Bottly the Horse - a Toy Made From Reused Bottles

Why throw away something that could become a wonderful toy designed for fun? Today, I want to share with you how to make a hobby horse reimagined using the shapes of disposable plastic—specifically, common 1.5-liter soda bottles.

Bottles usually end up in the trash after a party, though sometimes, thanks to local recycling systems, they undergo a process that allows the plastic to be reused.

But before throwing them away, we can do creative things by taking advantage of their shapes and the plastic they are made of.

So today, I’m going to take advantage of the features of this type of bottle (and a few other objects that have reached the end of their useful life) by repurposing them to make a hobby horse toy.

-1 or 2 bottles

-4 soda bottle caps

-2 larger plastic jar lids (e.g., from a 5-liter water jug)

-Cords (in this case, from an old pair of shorts)

-An old leather belt

-A discarded cardboard tube or an old/damaged stick

-Strips of cardboard (I used again Cardboard Shredder Package Stock)

-Scissors and Cutter

-Small screws

-Protective acetate sheet from some old packaging

Take the bottles and remove any labels on them.

Depending on the shape of your bottle, make a straight cut to divide it into two parts: one part will represent the snout, and the other the top of the head.

I am making most of the horse toy using recycled materials, but you can customize one or more parts using whatever materials or shapes you prefer; for the details of the head—specifically the eyes and nostrils—I will be using plastic soda bottle caps.

As an eye protector, I’ll use the acrylic part of a previously unpacked phone case; this covering will keep the pupil inside the googly eye.

Cut the circular shape out of the acetate and create some tabs for folding.

Using tape with good adhesion and grip, secure all the folds to the base of the cap, enclosing the pupil and creating a googly-eye effect.

Do the same for both eyes, and set aside two more caps for the nostrils; if you cannot find them in a specific color, you can use paint to touch them up.

The head is formed from the two previously cut pieces; it is not advisable to use a single bottle for the head, as they are too long and could distort the shape of the horse's head.

The neck is a section of another bottle, with a circular opening cut out for the head to fit into.

Use adhesive tape to join the parts when a preview is needed.

At first, I wanted to glue everything with hot glue, but that was a fatal mistake; when joining two parts—like the eye and the bottle—the bottle melted from the heat. So, I recommend using cold glue or super glue.

Despite this, the defective part allows me to run some tests with the eyes, so I decided to leave the eyes inside.

After that, I calculate and make the cuts for the eyes on the master bottle.

I also salvaged the ear sections from the damaged piece and ran a test to see what the hair might look like.

To attach the inner eye, use double-sided tape; first, apply the tape right up to the edge, and then remove the backing.

Attach the googly eyes on the inside. carefully so that the tape does not end up misaligned

Now that I have the three horse pieces, I used tape and the cutter to mark the holes where the screws will pass through to securely join the three cut pieces together.

Do the same for the ears, but first make a fold to join them to the head, and screw them in at the two corners.

Take the two plastic caps, position them over the nostrils according to the design, and secure them with a screw.

The hair will be attached strand by strand, so we will need to make some holes to insert each piece of cardboard hair later.

Use a wood-burning tool, or heat the tip of a utility knife with a lighter and then make small holes one by one, following a guide line.

Apply the double-sided tape and stick the old strap to the horse's jaw.

If the tape does not work, adjust it using the two screws on the sides.

Cut it strand by strand out of cardboard—so to speak—using packing cardboard, or use yarn if you prefer.

Insert the cut-out pieces of cardboard into each of the previously made holes.

This process is carried out before attaching the entire head, as it allows for individual strands of hair to be pulled from the inside to adjust the hairstyle if necessary.

Fill out the back as well.

Complete the entire horse's mane; if you prefer, remove the bottle's nozzle or fill it with strips of cardboard—in my case, I left it open to tie the straps.

Measure the cardboard or wooden stick and cut it to the right length for the person who will be using it; I plan to give it to my 5-year-old cousin, so I made it short.

Save the leftover cardboard tube for future projects, if applicable. Otherwise, gather your recyclable materials and take them to your local recycling center.

Using an old pair of shorts I was about to throw away due to wear and tear, I decided to make use of the drawstring.

I adjusted this rope to the sides of the horse to complement the main strap.

In South America, the hobbyhorse has always been a very popular toy among children; it is both a traditional childhood toy and the subject of various songs. Children use it to pretend they are riding a horse while running and imagining outdoor games.

In the end you'll have a unique Bottly Horse with an cool design, It is always nice to realize that there are no limits to what you can do with recycled materials.

Have a good day.