Recycle/Upcycle Water Bottle Ribbon Flowers

9 Materials
Easy
Recycle those empty plastic water bottles by turning them into adorable ribbon pot flowers.
Begin by cutting off the top portion of a water bottle just above the label at the rim.
Make six vertical cuts equally spaced and around toward the top of the bottle.
Round off the ends creating "petal shapes."
Press the "petals" down, spreading them out to form a flower. The petals can be shaped in or out - your preference.
Next, cut ribbon into 6 pieces the length of a petal. Apply Fabri-Tac glue to the inside petal . . .
and press the right side of the ribbon onto the glued petal and smooth out. The glue will magically disappear into the ribbon fabric, leaving a clear glossy effect from the plastic. *I tried using mod podge but it dried with a white film on the plastic and the ribbon did not stick.
Repeat the previous steps for each petal and make two more flowers.
Cut out separate leaf shapes from the water bottles the same way as the petals, applying ribbon in the same manner. For the flower center, slice a 1" Styrofoam ball in half and cut a piece of ribbon to cover the round portion. Apply fabric glue over the ball and smooth the ribbon on.
Place glue around the edge of the center opening and insert the ribbon covered half ball.
Wrap two skewer sticks with green painters' tape and insert one into floral foam inside of a clay pot. Add glue to the top stick and press on the flower. Reinforce the flower and stick with more glue and cover with a cut-out ribbon circle. Break the second stick to half, slightly bending the sticks. Glue one half onto the main stem and insert other into foam. Glue on the two other flowers at the top of the sticks reinforcing as before. And finally, gluing the leaves on randomly.
Make a *Bowdabra bow tie, wrapping a decorative ribbon around the edge of a clay pot, and finally, gluing the bow on the center of the ribbon.
Suggested materials:
  • Water bottle
  • Ribbon
  • Fabri-Tac glue
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Gail@Purple Hues and Me
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
3 of 5 questions
  • Karen Dalrymple Karen Dalrymple on May 06, 2016
    Would the glue hold up outdoors?
  • Kathleen Kathleen on Mar 18, 2017
    What are the skewer sticks exactly? They bend? Stupid question but my skewers are metal or wood.
  • Angie Montoya Garcia Angie Montoya Garcia on Jul 02, 2019

    Can you show a picture of the back of the flowers look like

Comments
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3 of 101 comments
  • Joanie Joanie on Feb 07, 2019

    Really sweet and I love the colors.........So nice for someone in a Nursing home.......don't have to water, but put some color in their room. They'd love it!!

  • Debbie Agan Debbie Agan on Feb 06, 2022

    I love this. Gonna cluster flowers on wall instead of making flower pot. Thank you for inspiration 🥰

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