DIY Recycled Bottle Cap Dragonfly

DIY Recycled Bottle Cap Dragonfly

Turn all of those water bottles and bottle caps you collected over the summer into a super fun dragonfly! This easy recycled craft is guaranteed to bring smiles when you child sees their handiwork hanging outside your window or in you garden.

DIY Recycled Bottle Cap Dragonfly

Your kids will love collecting the buggy parts from the recycling bin. Let’s get started!

DIY Recycled Bottle Cap Dragonfly

What You Need

  • 1 plastic bottle (I used a 0.5l PET bottle)
  • 1 plastic egg
  • 6 small plastic bottle caps (1-inch)
  • 6 lids from drinking bottles with valve
  • 2 large plastic bottle caps (1 2/3-inch)
  • 1 drinking straw
  • 5 plastic beads (two faceted to use for insect eyes)
  • 1 1/4 yards wire, plasticized

Crafty needs:

  • Scissors
  • Reamer/punch
  • Mat
  • Wire cutters (optional, I used scissors)
DIY Recycled Bottle Cap Dragonfly

Step 1
Punch a hole in the center of each cap with your reamer. Be sure to place a mat underneath the cap before you begin.

DIY Recycled Bottle Cap Dragonfly

Step 2
Take two lids and cut a piece from the straw so that it fits in between them. You need three of these lid/straw sets.

DIY Recycled Bottle Cap Dragonfly

Step 3
Cut a 12-inch strand of wire. Knot a bead at the end. Now string all the lids and small caps together (lid > straw > lid > cap > cap > lid > straw > lid > cap). Make a knot at the end.

DIY Recycled Bottle Cap Dragonfly

Step 4
Take the plastic egg to use for the head. Punch two holes for the eyes at the edges and another two for the hanging and knotting them together in the middle.

Cut an 8-inch strand of wire and put it trough the eyeholes. Knot two beads at both ends. Next, cut an 18-inch strand of wire for hanging the dragonfly and tie together with a knot. Thread it through the other two holes and make a loop.

DIY Recycled Bottle Cap Dragonfly

Step 5
Take the plastic bottle and carefully punch a hole underneath the top. Cut the bottle lengthwise in long pieces. You’ll need four pieces. Cut them into the shape of a wing.

DIY Recycled Bottle Cap Dragonfly

Step 6
Punch a hole in each of the plastic wings. Cut an 8-inch strand of wire and knot them together.

DIY Recycled Bottle Cap Dragonfly

Step 7
Use the two remaining large caps for the body. They will hide all the knots.

DIY Recycled Bottle Cap Dragonfly

Step 8
Tie together the wire from the head, wings, and tail. Cut an 8-inch strand of wire and knot a bead at the end. put a cap on it. Tie together with the rest of the body. Put on the second cap and bead, pull, and tie a knot.

DIY Recycled Bottle Cap Dragonfly

Step 9
You may need to staple the wings together for stability.

DIY Recycled Bottle Cap Dragonfly

Your dragonfly is ready! Hope you had as much fun making them as we did :)