Do your bit for the environment by making this unique curtain or lampshade cover using your empty plastic drink bottles. Cut to remove the base of each bottle and you are left with pretty flower-like shapes you can join together with jump rings to make panels.

GATHER YOUR SUPPLIES
1.25L green and clear plastic drink bottles (quantity to suit your project); Stanley knife; cutting mat; scissors; single-hole punch; 10mm jump rings; needle-nose pliers; 19mm hinged rings; curtain rod or wire lampshade frame

HERE'S HOW
Step 1 Working on the cutting mat and with each bottle on its side, use the Stanley knife to remove the 'flower' base of the bottle. Roll the bottle as you cut, about 30mm up from the bottom. Any jagged edges can be snipped off with scissors.

Step 2 Punch holes through each of the flower petals. Determine the finished size of your curtain by measuring the desired width and length. For the lampshade cover, measure the circumference of the lampshade frame and the drop from the top of the lampshade frame to the floor. Make a note of these measurements.

Step 3 Working 1 row at a time, join the flowers together where the petals touch with jump rings. Keep adding rows of flowers until you have a piece that measures the width and length of your curtain, or circumference and length of your lampshade cover. Start with a block of green flowers, then intersperse clear flowers with the green for a few rows before finishing with a block of clear flowers.

Step 4 Attach a hinged ring through a petal of each flower in the top row. Thread the rings through the curtain rod or attach them to the top ring of your lampshade frame.

Stockists: Fiskars single-hole punch; 10mm jump rings, $1.99 (30pk); needle-nose pliers, $7.99, Spotlight, 1300 305 405 or spotlight.com.au Craftworks 19mm hinged rings, $2.55 (6pk), Oxford Art Supplies, www.oxfordart.com.au Irja 140cm curtain rod set in white, $2.95; Januari 135cm floor lamp base in nickel, $39; Kivsta lampshade 40cm-diameter x 25cm (for this frame, remove shade from frame) $35, IKEA, www.ikea.com.au

CREDITS: Photography Martyn Rushby; concept Chris Cort