Categories: Recycled Plastic

Diy Video Tutorial: Plastic Bottle Cement Vase

Cement DIYs have been trending for a while, but somehow I haven’t got to make anything with this material before. I actually found it surprisingly easy and inexpensive to make this Plastic Bottle Cement Vase. I made the mold using cardboard – so that was free. The package of cement was less than 3€. The only part that I found challenging was the drying time! This piece took about a week to cure fully, but that may differ depending on the type of concrete mix you get.

Make your own Plastic Bottle Cement Vase!

  1. First, cut your plastic bottle in half, but slightly uneven – you want the bigger part for the vase.
  2. Melt the edges of the plastic bottle. Cover an iron with a piece of waxed paper and secure it in place with two pieces of tape. Use the iron to carefully melt the edges of the bottle, smoothing the cut area to your liking.
  3. Create a cardboard mold. Use a box that is big enough to hold the bottle with room to create a stable base. Use masking tape to cover any seams/cracks in the bottom of the box. Press into place with your fingers. Cut any flaps off of your box to make it easier to work with. Thicker, sturdier cardboard boxes will bulge less.
  4. Begin mixing your cement. Do small batches so it is easier to stir and pour. Add water in small amounts, stirring until it is a smooth consistency. You can use a fast-setting mix like Quickrete cement mix.
  5. Pour the fist batch of cement into the box, tapping it to distribute evenly across the bottom and to remove bubbles. Let it set up slightly – approximately 15 minutes. This will create a solid bottom to support the rest of the vase.
  6. Mix another batch of cement. This batch will probably be about double the amount of the first batch. You’ll want the cement to come up over the wide bottom and partially up the sides of your bottle. Again tap and allow bubbles to come up. If your box begins to bulge, you can tightly wrap it with more masking tape to provide additional support.
  7. Allow to partially cure – at least two hours or so – and then you can peel away the cardboard to let the drying process continue. Now is the time to do any corrections to the edges (if it has an uneven edge along the top). You can gently scrape away any edges you don’t like.
  8. Once the cement is dried, you can sand the sides of the cement to make them smoother. If the cement starts crumbling like sand, it may not be fully cured yet. Stop and let it continue to dry a day or two more. After it is sanded to your liking, remove the excess dust – a paintbrush does a great job of this task.
  9. Remove any sticky residue on the plastic bottle with rubbing alcohol and paper towels or a sponge. DO NOT USE ACETONE! It’ll remove the shine of the plastic and make it hazy white.
  10. Now comes the fun part: decorating the vase! You can leave it natural for a minimalist look, or you can paint it to your liking. I did blocks of color by masking off areas and painting in some of my favorite colors. Add anything else you like!
  11. Enjoy your vase, and fill it with whatever’s.

Here’s another fun thing to make: Plastic Bottle Animals!

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