Turn An Old Plastic Container Lid Into Stylish Home Decor On A Budget

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Is your recycling bin looking full? Or, is waste pickup day still a week away? Before you start shifting overflowing recyclable contents to the trash, take a quick inventory: Are a plastic lid, some corrugated cardboard, and a glass bottle among the spoils? The latter two types of packaging are easily recyclable, but plastic is a bit more difficult. Much of the plastic that we put in the recycling bin is never used to make something else. By keeping a medium-sized plastic lid, you can use it to make an eye-catching multimedia vase.  With a burlap-wrapped base, angled bamboo skewer sides, and rustic jute trimmings, this inexpensive, eco-friendly vase project by YouTuber Camelia DIY is great for holding flowers or greenery. 

For this creative way to repurpose unwanted items, gather the following: a lid (from a soup or cottage cheese container), a piece of cardboard that's at least as large as the lid's diameter, and a round glass bottle. To make over these throwaways, set aside a large square of burlap, a spool of jute rope, and a pack of 12-inch bamboo skewers. You'll also need scissors, a measuring tape, a piece of chalk or a fabric marking pen, and a glue gun with durable glue sticks like the highly rated $10 Gorilla Hot Glue Sticks. Don't skimp on this last detail, since you'll be handling the piece extensively after applying the glue.

To make a solid base for the vase, trace the lid onto the cardboard, cut it out, and glue it inside the lid. Place the base on the piece of burlap, and trace it onto the fabric while adding 2 inches of excess beyond the base's edges. If you're into more colorful home accessories, swap the burlap for bright or patterned fabric; this is a great way to repurpose old clothing. With the base centered on the burlap cutout, cut a series of tabs from the burlap's edge to the lid's edge, about 2 inches apart. Glue alternating tabs to the cardboard, and follow up by gluing the remaining tabs onto the base.

Once done, turn the circle over, and center the bottle on the burlap. Take the time to measure the space between the bottle and the base's edges to ensure it's well-centered. Next, mark around the bottle's base, and glue it inside the marked circle. From there, lean a bamboo skewer with one end touching the base and the other touching the bottle's mouth. Mark where the skewer hits the mouth, and snip off the remaining length. Cut the rest of the skewers to match this skewer's size.

Glue the ends of one skewer to the base and the other to the bottle's mouth. On the side directly opposite the first skewer, attach a second one. Then, repeat this process at the halfway point between the two skewers on the base. Continue gluing skewers at halfway points until there's roughly a 1-inch space between each skewer on the base.

Now that the main structure of your base is complete, all you need to do is trim the raw edges with coils of jute. Again, if rustic finishes aren't your thing, a wonderfully colorful trade-out for the jute is this jewel-toned Knitsilk Recycled Sari Silk Yarn. Before doing this, you can cover the underside of the base with another circle of burlap if the unfinished tabs and cardboard bother you. Otherwise, this surface won't show while the vase is standing.

Glue one end of the jute rope along the lowest edge of the base, and coil it around the base three or four times, gluing as you go, until the rope just covers any visible glue holding the skewers in place. At this point, you can snip and glue the rope here if you're pleased with the look. However, a row of woven jute between the skewers adds a nice touch. Instead of cutting the rope, place a dab of glue on its cut end to prevent fraying. Hold the skewers in place around the mouth for reinforcement, and weave the cord in and out between the skewers until you've encircled the base once more. Snip the rope and glue the end behind the final skewer.

Glue three or four rows of coiled jute rope around the mouth of the vase. Cut the rope, and tuck and glue the end between skewers if possible. (If there's not enough space between the skewers, simply glue it in place and position this part of the vase toward a wall when displaying it.) And finally, find a spot for your vase that will attract attention for your next cheerful arrangement of flowers.