She Turns Old Plastic Bottles Into One Of The Most Unique DIY Mood Lights

Recycling bins are often overflowing with empty plastic bottles, but those disposable containers may have more potential than you realize. With a bit of creativity and imagination, a basic plastic bottle can become relaxing mood lighting that brings the soothing vibes of the ocean to your bedroom. In a YouTube video, creator deryatavas shows how an old drink bottle and battery-operated string lights can become a stunning jellyfish lamp. Complete with curling, twisting tentacles, and a rounded, dome-like top, this jellyfish light fixture is beautifully unique.

This smart way to reuse water bottles requires hot glue, scissors or a knife to cut the plastic, and a heat source to melt it. Slightly melting the plastic gives character and shape to your jellyfish lamp and can be done with a blow dryer, heat gun, or a lighter. However, it's crucial to take proper precautions when heating or melting plastic, as it can produce potentially harmful fumes. When crafting your aquatic lamp, ensure you're in a space with good ventilation, and consider wearing a mask designed to filter fumes.

To turn the jellyfish into a lamp, LED string lights offer an easy solution. LED bulbs produce less heat than other lights, and are the safest option to have touching the plastic bottle. Dollar Tree sells 10-foot LED string lights for only $1.50 per pack, keeping this project ultra cost effective. Paint pens can also be used to color the plastic and bring life to your sea creature lamp.

While many DIYs transform a glass bottle into a stunning light-up masterpiece, a plastic bottle can make for a more interesting fixture that's perfect for mood lighting. For this project, a taller beverage bottle made from a sturdier plastic is best. Before modifying the container, remove any labels and wash it.

To start creating the jellyfish features, the creator cuts the top off the bottle. Flipping the bottom of the container upside down, she traces lines to map out the jellyfish's undulating tentacles. Then, the DIYer cuts the plastic into strips all the way around the bottle. She quickly moves a lighter's flame over the individual pieces to reshape and curl them. Alternatively, apply a hair dryer or heat gun over the plastic for a few seconds. To give the tentacles even more personality and texture, the she pokes rows of holes in the plastic.

With the top of the bottle, she uses a similar technique, cutting many thin strips. She applies heat to curl the bottom of this piece inward, giving it that rounded, jellyfish shape. The DIYer glues the top of the bottle inside the inverted bottom half to complete the look.

For a simpler design, cut off the bottom of the bottle and create your jellyfish the opposite way. Create slits in the top of the bottle along where you cut, and then glue the rounded bottom piece over the mouth of the bottle to create the dome.

Turning the plastic jellyfish into a working lamp is rather simple. First, the create a hole in the top of the jellyfish to thread the string lights through the plastic lamp. The wire holding the battery pack comes out the top of the jellyfish, doubling as a hanger for the lamp. Fold the lights to keep them the length of the jellyfish's tentacles. Then, glue a bit of the folded wire to the inside of the plastic to hold the lights in place.

With this method, you can easily change the batteries and hang the end of the string lights to make your jellyfish look like it's floating. Otherwise, glue the battery pack inside the jellyfish, so that the lights hang with the tentacles. Small puck lights would also work for this lamp. If you'd prefer an outdoor decoration, LED solar lights could also be added inside the plastic jellyfish.

Glue an extra loop of plastic to the top of your lamp for a clear hanger. To really make your jellyfish vibrant, consider using colorful lights for this DIY mood lamp. Besides beverage bottles, other plastic bottles can also make for fun, artful lamps. For example, you can transform prescription bottles into a unique lamp with an orange glow.