Towelie

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Upcycled Materials

Towlie is a decorative hand towel holder for your kitchen or bathroom. It
would be viable that this product could be constructed by a user with
basic DIY knowledge and equipment.

The products dimensions are W15xH25, which is just the right size to hold
a normal hand towel. Towelie is made out of a food product can, such
as baked beans and plastic fizzy drinks bottles, I have used 2lt sparkling
water bottles as they have the least amount of ridges and are the easiest
to process.

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This work is licensed for non-commercial use only

First off you need to make the templates for the decorative plastic flowers. Draw out a shape of flower you like then cut it out of paper.

Next you need to put the template onto a fizzy drinks bottle and draw around it in permanent marker, I recommend sharpie pens. Try to get as many flowers onto the bottle so little is wasted.

Yours should look something like this (see picture above).

Next you need to cut both ends of the bottle off and cut a line through your flowers to get a flatter bit of plastic (this makes it easier to do the next bit). You then need to cut each individual flower out and you are left with what should look like the picture above.

Next you need to use a naked flame to gently heat the plastic to make it into more of an organic shape. Once you have done that clean any brown marks off with water and soap and any leftover pen marks with some acetone free nail polish.

Drill a hole in the middle of each flower.

Next you need to spray paint the flowers with the colour of your choice I have gone for blue. I recommend putting a bin liner on the floor to protect your flooring.

Get hold of a tin can that is thoroughly cleaned and take off each end with a can opener.

Then drill 3 3mm holes in each side of the can.

Once you have done that use (size 3.4) pop rivets to secure the top and bottom hole leaving the middle one empty.

Then spray the can with some spray paint I have chosen white but you could use any colour you wish.

Next you need to assemble the flowers to the can through the middle hole in the can, using a pop rivet. Put the rivet through all of the flowers as well as the can.

Finally you can attach a hook onto the back by drilling a 1mm hole and feeding though some invisible thread so you can attach it to your cupboard or door.

This is the finished Towelie in the both red and blue options.

Materials and Equipment List

Materials: -baked bean can -fizzy water bottles -spray paint -paper -pop rivets Equipment: -pop rivet gun -craft knife -scissors -drill -lighter

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Comment

Comments (6)

bytanveerm

November 17, 2011

Nice flower, but unsure...

The flower piece is nice, heating the plastic was a clever method and clearly was the right method to go with. But im sure it could have been used as a different product other than a towel holder. Much more potential to it.

November 17, 2011

Towelie

I like the form, it can really decarate the holder. Should be a good present to MIY for mother's day. I think its good that the product can use other material to make as well.

byjsboden

November 17, 2011

ok idea

Although the build quality is good Im not sure whether I would use these or if they would get discarded and I would use a towel rack.

byHUNAH

November 17, 2011

GOOD

Like the way of making I haven't tried. How about make different shape not flower. Because boys doesn't like it so, It can be changed the shape which all peopele like

byThomasJGlover

November 17, 2011

Nice

Whilst I think that the final idea slightly lets down the creative production of the flower, i really like the contrast between the bright flower and the neutral towel holder. A nice product that has a strong potential to be made by anybody with the use of instructions.

bys.p.wilsher

November 17, 2011

decorative outcome from a plastic bottle

The flower is aestetically pleasing and is a very decorative outcome from a plastic bottle. Could consider using in for a more prominent application.

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