Plastic Bottle Beads

Step 4: Beads! Beads! Beads!

Here are my plastic bottle beads! Each one is different! And each one gets better the more I do! The ideas are coming thick and fast!
I will never throw away anothe plastic bottle! I cannot wait to get my hands on some green ones and Locazade (orange ones!)

Comments

[hecticshoobie]

ugh, I just took out the recycling! I'm running back out and getting that green plastic bottle. I was looking for green beads tonight. This is perfect. Thanks.

[gemtree]

This is TOO cool! I have to try it!

[ashaloo]

I really loved this ible!! It's an AWESOME way to recycle!!

[mum]

So glad you like them.

[maybe.baby]

hey i wanted to try this project and the people at the hardware store told me the heatgun would be too strong and melt the whole plastic, hence unsuitable. i believe they are wrong because you proved it is possible :] how many watts is your heat gun? and does it perfectly melt the edges, combining it so that it looks like a real bead? or does it still have sharp edges?

[mum]

The heat gun I use is the type you use for embossing cards! and you can buy them from a craft shop. I think you can just about see mine in the piccie (not the type used 4 removing paint!) You have to cut the plastic bottles carefully so you dont get any stick out sharp bits! But once you get going it is all trial and error! My first lot were phoo and crappy, so I just adapted them. I just get some crazy idea in my head and go for it! Whats to lose? I never look at the stuff that has gone wrong as a failure, just a learning curve.

[porcupinemamma]

I thought your ible was really good. Hope to try it really soon. Thanks so much for sharing. Just wanted to share a site with all of you, It's called "Bead For Life" It's very empowering for extremley marginalized women in the third world. http://www.beadforlife.org/

[jennibfree]

I am so excited about your beads that I cannot contain myself. I didn't have a heat gun so I ordered one from Amazon that is meant for wallpaper removal etc. I have just made my first two beads but am a bit concerned about something. When I am heating the plastic everything is fine. But when I turn OFF the heatgun whisps of pale 'smoke' come out the vent. It doesn't happen when the implement is on and it isn't grey/black 'I'm on fire' kind of smoke. Do you have any ideas?

[mum]

Once you get going why not try these. Hope the link works, but I have posted them on this web-site 2.
http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/more_plastic_bottle_makes
I am not as good with the computer stuff (as I would like 2 be) but gettin there.
Just a born 4 messing!
Love and Peace
Cath

[jennibfree]

Thank you so much for your help. I have contacted the manufacturer in Germany and am awaiting their reply. Yes I did see the other medallions and thought they were very cool indeed. I have just discovered the site and am afraid that I will be locked up in the house 24/7 trying things out. But am glad that I now have enough to keep me busy in my old age when I finally get there :)

[mum]

Forget old age! Do it now 2! I am so glad I have my own house and am a mum! To Aaron who has autism! it means I don't get out much! Loads of time on my hands (and buzzing stuff 2 do with them!) My iron is not just for ironing....in fact I haven't ironed anything in years...unless u count my crafty stuff! And I do! Crafty stuff stops me going on Prozac or whatever..... Cath

[mum]

If the heat gun hasn't been used for a while, maybe sitting in a shop or something it could be a bit dusty? If all else fails, try to exchange it! It could be faulty! My heat gun is one of the older models. They don't have a fan in them like an hair dryer, so keep it well ventilated. Mine gets quite hot! I can see the element glow!

[jessienilo93]

I made my friend's mother a necklace and earring set using these beads and it turned out beautifully. Thank you so much for posting this wonderful tutorial :D

[mum]

Glad u liked them....I also love making paper-beads, mostly from old fliers (of which there r loads)that are put thou the letter box. Enjoy Love and Peace Cath

[urbanwoodswalker]

I have made beads too...the Brazillians have come up with clever ways...you can jut the the bottles into rectangles and just drop them into boiling water. Pull out with a slotted spoon almost immediately. You will have to experiment a bit. Its so fun and addicting. :-) Green and clear liter soda bottles wind up looking mettallic and there is no markers or paint involved. There are several artisans on Flickr who make these into unbelievable jewelry!

[weddy]

Greaaaaat ! I am very anxiuous to try this ! Question : what sort of gold paint do you use ? Acrylic ?

[mum]

I used permanent maker pens/something called 3D pearly paint well I tried anything I could lay my hands on!That dried and stay dried after blastin it with my heat gun!

[beecee]

what a super idea. I hope I have success when I get around to having an experiment. How do you make sure you have a threadable hole when the plastic shrinks in on itself?

[mum]

Sorry L took so long to answer your question!Being a mum I have to do other boring things like cleaning up and making teas!(and I have a son with Autisum which takes up alot of my time) When you wrap the plastic around the pliers(like rolling up a swiss roll) the plastic only shrinks that far as seen in piccies 3 + 4, and leaves a hole running dow the lengh of the bead! I hope this helps you! Al my fellow students at college think I mad as well as a cheep skate!

[Tigger46]

Wow that's pretty cool! a new and cheap take on Shrinky Dinks! I'm a Kindergarten teacher and with some adult direction we might try this Thanks

[mum]

Glad 2 help I only did it to show my college teacher you don't have to visit the local art shop and spend loads of money on stuff! And it also saves on land fill!