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Transform Your Old Pill Bottles with This Idea

Upcycle your empty pill bottles into handy storage with this creative DIY idea. Learn how to transform pill bottles into charming organizers for small items.

Skills Required: Beginner. You don’t need prior crafting skills to make this project! This is great for beginning Mod Podgers.

Cute recycled pill container DIY

I have four kids which means the bag I carry around is HUGE. This also means that I can never find anything when I need it.

I am constantly digging through my giant bag as kids tug at my shirt in the grocery store while I’m frantically trying to find what they need. Maybe someday I can go back to a normal person’s purse, but for now, giant bags are my reality.

I love anything that makes organizing easy, cute and is super inexpensive to do (I totally gave my hallway closet a total Dollar Tree organization makeover!).

So, I came up with a pretty stinkin’ cute way to organize some of those necessary things that a child will inevitably need while we are out. And? A child could make them!

The best part is that this project will recycle pill bottles you may already have on hand. You know that plastic bag full of them that you have been waiting for an idea? Well grab your Mod Podge.

It’s time to turn your old prescription bottles into sweet little organizers for your purse, desk or anywhere else you need a spot to stash loose odds and ends. There’s no end to what you can store in these!

I love to use one for bandages and chapstick for my purse and another one for coins. I love Aldi and always need a quarter for those carts, so I store them in these containers as well. You can make this simple craft idea from home. It’s really easy.

Here’s what you need for this pill bottle craft:

  • Mod Podge (Matte or Gloss)
  • Craft paper
  • Sponge brush
  • Spray paint
  • Scissors
  • Medicine bottles, both prescription and over the counter
Recycle Pill Bottles into Useful Organizers

You can use these for coins, loose earrings, an “emergency kit”, bobby pins, paper clips, and the list goes on and on!

what to do with old pill bottles

These containers would make a cute little gift holder as well. You could fill one with cash and give it for a teen’s birthday gift!

If you’re ready to try this project, the tutorial is below:

Yield: 3 bottles

Pill Bottle Craft

If you have a giant purse, I have a solution to losing things in the black hole - recycle pill containers into organizers! These are so easy to make.

Turn prescription pill bottles into storage using Mod Podge and scrapbook paper! Perfect for smaller items.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Active Time 30 minutes
Dry Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $0

Materials

  • Mod Podge (Matte or Gloss)
  • Craft Paper
  • Spray Paint
  • Pill Bottles

Tools

  • Scissors
  • Sponge Brush

Instructions

  1. Spray the pill bottles and lids with a coat of white spray paint and let dry.If you have a giant purse, I have a solution to losing things in the black hole - recycle pill containers into organizers! These are so easy to make.
  2. Cut a strip of paper to fit around the bottles. IF you find the paper is too big, trim further to fit.Paper cut to fit the pill bottles
  3. Apply a layer of Mod Podge. Then apply the paper and another coat of the Mod Podge, smoothing out any wrinkles.Applying Mod Podge to the paper on the bottle
  4. Allow your bottles to dry fully before using.painted pill bottles

Notes

Spray painting is especially important if there are labels on the bottles, so they don't show through the paper.

Did You Make This Project?

Please leave a rating or share a photo on Pinterest!


This is a great craft for teens, tweens, or adults. And if you like recycled projects, why don’t you check out these other posts on the blog?

Decorating Glass JarsDIY Desk OrganizerDIY Purse RefashionFabric Covered BoxesJunk Mail ArtPaper Mache BowlsPotion BottlesRecycled Bottle Crafts

Melanie

Wednesday 9th of October 2024

You said you have a couple kids who always need something while you are out somewhere. You could take a picture of your individual children and Modge Podge the picture on the outside of the pill bottle. That way each child has their own personalized bottle.

Claire Champagne

Friday 7th of April 2023

I love these ideas! I have tons of pull bottles and am a bit of a hoarder with things I know I can reuse, such as multiple pill bottles I have from my prescriptions. I eat a lot of soup and use minced garlic on pretty much everything I eat so I have lots of cans and glass containers I hold onto if I can, so has given me more motivation to start decorating and organizing my craft stuff and MUCH more. I have a giant bag I need to sew pockets and such but I love the pill bottle ideas(with my many hobbies paired with my clumsines), the bandaid container is perfect! And lip balms, gloss, lipsticks, and so on are awesome! Thank you! You have too many ads on your website, it's distracting and makes reading this difficult!

Tata

Wednesday 3rd of February 2021

Thanks!

Catherine Stewart

Thursday 16th of March 2017

When you finally can switch to a smaller purse, don't toss it -- it won't be long before grandchildren come along!

Since I appreciate your tips so much, I thought I'd pass one along to you!

laurabun

Saturday 28th of January 2017

I use pill bottles for lots of tiny storage, but never thought to decorate them!! An easy way to make them presentable for open shelving.

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