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Make A Fun Doorstop From An Old Plastic Bottle
One of the great things about empty bottles is that they can be filled again. If you keep a container of sand, gravel, or soil around, an empty bottle can serve as a sturdy base for many craft ideas. Making a doorstop is easy, and you can make it as simple or intricate as you like. Here are the basics to get you started.
Fill your plastic bottle around one half to three quarters with sand or gravel to give it weight. Glue on some fabric all around it, white glue is fine. Old sheeting or towels will do just fine, or you can go all out and get some polyester stuffing. If you don't ever want anyone to see that a bottle is there, put a cardboard base on at this stage too. Masking tape will do fine to attach it before gluing on your fabric.
Think about the character you would like to create. A cat, a mouse, a cheerful chef, (forget Gordon Ramsey he is too skinny and grumpy), a grandma with her apron. Anything that takes your fancy will work.
Your next step is to add a head to your figure. The easiest way is to buy a polystyrene ball from your local craft shop. If that is out of your budget just scrunch up some newspaper to the size you want and secure it to the neck of the bottle with masking tape.
You can now use Paper Mache, polymer clay, or air drying clay to form your head and features around. Paper Mache is by far the cheapest but also the slowest method. The head building is important though to give character to your figure, so whichever method you choose take your time with this. Things that really bring out a character are eyes and eyebrows, a twist of the mouth and cheeks. Remember that you can paint things in later too if you want.
Now you need to put some clothing on your door stop figure. If you are handy with a sewing machine you can really go to town here. Chef's need hats and aprons. Penguins look great in tuxedos, and every self-respecting country mouse will want a waistcoat. What do cool cats wear?
If you don't have a sewing machine or don't like to sew don't let that stop you. Grab some fabric, scissors, glue or duct tape and go to town. It is all about creating and doing your own thing.
Arms can either be added with stockings filled with polyester stuffing, glued on with fabric, or even painted on (if you want arms of course and you may not). Don't try to add feet unless you just want a tip of a shoe or hoof showing. Your doorstop needs to be able to sit flat on the ground to do its job.
If you like what you created make some more. Doorstops are both functional and popular. Make a whole family and who knows if you get too many you might need to sell them off.
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