I really hate seeing the medicine bottles from Target go to waste and would like to know what they can be used for other than keeping screws or such in them. What have others done or might think to do with these? It's such a waste and I figure since the holidays are coming up that it would be fun to create some kind of project with them.
By Beth
I have put rice or small things like that in them, sealed them shut with hot (or regular) craft glue. You can put a pom-pom on the cover and Poof! An inexpensive cat toy. I've also seen them decorated to look like angels, etc. with the wooden ball glue on the top of the bottle for the head, etc. (Angels, Nativity figures, etc. come to mind as do Santa, elves and reindeer).
Once I got to thinking about this, I did a quick search and found a lot of ideas. I saved some of my favorites. I'll share with anyone that wants them. Now my mind is running to the craft store to get supplies...lol.
As far as crafts, I'm not quite sure. But I re use them all the time for when I travel with my vitamins and such, so I don't have to take the whole freaking bottle. I suppose you could hot glue some type of fabric around them to decorate them? :p
I saw something in one of my magazines once a couple years ago. I believe it was ReadyMade, but could have been Martha Stewart, too. They gathered a whole bunch of the bottles, and attached them together to make a red wreath. You know where the labels are stuck on the bottles? They were attached together label to label. Because they're wedge-shaped they made a wreath very nicely.
. . . it was ReadyMade! I found where a few people mentioned it, but no images. This person wrote up some instructions. Wish I had a pic to share, but this is the best I can do:
phoenix.momslikeme.com/
I keep one in each vehicle for giving change at the bank or pharmacy windows. It holds quarters quite nice. One in my purse for loose change, so I never have to hunt. A couple are used for sewing needles and small craft items. One is a toy for the cats, partially filled with beans. I have stuffed plastic shopping bags in the larger ones (you can fit three in a medium bottle) so you always have a plastic bag.
If you have the proper tool to punch a small hole in assorted types of plastic you could make some nice wind chimes by punching a hole in the bottom of the bottle and stringing them chime style. The different sizes and types of plastics of the bottles would make a nice delicate melody in the wind and you could decorate them with paint made for plastics :-)
You don't need a special too. Just heat up a pin tip and apply to the plastic. You will probably have to do this a couple times, but the plastic meltls.
I collect empty pill bottles and make bubble blowing containers out of them. I make a blower out of plastic canvas and hot glue the blower to the inside of the lid.
Your link took me to the front page of the newspaper. I guess you have to subscribe to get to the activities page, or to go directly to any specific page.
What is ReadyMade? Is it a magazine, a website, or what?
I am Recreation Director at a nursing home now. Previously I worked at a pharmacy and could still have access to a lot of empty medicine bottles. I will appreciate it if you would share your ideas with me. Thanks, Meena.
I have an Ice pick dedicated to craft projects. Just heat it and then use to make the hole. If you have a gas stove that works best. Just stick in the fire a but. My pick has a wooden handle.
I am interested in crafting with pill bottles. If you have any thoughts, I could use any crafting ideas for children to do at the after school program I work at. Thanks.
I am trying to figure out how to use pill bottles to make outdoor wind chime. Any help will be fabulous
Yes I use a pill bottle to put my broken machine needle into and plied stick pins. And broken thumb tacks
Great idea's.
I am hooked on claw machines. Your idea of quarters made me think..hey i should put $1 bill in there & leave in car for when we grocery shop I will have money for the claw machine .
I would also appreciate your pill bottle ideas as I take numerous prescriptions per day! I am bombarded with the silly things! And you cannot recycle them. I am not aware of the laws in any of the States' being from Ontario Canada. But I find alot of them quite irrational I hate to say.
Doesn't it defeat the purpose of recycling if you're going out and buying new stuff in order to reuse the bottles? Maybe (like a lot of people have) the trick and the challenge is to reuse them with things already in the home. :-)
Aah yes my friend but putting pills in unmarked PILL bottles can get you into trouble . Unmarked bottles containing pill's can and has been an illegal act. Just an FYI
Theyre wonderful for keeping things in your purse or lunch box. Sewing kits, first aid kits, toothpicks, lotion, q-tips, ear buds, buttons. As a teacher, we used them to store earbuds for the students. They also make a wonderful carrier for a list tooth until its prepared for the Tooth Fairy!
Theyre wonderful for keeping things in your purse or lunch box. Sewing kits, first aid kits, toothpicks, lotion, q-tips, ear buds, buttons. As a teacher, we used them to store earbuds for the students. They also make a wonderful carrier for a list tooth until its prepared for the Tooth Fairy!
Thank you for your reply. Sorry this is a little late.
I live in Florida now but am from WI and MN and the law was that if you get pulled over and searched and dont have a prescription well your in trouble.
My mother is in memory care but we use to do crafts together. She has arthritis in her hands and she has dementia so I want to be able to do small crafts with pill bottles etc some ideas that I can do weekly with her is greatly appreciated. She is 97 and a retired farmer so this is hard on her. If anyone has any suggestions please help me. Thankyou so much. Barbara
When traveling, I fill one with all the things I like to have ICE (in case of emergency). Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, Liquid dish soap, White vinegar, q-tips, cotton balls, bandaids, even shampoo and conditioner although I would place them in a ziploc tor protection against spilling. When deconstructing furniture, shelf, anything else that may have small items such as nuts, bolts, screws, nails I like to place all the items from that piece in a bottle and put a label on it regarding what it goes with. Something I read somewhere once, was to have a list of all the prescription meds you are on folded and placed in a bottle (labeled) and put in the refrigerator for emergencies. This list would also include allergies.
Once a month I refill 30 - 31 of them with the vitamins / supplements I take each day. Opening just one container instead of seven saves a bit of time each morning.
My lunch typially includes a mug of broth (made from homemade bullion, in powder form: just add boiling water) and a tablespoon of that - with seasonings - in a pill bottle easily fits in my lunch bag. I keep a spare in there as well for a sometimes late-afternoon pick-me-up (instead of coffee).
Loose tea leaves (I buy them in large containers) also fit nicely in those little pill bottles and are very portable / lightweight.
A few nuts / seeds for snacking? Again, just enough to fill a craving or provide an energy boost.
