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As opposed to going into the woods and robbing a tree of its precious life, I decided to create a fully recycled Christmas Tree. The tree consist of about 250 green 20 ounce soda bottles, each one individually lit.
 
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Step 1: Gathering of Ye Supplies

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Well, to find and obtain the nearly 300 bottles needed for this project I set out on a mighty quest. All across the lands of Albuquerque, people where set in a Grinch like set of mind. No one was willing to help me obtain this much needed resource. The City of Albuquerque saw these bottles as a valuable resource and was unwilling to sell them to me. Luckily I was referred to a friendly chap, Gary, who owns Master Fibers.

I spent two mornings rummaging through Gary's sticky crates full of bottles waiting to be recycled in order to gather enough bottles which he sold at a vary reasonable price.

Other items I gathered where
-Lots of glue sticks
-an old rusted milk crate
-a couple paper grocery bags
-old Christmas lights
-a couple larger sour cream buckets
-a partridge in a pear tree
D98 says: Dec 7, 2010. 12:32 AM
Are there any different ways to stick the bottle together? Without hot glue or wires?
dl24601 says: Dec 3, 2010. 11:01 AM
Really cool and creative idea.
twighahn says: Nov 18, 2010. 9:22 AM
one could use brown duct tape
DocTao says: Dec 18, 2009. 8:37 AM
Excellent use of resources, and it actually looks like a piece of Art.
The most important thing here is what the meaning and purpose
of the Tree is. You could have made it out of Toilet paper and
Clothes hangers it's what the true meaning of the work is to you.
Congrats and keep plugging, another Tree breathes easier because
of you, and so do we. Peace on Earth and Goodwill towards Every Living
Thing!
watermelonhead says: Jan 1, 2009. 7:50 AM
awesome! opposed to some projects ive done with recycling, this is cool. and not ugly. ;]
Shut Up Now in reply to watermelonheadFeb 2, 2009. 10:24 AM
ugly has never stopped anyone...
bassclarinet23 says: Mar 9, 2009. 7:33 PM
Nice
fought piranhas says: Dec 28, 2008. 5:09 AM
I love this. I'm going to start collecting bottles now for next year's tree! :)
browneyedhippie says: Dec 18, 2008. 11:12 AM
This is soo cool and beautiful lit.. congrats on the results of you up-cycling.. using something with out it going through the cycling method of making it in to something different.. Much nicer way to use our cycling items. Love n Peace, Hippie, xo.
nerfer192 says: Dec 16, 2008. 4:12 PM
coooooooooooooooooooooooooool also: boobus!
How2BRandy says: Dec 13, 2008. 3:26 PM
its "nice" and all but, is there some way to have this a step up and be more, attractive?
chaintool (author) in reply to How2BRandyDec 14, 2008. 1:05 AM
Yep, I imagine that there most likely is some way to make it more attractive...
Plasmana says: Dec 12, 2008. 9:36 AM
Wow! That is a very good and environmentally friendly idea! 5 stars!
Badgergirl says: Jun 7, 2008. 11:34 AM
I love your idea. Do you think it could be made out of cans for a smaller version? I want to make a smaller scale to put on my dresser or desk.
mrfoltz says: Mar 22, 2008. 1:31 AM
One thing that really burns my "soap box" is when around X-mass millions of people chop down living trees just for a few weeks of pleasure...Grrrrr How can you tell I'm a plant freak???? lol
Anyway, I have asked all of my friends and neighbors to give me their old plastic X-mass trees and have combined them to make a really nice big one " we have 9 foot ceilings in our home" a small one for a table and several wreaths and garlands.." having had worked in display helps" it looks like Santa's workshop in our house around X-mass...

Anyway... great ideal!

farktard says: Jan 13, 2008. 2:32 PM
What a great idea
Raggedyandy says: Jan 13, 2008. 9:49 AM
Oh My GOODNESS Now I am going to have to start saving my Mt.Dew Bottles, That is SO COOL I Love it Also I have been thinking of trying to make 6 of them(I'll need friend's help to save bottles for me) and have each "TREE" a color of the Rainbow Red, Orange, Yellow, Green Blue & Purple, Thanks for the Inspiration I am defiantly going to add these to me decoration collection next Year Peace and Light Raggedy
maplepapercuts says: Jan 4, 2008. 6:37 PM
Fabulous! I'm especially keen to the whole reusing aspect! Way to go - you should be very proud of your creation. And I want a star - so beautiful!
SlothOnSpeed says: Dec 28, 2007. 5:12 AM
That "tree" is amazing, and Santa should give you an extra present or three just for thinking it up. It should be easy to save from year to year, but I do have a question: Is there a drainage hole or is there enough room remaining for water to evaporate with the light in the opened top of the bottle? I only mention this because some of your photos show condensation in the bottles, and if the bottle has even a tiny trace of sugar from the soda left behind, you could have a nasty mold problem before long. Even with that tiny concern, I am astounded at your creativity.
chaintool (author) in reply to SlothOnSpeedDec 28, 2007. 11:28 AM
There was some condensation at the beginning, but as far as I can tell they have all dried up by now. I plan on ripping the lights out and returning the bottles to master fibers soon. Perhaps next year I'll rebuild it a little better.
lil_timmy1990 says: Dec 25, 2007. 5:00 PM
(removed by author or community request)
TangMu in reply to lil_timmy1990Dec 26, 2007. 4:37 PM
its just like having an artificial tree (which we have had for the last 10 years btw) ... only with more sense of achievement. and geek/hippy points. I would be very tempted to make an entire recycled forest... If you make them with battery operated lights then you have yourself a very odd/festive throwee. Heck its possibly verging into the dreaded realm of "fine art" O_o
CapnChkn says: Dec 26, 2007. 12:28 PM
Did you remove that little bit of label that stays stuck to the bottle, and if you did, how? I usually end up smearing that gummy glue around until it sticks to everything it touches.
chaintool (author) in reply to CapnChknDec 26, 2007. 1:49 PM
When I was bathing the bottles, the water was plenty hot... That and a bit of soap, most of the labels came off, however I'd be lying if I was to say it was all gone. The labels I positioned towards the inside of the tree
neilrether says: Dec 26, 2007. 9:27 AM
How about an Instructable on the star?
chaintool (author) in reply to neilretherDec 26, 2007. 11:30 AM
Sorry bout that, I'll have some photos up this evening showing its creation.
truong says: Dec 25, 2007. 8:51 PM
cooooool
T3h_Muffinator says: Dec 25, 2007. 8:31 PM
Haha nice! Looks very similar to the mountain dew one! Great job!
shangrilarcadia says: Dec 25, 2007. 7:53 PM
what a unique idea. I like it!
Weissensteinburg says: Dec 25, 2007. 5:26 PM
Good idea, nice job.
GorillazMiko says: Dec 25, 2007. 5:04 PM
lol "support this bad boy" haha cool instructable
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