using water bottles for craft projects

Crafts don't need to be made with expensive products and kits; the things around you can be turned into works of art with a little imagination. An empty bottle of water, like Nestle Pure Life, can be the base for any crafty ideas.

When making any crafts with children, safety is key. Always make sure that the use of sharp objectives, such as scissors, is done by an adult and all activity is supervised at all times.

All set for skittles

Transform old water bottles into funky skittles. Pour 50g rice into each of six bottles to weight them.

Run a line of glue around the inside of the lids, then screw the tops back on.

Use acrylic paints to colour each bottle – you could also paint on faces to create cheeky characters. Leave to dry completely before setting your skittles up for a game.

Pot up a planter

Cut a plastic bottle in half (an adult must do this part). Paint on eyes, or stick on googly eyes from any craft shop. Paint on a nose. Then fill with soil, and add fast-growing seeds like mustard and cress. Within a few days your plant-pot face will have a bushy head of hair!

Mini money box

Cut out a coin-sized slit near the top of a bottle (an adult should do this part). Then tear a selection of bright pictures from magazines, or tear up different coloured tissue paper. Use PVA glue to stick them on to the outside of the bottle, layering the pieces. Allow to dry, then finish with a final coat of PVA glue to give a sheen. When dry, pop some money into the slot to start your savings bank.

Flaming rocket

Wrap a small bottle in tin-foil. Using card, cut out tail fins and a nose-cone. Paint them silver or black and tape them securely to the rocket. Paint some scraps of card with red and orange paint, and stick them to the base of the bottle to look like flames. Then countdown to blast-off!

Mini sprinkler

Make several small holes near the lid of a bottle. Then fill it half-way up with water, close the lid tightly and use as a mini sprinkler to water the plants – or to cool you down on a hot day!

It's so important to keep kids well hydrated, especially as the weather gets warmer. But when children are busy and happy, they can sometimes forget to drink. So help to remind them by popping a bottle of Nestle Pure Life into their backpack when they're out and about.

Water contributes to the maintenance of normal physical and cognitive function and normal regulation of body temperature. At least 2L of water, from all sources, should be consumed per day, as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.

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