Pill Bottles from Plastic Bottle Tops

Using just the top of a plastic bottle and a small amount of polymer clay, you can make these super cute little containers. Personally, they remind me of lip gloss containers (complete with threaded twist-top), and also of the small pill bottles meant for purses and pockets. A big plus is how cheap this craft is—if you have the cutting implement and bottles around the house already, you can make them for less than a dollar per. Did I mention they're super cute? I theorize larger versions can also be made from Snapple bottles, but I haven't tried it yet.

Shopping List

• Plastic bottle - Leftover from water or soda, a favorite amongst craft-recyclers.
• A tiny hacksaw or drimel
• Polymer clay - less than a package is needed, though you might want multiple colors

Cutting the Bottle

Remove the lid from the plastic bottle and discard the little plastic ring meant to show tampering. The bottle should have a little lip below the threads. Cut the bottle as far below the lip as you can, but before the bottle starts curving out. Completely severe the top of the bottle from its base. Try to cute as straight of a line as possible, but slight variation and jags are okay.

Creating the Form

Create a thick circle of polymer clay a bit wider than the cut bottle top. Stick the bottle top into the circle deep enough for it to be firmly planted, but not deep enough for the bottle to start pushing through the other side of the clay. Extend the wall of the pillbox up to the lip, thick enough to extend to the edge of the lip and cover it.

Cover the bottle cap with polymer clay as well. While the layer will be thinner than the base was, it still needs to be a bit thick.

Baking and Polishing

Cooking the polymer clay at the manufacturer's instructions should be fine—plastic needs to be pretty hot to actually melt. After done, let the piece cool thoroughly (the bottle cap will be malleable for a while). The dried polymer clay will have a dull finish, but you can polish it up easily by sanding with a fine grain then coating with a clear shiny varnish (like old-fashioned floor polish).