Plastic Bottle Apples To Make For Rosh HaShana Gift Giving And Succah Decorating!

Plastic bottle apples, namely apples made from recycled plastic bottles are something I’ve been making for quite a few years. They make great little gift boxes or treat boxes, are quite simple to whip up, and everyone loves them. Not to mention that you help create awareness of recycling and minimizing waste, and, this project is at its best when no spray paint (big yuk, bad for health and environment!) is used, rather the bottle is filled with something red. While an apple is generally thought of as a symbol for Rosh HaShana, many have the custom of hanging apples in the succah, as it is a fall harvest fruit, and Succot does certainly include the fall harvest!

At Rosh HaShana we always liked to give little gifts of appreciation to the teacher, and my kids very often prepared a small treat with a New Year’s card for all the kids in their class. I like to give little gifts to neighbors, and this plastic bottle apple is perfect for tucking in a small treat (in a red wrapped) and a note, because I’d rather spend time crafting than baking! I have seen this idea or something similar made with a zipper, though I have not succeeded with that as great looking as it is. Simply punching a few holes and tying the top and bottom together with a ribbon makes this craft one that can truly be made in quantities, assuming you have been saving plastic bottles! Okay, now is the time to get crafting, let’s make some plastic bottle apples!

You’ll Need:

• clear plastic or green plastic (that could be great!) soda bottles, ours are from seltzer (which we call soda here in Israel)
• some branches that are thick enough to be nice sized stems
• green felt or thick fabric, or how about some jeans?
• red ribbon, the polka dot pattern takes this project up a level
• a hot glue gun

How To:

See my complete tutorial here. And check out some cute versions done by reader’s here.

Enjoy, and remember, starting the Jewish New Year by bringing joy to others is indeed an amazing thing to do!