Recycle Plastic Bottles & Make Super Cute Apple Shaped Boxes!

  Plastic Bottle Apples 2

Apparently I have apples on the brain, which is not surprising given that Rosh HaShana is just over a week away! Last week I was looking at a plastic bottle and realized that the bottom of those that I have look very much like apples! After some complicated ideas involving spray paint, and only one bottle, it occurred to me that two soda bottle bottoms stacked look very much like an apple!  Yippee!

I’m so happy that I arrived at this cute and simple idea, that you can make in just a few simple steps with no toxic paint involved! You can use these apple boxes to hold treats or even a small gift,  and adjust their height depending on what you’ll place inside. A perfect little surprise for Rosh HaShana, or any party, don’t you think? And they’re quick to make, so you can whip up a whole bunch after the kids are in dreamland, and place them on your holiday table for a fun surprise. You can also add some dehydrated and dried apple chips in these apple containers for kids to enjoy the apple candy chips!

You’ll Need:

  • plastic soda bottles with bottoms that look like apples, mine are seltzer bottles
  • pieces of real sticks
  • red fabric or red tissue paper
  • green felt in two shades of green
  • ribbon
  • a hole punch
  • a hot glue gun

How To:

  1. Cut the bottoms off of two plastic bottles using a sharp knife to make the first cut and then scissors.trim bottles to desired height.
  2. Cut a piece of stick to about 1 1/2″, and using hot glue affix to top of apple
  3. Using a heavy duty hold punch, punch corresponding holes in both top and bottom at the front and back of apple. The back set of holes will be used to make a hinge, while the front set of holes is tied with a bow for opening the apple. You can choose to make your closures with either four holes or two holes, both shown in the photo above.
  4. Wrap your gift or treats in fabric or paper, and place inside, or alternatively, glue fabric loosely to the inside of your apple, and insert gift, which will result in a more re-usable container!
  5. Tie apple closed with ribbon, and make leaves from felt and glue to stem with a hot glue gun.
  6. Hide your bushel of apples in a secret place until it’s time for the surprise!

Comments

42 responses to “Recycle Plastic Bottles & Make Super Cute Apple Shaped Boxes!”

  1. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    What a creative idea!
    I can’t wait to give this a try!

  2. Ida Avatar

    I absolutely LOOOVE your recycled crafts! This is great as a back to school gift for teachers too!

  3. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Thanks so much Ida, infact I think these apples would really be cute any time of year!

  4. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Great! Its really so simple you can do a bunch in no time. the most complicated part is figuring out what to fill it with!

  5. Esty Avatar
    Esty

    SaraRivka,
    These are too cute and so creative!

  6. Clemencia Avatar

    I have to give it to you, this is an adorable idea 🙂

  7. Sara Rivka Avatar
  8. malia Avatar

    Hi Sara– Love these! I made plastic bottles into cuff bracelets on Monday. Guess we both have upcycling plastic on the brain.
    I also added you to my “friends” list on my nav bar
    Happy Rosh Hashana Malia

  9. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Thanks so much Malia, great to hear from you and Shanah Tovah VMetukah! May you have a sweet New Year full of good things!

  10. Tamdoll Avatar

    This is awesome! I love this idea, you’re so creative!
    Happy New Year!
    Tammy

  11. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Thanks Tammy! May your New Year be filled with only good things, good health and the time for family and creativity! All the best.

  12. Amie Irwin Avatar

    I love anything fall related! These are too stinkin cute and looks like something the kiddies could do or help with! Love them!
    Amie @ Pinkapotamus

  13. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Hi Amie, Thanks so much! Id love to see you at my blog linking party sometime, its a great group from around the world (usually) and wed love to have you!

  14. Katie Avatar

    I can’t believe you looked at those bottles and saw “Apple” how clever are you! They turned out super cute. Thanks for joining us at A Crafty Soiree.

  15. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Thanks so much Katie!

  16. Amanda Avatar

    How did I miss this? These are SO CUTE!

