Continuing our series of finding fun ways to use everyday objects in costume-making, today we’re taking a closer look at empty bottles. Once you finish your beverage, adult or otherwise, you could recycle it or you could hang on to it for cosplay purposes. If you decide to keep your bottle and give it a much cooler life, be sure to thoroughly rinse it inside and out and let it air dry. Unless you want your new cosplay accessory to be branded, go ahead and peel off the label too. Patience and hot water will usually do the trick.

Now that you have an empty glass or plastic bottle, what can you do with it? We’ve got five suggestions to get your brain turning.

Pirate prop – If you’re cosplaying as a Davy Jones sort of pirate who has been under the sea for a while, paint an empty wine bottle to make an old and scary looking pirate’s brew. Just mix matte medium, a touch of tan acrylic paint, and a drop of dishwashing liquid to stop the paint from beading up on the glass. Use a sponge to dab on the the paint mixture in layers until they look mottled and old.

Steampunk accessories – Decking out a steampunk outfit with accessories seems to be a necessary requirement. I like to call it steampunk flair. Wine bottles have some ideal shapes to include in your ensemble, you just need to cut them (watch this how-to). Cut off the base for a nice, shallow circle you could attach to a backpack. Cut off the neck of the bottle for a skinny cylinder you use in an instrument as is or you could paint the neck to make it look like metal.

Make badges and pins – Empty bottles often come with caps, and those are the right size and shape to be useful in several ways. You can turn plastic caps from bottles of soda or water into merit badges – paint on the designs, seal them, and attach them to a sash with glue or sewing (you’d have to punch a few holes in the cap). Metal caps from glass soda bottles make the perfect surface to decoupage for pins – perfect if you happen to be cosplaying Carl or Ellie from Up. (Image source)

Shoulder pads – Need a cheap armor substitute or some sturdy shoulder pads to wear under your costume? Two liter bottles can be cut in half, fit to your shoulder, and sanded for a quick fix. Leave them as is to wear under clothing or paint them in bright colors with a glossy finish for the armor option.

Create some leaves – Use colored plastic bottles to create a pile of fake leaves! Draw templates in a few different sizes, trace them onto your bottles, and carefully cut them out. Etch the vein patterns in and punch a hole through the end. These could be paired with LEDs to make a kicking headdress for a fairy or Ent-inspired costume. (via Pinterest)