Turn A Plastic Water Bottle Into A DIY Star Light That Functions As Decor

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Being able to repurpose what would otherwise be thrown in the trash is a great way to reduce waste, while also adding something unique to your home. Are you looking for easy ways to repurpose your plastic water bottles around the house instead of throwing them away? Crafty Instagrammer tinglepop shares a fun DIY that transforms an empty water bottle into a star-adorned light with just a few simple supplies, a bit of time, and plenty of patience. You can use it as an outer space-inspired table centerpiece at your next summer patio party or as fun and functional interior decor. Cut thin plastic strips into the bottle, top them with stick-on stars, and add an LED light.

To make a star-topped light of your own, you'll need an empty water bottle with the twist-on lid still attached. You'll also need an Hkkyo Star Hole Paper Punch, a pack of Livholic Colored Card Stock in assorted hues, scissors, a hot glue gun, and a small LED light that can fit inside the bottle lid. Depending on the size of the lid, finding a small enough LED light could pose a challenge. At just under ½ inch wide and about 1⅜ inches tall, a Lihao Battery-Operated LED Party Light Bulb is a good choice for small water bottle lids. You can turn it off and on with a simple twist. One battery gives you two to three hours of bright white light.

To start DIYing a star light, cut an empty water bottle in half, then flip the top half over in your hands. Cut the plastic walls into very thin strips, leaving the neck of the bottle near the lid untouched. Pull each strip downward, out and away from the lid, to create a flower petal-like pattern. The strips should sit at staggered heights, fanning out from the lid in a way that resembles a dandelion seed head minus the white fluffy seeds.

Set the modified plastic bottle to one side and punch out a whole bunch of stars from the colored paper. Each strip will be topped with a star, so you need to create the same number of stars as strips. Alternate the colors so you don't end up with stars all in one color — unless, of course, you prefer a uniform look. Once you've punched out enough stars, use a hot glue gun to adhere one star to the end of one plastic strip. Repeat the process until all the strips have a star.

The final step of this project involves adding the LED light. Unscrew the lid from the neck of the now-star-covered bottle — it's now the base of your night sky lantern. Turn the lid over so that the hollow interior is facing you and glue the small LED light into the lid. Make sure you can still turn it on and off as needed. Turn on the light, screw the lid back onto the neck, and check that your new whimsical star light stands upright.

A word of caution when attempting this DIY: Be mindful of the size of the water bottle lid. Measure it carefully before buying your LED light to make sure it will actually fit into the cap. Finding tiny battery operated lights with a remote would be ideal, but they may not be small enough. What's more, water bottle brands come with different sizes and styles of lid, so look for something sturdy with a flat base to keep your star light stable.

While this DIY project is relatively easy, it does take quite a bit of time to complete — after all, you're sticking tiny stars to ultra-thin strips of plastic one by one. If you want to save some time, cut wider strips from the plastic bottle or alternate strip widths. You can mix and match star sizes to suit the strips using this set of Ucec Star Hole Paper Punches in three different sizes. Your modified light will, of course, differ in appearance from the original star light.

While you're at it, why not change up the shape of the cutouts, too? This 16-piece Ksheria Hole Punch Set has everything from butterflies and blooms to strawberries and snowflakes. Create themed seasonal holiday lighting or illuminating gifts for people based on their favorite shapes. Another simple way to personalize this DIY is to use paper in colors that coordinate with your existing interior design palette. Create a whole vibe by pairing your new star light with an old plastic container turned into unique light-up decor with a whimsical twist — it's lined with holographic glitter star film!