Try This Creative Way To Upcycle Plastic Containers To Make Stunning Suncatchers

Suncatchers can be a beautiful and fun way to decorate your window, whether they are small faceted crystals or large intricate stained glass panes that catch the light. While you can easily buy a suncatcher in home stores, there are also some really great DIY suncatcher projects that transform ordinary materials into stunning pieces that add a lot of charm to an empty window. One such project is to create a hanging suncatcher from empty plastic bottles, dried pressed flowers, and other trimmings. The result is an adorable cottage style décor piece that you can make for pennies.

Similar to another DIY budget-friendly sun catcher project, this one is not only easy to create, but also very eco-friendly, using plastic materials that might otherwise end up in a landfill. You can use any variety of clear bottles for this, including juice bottles, dishwashing liquid containers, hand soap dispensers, and other products that come in clear plastic. You can also use clear plastic takeout and deli clamshell containers that have larger and flatter surfaces to work with. Or, repurpose those plastic fruit containers lingering in your fridge.

Begin by thoroughly cleaning your plastic bottle or other container of all inner residue and adhesive from labels with warm soap and water. The larger your bottle, the more plastic you can use for bigger suncatchers. You can also use a heat gun or a blow dryer to flatten out the curve on some bottles to get a flatter piece.

Using a clear adhesive like Mod Podge, begin gluing dried flowers and greenery to the plastic. You can also add bits of shimmer, like glitter, crystals, and beading to accompany the flowers and foliage. Other great additions include colorful glass gems and paper accents (thin materials like vellum, tissue paper, and wrapping paper that allows the light through work best.) Or, use acrylic markers to draw your own decorations on the plastic for a fun, creative activity to do with kids. 

Create a border with braided rope, twine, ribbon, or other trim to finish off the piece and add a hanger made of beaded wire, which you can adhere with some hot glue along the edges of the plastic. Alternatively, you can create a frame for a round suncatcher with upcycled mason jar lids, or put your creative plastic masterpiece inside a thrifted wood frame.