  17. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Im glad you caught it Amanda! All the best, xoxoxo Sara

  18. Malia Avatar

    sweet sara! i featured this project on my blog today ( -:
    http://www.yesterdayontuesday.com/
    xoxo malia

  19. Rivki Locker Avatar

    SOOOO clever. I’m going to see if I can find some old bottles this weekend and make this for my daughter’s teacher.

  20. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Thanks so much, Shana Tovah!

  21. Abby- www.thriftywithtriplets.blogspot.com Avatar

    Wow, I love this idea and it is so “green”. I just made Caramel Apple Pops on my blog, these are going on our table for the holiday.
    http://thriftywithtriplets.blogspot.com/2011/09/carmel-apple-cake-pops/

  22. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Thanks so much Abby, Shanah Tovah! Ill add your post to my linky party and all the best!

  23. Lucia Avatar

    It’s a funny original idea!!!Love love love it!!!
    Thanks for sharing…
    Lucia
    lailalay

  24. Heather - Dollar Store Crafts Avatar

    Hi Sara! This is very cute! I am linking to your project from Dollar Store Crafts today. The URL will be: http://wp.me/p1voR8-4oD

  25. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Thanks a million Heather!

  26. Tami Avatar

    So cute!
    I’d love it if you shared this with the Fun Family Crafts audience.
    FFC is similar to Craftgawker but it only features kid friendly tutorials.
    Looking forward to seeing what fun crafts you submit!
    http://funfamilycrafts.com

  27. Mormorsglamour Avatar

    Just love these boxes, have to try it.

  28. Sara Rivka Avatar

    great, another version of yours!

  29. Darina Avatar

    Hi Sara Rivka, I loved your idea and since now the Rosh Hashana in coming up, wanted to wish you Hag Sameach and Shana Tova, with many more great and creative ideas 🙂
    I posted this idea on my FB page that hosts my blog- Fun Kids Food. It’s in Hebrew and i don’t know if you read it, but anyway you can enjoy the pictures of fun ideas for presenting healthy food for children 🙂
    http://www.funkidsfood.blogspot.com
    or the FB page: http://www.facebook.com/FunKidsFood
    שנה טובה ומתוקה! 🙂

  30. luckyrock Avatar

    this is wonderful!
    here you can see my apple:
    http://10littlelucky.blogspot.ro/2012/09/cadoul-mar/
    thank you!

  31. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Great, would love it if you share it on Craft schooling Sunday next week!

  32. Vanessa Avatar
    Vanessa

    very very clever idea….love the apple idea..have used base of bottles as flowers before..never thought of an apple!!!

  33. Mel the Crafty Scientist Avatar

    Love your blog and how you upcycled plastic bottles and so I featured you in my roundup of plastic bottle crafts here. Feel free to check it out if you want and hope you like it! : )
    -Mel the Crafty Scientist

  34. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Thanks Mel, great roundup, thanks so much for including me! I see youre a huge fan of linky parties, and so do join mine on Sundays!

  35. Tammy Avatar

    I love these! I added a link to my post All About Apples! You can see the post here http://www.housingaforest.com/cardboard-apple-trees/

  36. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Great, thanks so much Tammy!

  37. Alanna Avatar
    Alanna

    Brilliant idea. I totally love it.
    Now to get the kids to make them for their favourite teacher. ( we homeschool 🙂 )

  38. Jen Avatar

    What a wonderful! This is very resourceful Thank you for sharing this. Awesome and perfect for the kids. We also did a Bottled Spring out of the same materials you used. You should check this out!
    EarlyLearning.Momtrusted.com Bottled Spring: Fine Motor Nature Walk

  39. Cindy deRosier Avatar

    I’m the Editorial Assistant for Fun Family Crafts and I wanted to let you know that we have featured your apple! You can see it here:
    http://funfamilycrafts.com/plastic-bottle-apples/
    If you have other kid-friendly crafts, we’d love it if you would submit them. If you would like to display a featured button on your site, you can grab one from the right side bar of your post above. Thanks for a wonderful project idea!

  40. Terrie Avatar

    I’m not crafty enough to figure out the hinge! Could you please tell me what you used?

  41. 420 Avatar

    If you are making plan to buy led grow lights cheapest price then just make a visit to this website.

  42. Haylee Avatar
    Haylee

    Yaas! I am so going to try this

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