Upcycling Your Old Beauty and Supplement Bottles, Jars and Tubes! 

If you’re a beauty (or health) junkie who also has a conscience when it comes to your shopping habit’s effect on the environment, today we hope to inspire you to reuse your old beauty and supplement containers. 

We are all becoming more aware of our impact on the environment, and what we can do to reduce it. Turning old bottles, jars and tubes into things of use, beauty and/or purpose is one thing we can all do to lessen the load on our local recycling plants. Here we share with you our favourite crafternoon projects for upcycling inspiration. 

Turn Your… JASON Body Wash Bottle into... a Mobile Phone Charging Dock 

This mobile phone charging dock to protect your phone from scrapes, falls and help minimise unsightly trailing cables in the home! The JASON body wash bottle is a good size for all mobile phones and most phablets. 

Method: 

  1. 1. Peel the labels off your body wash bottle and wash inside and out. Remove any glue residue with spirit vinegar.
  2. 2. Once dry, draw cut lines with a marker pen. You want the front edge to be slightly lower than the height of your phone, and the back wants to be higher and wide enough for you to position a hole the size of your phone charger base.
  3. 3. Using a craft knife, cut along your lines, then lay flat on the table, placing your phone charger base on the back, drawing round then cutting out.
  4. 4. Sand or file off any rough edges.
  5. 5. Take a piece of scrap fabric big enough to cover your project and glue on (cut slits and fashion around the base). Leave to dry for 24 hours. 

Inspired by Caroline E Miller’s Project here 

Turn Your Avalon Organics Shampoo Bottle into… a Wall-Mounted Pen and Pencil Tidy 

No more, “let me just find a pen” moments with this wall-mounted tidy. Get creative with the decoration to create different designs that both children and adults will love! The shape of the Avalon Organics shampoo and conditioner bottles lends itself well to this project - they are not too round so sit nicely against the wall and you can easily find your favourite pens and pencils. 

  1. 1. Remove the labels from the bottle, wash inside and out, removing any sticky residue with spirit vinegar.
  2. 2. Once dry, draw cut lines for how deep you want the holder to be.
  3. 3. Cut using a craft knife.
  4. 4. Sand or file off any rough edges.
  5. 5. Create your design. Cover using scrap fabric or wrapping or craft paper, using the appropriate glue. If this is a project you’re making with the kids, why not try making monsters or animals? You can cut limbs from the top part of the bottle you are not using, cut out a mouth, stick on googly eyes, and get really creative!
  6. 6. Once you’ve finished your masterpiece, leave to dry for a day before attaching to the wall with sticky pads. 

Inspired by Madame Criativa’s project here 

Turn Your… Antipodes Hand & Body Cream into… a Cutlery Pouch 

If you love to entertain, we guarantee these cutlery pouches will be a welcome addition to your tableware. Your guests won’t believe you when you tell them that you made them! 

  1. 1. Cut the tube close as close to the mouth end as possible.
  2. 2. Give the tube a good scrub and rinse out, then leave to dry.
  3. 3. Create a nice curvature on the front edge with your scissors.
  4. 4. Using craft paper or fabric and appropriate glue, cover your tube front and back.
  5. 5. Use contrasting scraps of paper and fabric, buttons, beads and trims to decorate. 

Inspired by Get Set Create’s project here 

If you’re looking for more inspiration on living with less, zero waste and the 3R’s, we recommend you check out the following UK-based Instagram feeds: 

Florine @thewastedblog  The Wasted Blog has an eco-friendly agenda with a focus on sustainability in all its ways, and on Instagram you can expect this plus ethical fashion and plant-based food thrown in for good measure. 

Frankie @thoroughlymoderngrandma After retiring from a long career in finance, Frankie became very interested in the zero waste movement. So much so that she set up her own Zero Waste Shop, which stocks handmade products with a large majority of these sourced in the UK. 

Sophie @aconsideredlife Sophie is a writer, jeweller, and plant collector. On her Instagram she shares ideas and inspiration on how to live a considered life that is more purposeful, sustainable, and compassionate, all beautifully presented. 

Kate @kate_arnell Kate’s feed is all about zero waste and organic living with a strong family element. Kate has also published a book - 6 Weeks to Zero Waste - A Simple Plan for Life. 

Gina @ginacaro1As well as being a blogger, content creator and Plastic Free Community Leader down in Cornwall, Gina somehow finds time to run her Instagram which is full of tips to help you live a more sustainable & simple life