Out with the old, in with the new – that’s what January is about for many people. Getting rid of the Christmas wrapping papers, packaging and clutter is a nice way of having a fresh start to the new year, but it also produces a lot of waste. So why not give some unwanted items a new life by upcycling them?
Upcycling is a favourite among creative individuals and describes repurposing waste into high-quality items and giving products a new purpose. This could be in form of decoration for the house, trinkets, practical items… there is no limit!
If you have been gifted some goodies from Treat Kitchen, you will find that the glass bottles many sweets come in are perfect to be repurposed once the sweets have been enjoyed. We have put together a few great ideas to get creative and give those glass bottles a new life.
Glass Lamps
Light up your bedroom, living room, kitchen or garden in those dark winter months with glass lamps – they can be made super quickly and designed in whichever way you like. If you are a crafty person, you can add a lamp shade on top of the bottle opening and attach a socket and a bulb using a lamp kit like this one CLICK HERE
For a bit of an easier DIY, you can simply fill the bottle with fairy lights and connect them to a power source nearby. Lining up a few lit-up bottles in a row makes for a coy atmosphere anywhere in your house or garden!
Glass Plant Pots or Vases
To bring some life back into old bottles, they can be used as planters and host flowers or plants. In the kitchen, they could be used to grow herbs such as basil. After cleaning the glass thoroughly, simply fill it with soil and plant small herbs or succulents. For a personalised touch, the glass can be painted or decorated with tiny gemstones or glitter. They can also be used as vases for flowers picked fresh from the garden.
Gift Jars
Why not give your old glass bottles a new life and make someone happy at the same time? Filling bottles with biscuits, beauty items or chocolates makes for a lovely gift. Alternatively, they can be used as piggy banks/fund pots – bonus points for painting the bottle so you can’t see how much money you collected!
How to remove the label
Before the glass bottles can be upcycled, the label should be removed to allow full freedom on decorating the bottle.
This can be done in a few easy steps:
1. Soak the bottle in hot, soapy water to soften the labels. Alternatively, you can blow dry the bottles for a few minutes.
2. Use a plastic scraper or a steel wool sponge to get rid of the sticker.
3. All remaining residue can easily be removed with nail polish remover or an oil-soaked tissue.
Looking for a sustainable gift with added value?
If you aren’t sure what to gift your loved ones for special occasions, look no further! Treat Kitchen’s Message Bottles are the perfect sweet surprise with which you can tell your favourite people how much they mean to you. Their favourite sweets, vegan or non-vegan, packaged in a sustainable glass bottle with a message for them is guaranteed to make anyone happy. Plus, the bottles are perfect for upcycling and can stay in the house as decoration forever!
Blog post by Sophie Fagone Buscimese
