Apple Paperweight

recycling craft ideas - apple paperweight

Materials:

  • Recycled 20oz soda bottle
  • Red tissue paper - 1 sheet
  • Small amount green tissue paper
  • Mod Podge (I used gloss finish)
  • 1" sponge applicator
  • Sand
  • Plastic sandwich baggie
  • 1 1/2" x 3" craft paper
  • Scotch tape
  • Glue stick
  • Craft knife
  1. Using a craft knife, cut the bottom 2 1/2" off of an empty clean 20oz soda bottle.  This part is an adults job.  Once cut, dry the inside of this bottom section completely.  You will not need the top portion for this project.
  2. If you are using a Ziploc bag, cut the Ziploc portion off and discard it.  Place the sandwich bag into the soda bottle then fill the bag with sand until the sand is even with the top of the bottle.
  3. Rub the glue stick across one of the 1 1/2" ends of the craft paper and roll the other end toward and right on top of the end with the glue on it forming a small tube.  This will be your stem.
  4. Cut a leaf shape approximately 2" long out of green tissue paper (see note below)
  5. Apply Mod Podge to both sides of the tissue paper leaf and using the Mod Podge as glue, attach the leaf to the stem only at the bottom 1/2" of both the stem and leaf.  While still wet, bend the leaf backwards a bit into a more natural leaf position.
  6. Stick the bottom of the stem/leaf into the sand.
  7. Fold down the rest of the plastic bag to cover the sand going around the stem and tape in place with a piece of Scotch tape.  If necessary, cut off any excess plastic baggie.
  8. Cut some strips 1 1/2" x 5" from red tissue paper.
  9. Apply Mod Podge to one side of a tissue strip using the foam applicator then lay the strip on your bottle bottom filled with sand.  Continue applying tissue strips in this manner until you have completely covered the bottle going right over the top (where the baggie filled with sand is) and being careful to go around the stem and leaf.  Apply two layers of red tissue to your apple.
  10. Finally, completely cover the apple with a coat of Mod Podge using the foam applicator.

Note:  I didn't have any green tissue paper on hand so I used a small piece of green plastic tablecloth instead.  Because of the different weight and texture, I did not cover my plastic leaf with Mod Podge.

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