Cover An Old Plastic Bottle With Pipe Cleaners For Eye-Catching Desk Storage

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We often associate our desks with work and the importance of functionality and organization. But that doesn't mean that we can't incorporate fun into those work spaces. In fact, we could argue that whimsy is actually a necessity, especially when our jobs get intense. Thankfully, this can be as simple as adding something cheerful to your work space. If you're in the market for on-the-job smiles, use pipe cleaners to create a garden scene on a plastic bottle, turning a recyclable into a useful writing utensil holder.

DIY projects like this one are easy ways to repurpose your plastic water bottles around the house, keeping costs low for craft activities while being eco-friendly. In this YouTube video, CraftBe9 uses a ½-liter bottle to make a pen holder, but you can choose the size that works best for your space and needs. Keep in mind that a narrow bottle may easily tip over, while a wider bottle may be harder to fill. You can also use an empty glass jar instead, which will give your organizer more weight than a plastic bottle.

You'll also need various colors of pipe cleaners, depending on the garden scene you have in mind. Crafters all over the internet have figured out how to turn pipe cleaners into the most beautiful flowers, including lily of the valleys, tulips, tiny daisies, sunflowers, and roses. Consider using white or another neutral shade as the background to make the colors of the flowers pop. 

First, determine how tall you want the pen holder to be and mark out the dimensions on the plastic bottle. Cut off the top of the bottle, leaving the section that you'll use for the craft. Next, cover the bottle with pipe cleaners, which will be the background of the scene. Make sure the pipe cleaners extend past the rim of the bottle to protect against sharp edges. Hot glue works well on a plastic bottle, but if you're using a glass jar, choose an adhesive like E6000 Plus Multipurpose Clear Glue, which is suitable for glass. Hot glue, on the other hand, will peel off glass when cool. Use E6000 in a well-ventilated area and try to avoid skin contact. 

Once a base layer of pipe cleaners is in place, plan out your garden scene. What color scheme are you drawn to — calming pastels, invigorating hues, or subtle neutrals? As you form your blooms, try this clever tip that makes DIY pipe cleaner flowers look more realistic. A pro tip for the grass: Trim the tips of the green pipe cleaners for a tapered look. 

Lastly, glue the flowers and grass at various heights and finish off the project by wrapping a pipe cleaner or ribbon around the base to hide exposed ends. Feel free to give your scene more dimension by adding embellishments you may already have in your craft supplies. Add tiny butterflies or bees throughout the scene, or glue tiny pom poms into the center of flowers for a one-of-a-kind finish.