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Classic milk bottles date as far back as 1878, and were a common household sight back in the days of home milk delivery.  These days, they are a rarer sight, but can still be found at many grocery stores.  When they do find their way into your fridge, instead of immediately recycling them, why not make their timeless appeal a permanent part of your home?

What you can do with old style milk bottles is limited only by your imagination. Here are some project ideas to get your creative juices flowing. 

For each of these milk bottle makeovers thoroughly wash your bottle with hot water and soap.  Allow bottle to dry before beginning the project.
Terrariums
The terrarium concept was created in 1829 by Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward, a British surgeon and gardener, who developed these mini ecosystems as a way to transport living plants on long sea voyages. Your milk bottle terrarium can serve as a creative table centerpiece, as well as a stimulating science project for kids.

Materials:
1 glass milk bottle
1 handful of small gravel
1 handful of charcoal
2 cups of potting soil
Various seeds suitable for the size of your bottle
Small-sized flat rock or other form of lid

Equipment:
Spray bottle with clean water
Small funnel

1. Using the funnel for the next three steps, layer the bottom of the bottle with small gravel.  2. Add a layer of charcoal - this keeps the terrarium fresh and free from mold.  3. Place soil into bottle covering gravel and charcoal. 4. When choosing seeds, remember to choose a plant that will be compatible to the size of the milk bottle.  5. Place seeds in soil, and using the funnel, add another thin layer of soil to cover seeds.  6. Mist soil with water.  7. Cover the bottle opening with a small rock or other form of lid.  8. Place near sunny location, while avoiding direct sunlight.

(Direct sunlight will create too much moisture inside the bottle.  If condensation does form, take the lid off of the terrarium overnight or until the condensation has cleared.  Replace lid.  Over watering your terrarium can also create condensation, so add water in small amounts. Animals and bugs should not be added to a terrarium.)
Milk & Cookies
Milk and Cookies are the customary pair; one simply can't exist without the other.  This simple gift uses a milk bottle as the container for a dry cookie mix.

Materials:
1 clean glass milk bottle
The dry ingredients from a favorite cookie recipe, such as a sugar cookie mix
1 medium-sized funnel
Cow stencil
Black and white construction paper
Clear self adhesive lamination sheets

Equipment:

Scissors
Hole punch
String or ribbon
Glue
Straw Basket

1. Assemble the dry ingredients of your favorite cookie recipe in a medium sized bowl - if you desire you can "layer" them, make sure the recipe provides enough mix to fill the milk bottle - a standard bottle uses about 4 1/2 cups of dry ingredients.  2. Use the funnel to insert the dry ingredients into a clean and DRY milk bottle.  3. Seal bottle with plastic wrap/parchment paper and rubber band.  4. Trace the cow stencil on to the white paper.  5. Use the same stencil and freehand trace onto the black paper so the black cow is larger than the white cow.  6. Print the cookie recipe on the white cow cut out and adhere to the black cow cut out.  7. Enclose the cow in the laminate sheets and cut around shape.  8. Using hole punch, place hole in cow card and attach around the lip of the bottle filled with the dry ingredients. 

Use the straw basket to present a bottle of fresh milk and a bottle of cookie mix to a host or hostess or as a party favor for a small dinner.
Print image and enlarge with copier.   Use enlarged image for tracing. 
COW STENCIL
enlarge and trace
Everyday Use of Plain Milk Bottles
The simplicity and functionality of a plain milk bottle can provide many great accessories for your home.  Here are some of our favorites:
Flower Vase - For a dramatic touch; line five to ten milk bottles with a single flower, such as Gerber daisies, down the center of a table.
Coin Jar - To keep change separated, making it easy to count, use four bottles, one for pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters.
Milk Bottle Serving Set - Small pint-size glass milk bottles serve as great glasses for ice-cold milk - especially when you pop straws into each bottle. Use the quart-size milk bottle as the serving pitcher.
Candy Holder - Small candies such as M&Ms, Skittles or gumballs fit perfectly inside the bottle - they're easily poured from it, into your hands or a bowl.
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