Lantern Made From Plastic Water Bottle

by Grand-Pa in Living > Decorating

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Lantern Made From Plastic Water Bottle

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This will show you how to make a garden lantern from a plastic bottle and a battery operated tea light.
It don't take to long to make and the cost if you don't facter in the cost of the water less then a buck.

Gather Up All Your Equiptment?

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Not to much needed in the way of tools.
first you need a sharp knife of some sort. I used a box cutter.
A pair of needle nose pliers.
You might need a small drill with a bit. I used a cordless because I can can control the speed better.
parts needed are:
a Bottle
a battery operated tea light. Picked them up at the local buck or two store for 2 for a buck.
a short piece of wire, use sold wire if you can find it, or string if you want.

Preping the Bottle

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1st Rinse out the bottle ( If you had pop in it like mine did and it made a sticky mess.) and peel off the label.

Cutting Flap Part 1

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2nd cut a slit near the bottom of the bottle.
About 1 1/2 inches long. (I'm from the old school not to good at converting to metric.)
I choose to cut it in the smooth part. A lot less resistance there after all the knife is sharp.

Cutting Flapp Part 2

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3rd cut up on both sides of the line about 1 1/2 inches.
do not cut a cross the top. we are just making a flap here.
The reason for this is that unless you look closely it's almost invisible. If you cut it all out you have a hole, Not very attractive.

Prepping the Top

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This step is not necessary if you don't want to hang it.
Take of the top and drill a small hole in it to fit the wire through.

Wire

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Now take the wire and stick it in the hole
Form a very small loop at the end that goes in the bottle.
Form a bigger loop at the top.
if you use string feed both ends of the string through.
tie a big knot so it don't slip out.

Last Step for the Top

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Screw it back on the bottle.

Tea Light

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Now go back to your flap push it in.
Now turn on your tea light insert it in the hole
take out you finger and walla instant lantern.

Use

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Make lots of them and you can use at night. by hanging them in trees or put them along side a walkway to mark a path.
Infinite uses and except for the battery is environmentally friendly.
I don't have a picture of it out side cuz it's -26C out there and the snow would ruin the effect anyways.
Remember to recycle the battery when it's dead.
BTW the light lasts a lot longer then a flame light.

Enjoy

Update I now have a picture of it shinning in the dark. Thanks for the suggestion. I didn't think of that. just to excited to get the instuctable up.