Did you know that plastic soda/water bottles can be recycled as a see-through mail package?

After you’ve finished your 16-oz. beverage, wash and dry the bottle and remove the label. You can use rubber cement thinner or Goo Gone to remove the residue. Then cut a long vertical slit in one side by scoring it with a craft knife. The bottle will be weakened at the curved top/bottom section, so avoid cutting there. About half-way down, cut a horizontal slit no more than two inches on each side of the vertical slit.

Get your small gifts…ornaments, gum, mittens, candies, socks, small picture frame, costume jewelry, lotions, perfume etc. (Cut a photo for the receiving person to piece together.) Insert them into the bottle by pressing the cut edges in. Begin with the small items to fill the bottom, then add larger pieces, then fit more small pieces at the top. Fill spaces with shredded paper, tinsel, tissue paper.

If you want to move something you can’t reach, try using a pencil inserted through the bottle’s mouth.

Screw the top on and secure with clear packing tape. Seal slits with tape, then adhere your address/return-address label to the bottle over the slit and add more tape.

Take the bottle to be weighed at the U.S. Post Office. I called the local Post Office and they said it’s best to contact your local post office if they have restrictions on what can be placed in the bottle.

What a unique gift for grandparents, friends and pen pals! Try creating a theme bottle and don’t forget to include a hand-written note to make it more personal.