Here’s a quick, easy, very inexpensive project for you. Use bamboo coasters, old lotion caps and lids, and a little glue to make planters!

A little scotch tape will help hold the bamboo in place while you get started.

All you need for this project are some old bottle caps or lotion container lids (or lip balm containers, or the other small container or cap of your choice) and some bamboo coasters or placemats.

Here’s what I started with:

Step one was to cut the coaster to the desired height you’d like your planter to be. I started with the green cap and decided I’d like the bamboo to extend just above it on either side.

Once cut, I wrapped the bamboo around the cap, using a little scotch tape to help secure it in place while I worked. When I determined the right size to fit around the cap, I cut it and glued it into place.

I like the kinds of coasters with a mesh backing because you can cut them up and they never fall apart. These coasters didn’t have that kind of backing, so once I began cutting, the tiny bamboo slats began to come out. It wasn’t a big deal — I just put them back where they belonged, but if you can find the coasters with a mesh backing, they’ll save you that trouble. Another option is to glue some kind of backing onto your coasters before you cut them. Some paper, mesh, or lightweight fabric, for instance.

I repeated the process with the lid. It was much bigger, so I needed two sections of bamboo. Here’s a look with section one getting put into place:

After my caps were nicely wrapped in their strips of bamboo, I used a rubber band to hold the bamboo in place while it dried. Later I removed the rubber band and added a little twine as both a decorative touch and also to help keep the bamboo in place over time.

All photos by Holly Tierney-Bedord. All rights reserved.