Use A Plastic Bottle For A Unique Lotus-Inspired Light With A Savvy DIY

Reusable water bottles are increasingly common, even to the point where people need to employ genius water bottle storage hacks to organize and declutter cabinets, but single-use plastic water bottles still fill a particular niche. Whether you forgot your trusty tumbler or you don't have a reliable water source, you may find yourself purchasing a bottle of water. However, the plastic doesn't have to go straight to the recycling bin. With some creativity, you can repurpose these unwanted objects, turning them into a unique floating lotus flower lantern with a candle center, as demonstrated by Instagram user @paper.crafts.in, that you can use over and over again.

Making these flowers requires only simple items. First, of course, you'll need plastic bottles. Each lotus flower is made from three bottles, so it may take some time to build up a collection. When you have at least three bottles, grab a marker, your scissors, and some hot glue.

The faux candles are the finishing touch for this DIY, but finding the right ones can be tricky. While most standard plastic water bottles will have a neck diameter of 28 millimeters or more, you should measure your particular bottles to be sure. With a number in mind, you can shop for miniature candles that are the right size. The MIXALY flameless window candles on Amazon have an average rating of 4.3 stars and, importantly, are meant to be waterproof. Finally, you may want some paint, glitter, or any other craft supplies you like to add flair to each individual lotus.

Your first step is to start cutting the bottles. Begin by removing the top conical part of the bottle, often starting just above the label that wraps around the bottle. Use caution when cutting, as the plastic can be sharp. If the scissors prove difficult, a craft or utility knife may be easier. Once the top cone is used, you can recycle the rest of the bottle, or you can learn all the ways you can reuse those plastic water bottles in your garden to craft with every leftover bit of plastic.

Next, cut the cone to form flower petals around the center opening. Some bottles have lines or indentations you can roughly follow for the shape and simply round out the edges of each petal or making each come to a gentle point. Otherwise, draw on your own lines with a marker and cut along them. For a consistent shape, create a template petal with paper, and trace it around the cone. Each flower requires only one bottle neck, so cut off the mouthpiece part of two of the bottles, leaving the petals connected by a center ring. Finally, push down each petal to get a flatter, wider shape. To get a polished look, use the same brand of bottle for all three layers of a flower. Layers made from a variety of brands can still look magical, though. Place the flower piece with the cap attached at the bottom of your lotus flower. Apply glue to the inside of the flower near the base, and add a second and third layer, making sure that the petals stagger.

Finally, glue the small faux candle to the inside of the cap so that it stands inside the flower. Be sure to insert any batteries and properly prepare the candles before gluing them. Certain customizations, such as painting, are also easier if done before gluing. Any paint looks lovely, but thin layers will help the petals stay translucent. A coat of glitter paint can also upgrade your lotus flower petals. You can create a waterproof glitter paint by mixing glitter into any waterproof multi-surface acrylic paint.

A single DIY lotus flower can make for great decor, but creating even more can set an absolutely magical scene. Because they float, placing a number of them in a pool, fountain, or bathtub is a beautiful use. Gently sticking them in garden plants for a soft glow can also look stunning — just be sure that you are not using any toxic paints that can leach into your soil and groundwater. While these flowers are prettier than the plastic bottles they come from, leaving them behind is littering. A single plastic bottle takes 450 years to decompose, so instead of adding to a landfill, responsibly recycle your plastic flowers when you are done with them. If you plan to use these lanterns only short-term, leave them unpainted to make them easier to dismantle and recycle.