Earning Money Through Recycling

If you are looking for the perfect gift for someone who seemingly has everything. Look no further than your recycling bin. This is because the empty bottles that you have in your recycling bin can easily be transformed into a one-of-a-kind gift for that person on your gift list. Not only will you be able to gift something that is memorable, but you will also do your part in recycling this precious commodity.

Slump Your Bottles

Do you have some really unique or attractive wine bottles? Do you have a certain empty bottle that may bring back some really great memories that you and that particular person share? If so, instead of sitting the bottle up on a shelf, you may want to consider slumping the bottle into something that can be used everyday.

Slumping is basically the process of melting your bottle. You bottle can be made into a flat surface, or other type of surface if you choose to use a mold. Once melted, these attractive glass projects make the perfect:

• Cheese trays
• Serving trays
• Cutting boards and more

You will see a wide variety of these types of projects at any of your local craft fairs, but why pay the price they are asking when you are able to make your own.

Glass slumping projects require you to invest a little time, have access to a kiln, and have a little bit of knowledge of the process.  If you do not own your own kiln, or want to invest in one, check with your local ceramics studio, the art program at your community college, or with a glass artist, to see if you can rent kiln time. Your community college, or ceramics studio may also offer a class that will teach you the basics.

Create Bottle Art

If you do not want to invest the time and energy into slumping your empty bottle consider leaving it whole and painting art on it. Spray painting the base coat on your bottles will leave a smoother surface and eliminate brush strokes. You can cover as little, or as much of your bottle's surface as you choose.

If you are not comfortable painting free hand consider stenciling art on it, or using one of the many rub on decals that you can find at your local craft store. You can even create your own decals, or transfer your pictures with your ink jet or laser printer. All you have to do is purchase decal paper and run it through your printer.

No matter which process you choose to use, always make sure you start with clean, dry bottles. Remove any labels, as well as the underlying adhesive. Failure to remove the adhesive off of your bottles will interfere with the smoothness of your paint and affect the quality of your project.

Add Lights

Glass and lights make a great combination. Depending on the color and thickness of your bottle, it will cause the images of your lights to be reflected in a wide variety of ways. 

You can add lights to your bottles by simply slipping a string inside. If your lights will not fit through the neck of your bottle, consider drilling a hole in the back of your bottle and adding your lights through your hole. You can also cut the bottoms off of your bottles to be able to add larger LED lights, candles, and more. If you do not have standard glass cutting tools, there are other ways to cut your bottles. This can actually be done with:

• A dremel
• Acetone soaked string
• Boiling water
• A flame

No matter which method you choose, make sure that you file any sharp edges once your bottle is cut. The last thing that you will want your gift to do is to cause an injury.

There is a wide range of gifts you can create from your empty bottles. Many of these gifts simply require a little time and imagination. If you don't feel like you can implment any of these ideas, however, you can also recycle your bottles through a place like Main Street Fibers.