For more ideas on how to create your own #BackyardBash, check out the tumblr page at www.drpepperbash.com
We love Summer because it means we get to entertain and be outdoors! Outdoor parties offer up the perfect opportunity for us to have our friends and their children over for a BBQ and play date. I’ve long been a fan of Dr Pepper and thinking back to my childhood I always remember having a “pop fridge” in the basement that was full of Dr Pepper. Up here in Minnesota we don’t call it soda, it’s pop! We would hang outside all day running in and out to the pop fridge to grab pops for everyone. Perhaps that is where my love of Dr Pepper began. These soda bottle boats are fun to make and fun to play with in the water afterwards! Gather up the empty Dr Pepper bottles and upcycle them into something fun! It’s inexpensive and entertaining for the kids.
Supplies:
- Empty soda bottles
- Sheets of craft foam
- Glue or duct tape
- Skewers
- Cardboard to make a sail
- Scissors
- Optional: Foam stickers to decorate the boat with
We picked up a bunch of Dr Pepper products at Walmart. The pop bottles we used for the boats are circled above. You could also make them with 2 liter bottles and just use a larger piece of foam. We cut up the cardboard boxes from the cans of Dr Pepper for the sails.
First use a single piece of duct tape and wrap it around the soda bottles, lining them up. Wrap the tape the entire way around.
Then cut a piece of craft foam to 6 1/4″ x 9 1/2″. Roll duct tape on the back as shown in the picture or you can use glue but for the sake of not having to wait for it to dry, we used tape.
Place the foam over the bottles lining up each side to come down to cover the sides as shown.
Next you are going to make the flag. We used a square piece of cardboard off the Dr Pepper box. Then tape the skewer to the back so it looks like the above picture. You can let the kids decorate their sail too!
Then poke the skewer through the middle of the boat. It will poke through the duct tape which helps to hold it in place and keep it stable.
Last, let the kids decorate their boats and then bring them to the water to try them out!
This is the perfect activity for your next backyard bash! Not only did the kids have a ton of fun making these, but they also re-used bottles in order to do it!
What is your favorite outdoor party activity?
What a fun idea! I never thought of using empty soda bottles as floats 😉
That is a super cute idea. My boys would get a kick out of that.
Cute! My son would love to make these – I like how the kids can decorate it however they like. Such a great way to reuse Dr Pepper bottles.
What a fun idea to do, using old bottles! I am sure my nephew would get a kick out of this! I guess this is a good excuse to drink a little soda ;-)!
Very cute idea! I could see my girls wanting to have their little toys ride atop.
That is an fun little boat! Goodness Knows I drink enough Dr. Pepper that My kids could make this every week!
Such a creative craft for the kiddos! This is the perfect “mom, I’m bored” activity!
What a fun idea. Great way to re-use something!
How fun! What a cute project to make with the kids. It would be a great pool toy.
My oldest had a project in class this year, making boats. i could have used this then! lol Bookmarking for when the twins are in Grade 4!
Darn it! I just made recycle boats with my son didnt think to use the little Dr Pepper bottles! Well, looks like we are going to be making some more LOL It is so fun to do crafts with the kids.
Ships ahoy! What a great project for kids to learn about floating!
Oh I just love this easy craft idea! It’s such a fun way to recycle soda bottles!
What a cute idea and perfect way to upcycle! LOVE Dr. Pepper!
What a cool idea! It’s fun for the kids and great for recycling.
Wow! You are so creative! What a fun mom you must be!
Great idea! I love it!
Cute and fun idea! Who doesn’t have bottles around?
So cute! What a great idea to get the creative juices going for the kids and to recycle the plastic bottles! Will pass this along to my little cousins! 🙂
I love to find new ways for craft ideas. We definately have bottles to use.
That is so adorable! I need to make this for my boys they would love to play with it in the backyard!
What a neat idea for a party!
That looks like such a fun and easy craft to do with the kids on a summer day. Thanks for sharing.
How cute and a wonderful project for kids in our area. We don’t have recycling in this part of VA and way to many bottles around. Passing this post to a few friends who’s children are home for the summer.
What a great way to recycle!! Those would be fun to race down a stream!
My favorite outdoor party activity is a pinata. I love doing things to celebrate my husband’s hertitage
how cute and a fun way to recycle
Very cute. I love Dr. Pepper.
So cute! What a fun activity!
What a cute idea! Your boat turned out really good.
This would be too fun for pool play. I love the idea, and it would be fun to decorate them!
How clever! Thank you so much!
neat idea. I cant wait to do more recycling crafts like this with my LO. id love to do this one soon