reuse items crafts and uses?

[KindRedSpirit]

So,I keep looking at our recycle pile and also looking at the expense of all those fun crafty materials I want, and I'm wondering how I can merge the two.
I need ideas for using plastic and aluminum soda containers 12 and 20 oz,and water bottles,and the lids.(the other stuff we reuse a lot...)
Ideas can involve cutting,melting,some painting/coloring,and as few adding-on's as possible.
Thanks!

[LaughingHyena]

Ok plastic bottle ideas

Tape a couple of paper clips onto the side of the bottle. Then take a small magnet, string and a stick and make a fishing rod. Float the bottles in a kiddie pool/bath and go fishing. For older children you could make paperclip hooks for both the bottles and rods.

Eye spy bottles, put some small objects (button, paperclip, hair clip, shapes cut from craft foam etc) into the bottle. Fill the rest of the way with rice. then shake the bottle to try and find the objects.

These hovhttp://www.think-differently.co.uk/page132g.htmlercraft http://www.think-differently.co.uk/page132g.html are fun with an old CD and a sports water bottle cap.

[flapjack]

Plastic bottles = plant pots. Cut them in half and use a hammer and nail to put drainage holes in the bottom- great for letting the kids see the roots as well.

With a set of tin snips, you could cut the aluminium and use that as a raw material, too. I know a few years ago, it was very fashionable to have designs punched into tin or aluminium, so you could still do that.

[AllisonK]

DD just made a paper mache country using small yogurt containers as mountains, other plastic things as other parts of her country taped onto an old box. Then did a layer of paper mache over the top. She has her first coat of paint on it and its really neat.