Use A Plastic Bottle To Create A Stylish Hanging Flower Basket With A Savvy DIY

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Any time you gather a large group of people for a meal or event, you're bound to end up with an abundance of garbage — food, paper plates, bottles and cans. But not everything needs to get tossed right into the trash. There are many easy ways to repurpose plastic water bottles around the house and garden, from decorations to organization tools. For plant parents, turn an empty 2-liter bottle into a petite hanging flower basket using minimal supplies.

This DIY planter, shared by YouTuber @sukingphotography, is reminiscent of a miniature Easter basket, which actually is the beauty of the project. While it's designed for small flower or plant displays, the project can be used to hold other items. Hang it in the kitchen as a spot to stash rubber bands or chip clips, in the bathroom for hair accessories, or in the garden for the plant tags that you should be saving. There is tremendous potential for the bottle's second life.

To turn your 2-liter soda or water bottle into a hanging basket, you'll need an X-acto knife or scissors, a non-permanent marker, a glue gun, spray paint, and something to puncture drainage holes, if needed. First, thoroughly clean out and dry the bottle and remove any labels before starting the project. Also, if you're planning on spray painting the bottle, gather protective gear and work in a well-ventilated area, away from objects that you want to keep clean.

Using a non-permanent marker, such as a whiteboard marker, draw three lines around the circumference of the bottle: where the bottle begins to taper, about ¼ inch below that line, and around ⅔ of the way down the bottle. Use an X-acto knife or scissors to cut the second line, separating the top third of the bottle. Don't toss it out yet — you'll be using parts of it for the project.

Cut strips down the length of the bottle to the bottom marker line. Make them thinner and longer for a rounder lantern-like shape or wider and shorter for more of a basket design. Use only a small dot of hot glue when bending each strip back and adhering the tip right above the bottom of the bottle, to avoid a bumpy row of hardened glue. After each strip has been glued in place, cut the marked row of plastic from the tapered section and use it to hide the ends of the arched strips. An extra piece of plastic can be added as an optional handle.

If you plan on using this project to hold soil, proper drainage for plants is essential. Add holes using a drill, or heat up a screwdriver to melt holes through the bottom of the bottle. Since plastic can sometimes be too slick to easily hold paint, use a product that is suitable for plastic, like Krylon Fusion All-In-One spray paint. Krylon also has a Fusion for Plastic version of its spray paint, but it costs more than the all-purpose product. Let the paint dry completely before adding soil. For more versatility, insert a small potted plant into the basket rather than placing soil directly into it.