Remove all labels from the plastic bottles. Hot glue plastic bottles to a canvas and paint over them using spray paint. This will make the plastic bottles and the canvas one color, making an interesting base. Different forms of media such as paper drawings and three-dimensional objects can be added using hot glue or craft glue.
Cut bottles in half using scissors or a craft knife. Begin cutting slices from the bottle as if it were a tomato. This will create clear plastic rings that you can glue to canvas to create texture or hang with fish line to create a mobile sculpture. You can also paint the rings with acrylic paint or spray paint, then glue them together to create a sculpture.
Slice the bottle into large shreds using the scissors. Paint each piece with a glossy translucent paint on both sides. Because of the sharp edges, this will give the illusion of broken glass, which is a great three-dimensional medium when creating art. The pieces can be piled on top of each other or scattered over a canvas, then glued into place.
Remove the bottom of the plastic bottle with the scissors or a craft knife. Cut thin strips upward from the bottom all the way to the top while holding the top in the other hand. Cut the top off of the plastic bottle to release all of the strips. Paint the strips or leave clear. Use the strips to create background texture, hair, building silhouettes or text, then glue into place.
Shred the bottles using a plastic bottle shredder. Mix the fine shreds with acrylic paint to create a textured paint. Add as many or as few shreds as desired. Mix using a wooden paint mixer. Apply to a canvas or other medium using a palette knife.
Create a stained glass effect by painting shreds or pieces of plastic bottles with translucent paint. Layer colors over each other to create rich hues.
Cut out intricate designs from a plastic bottle using a very sharp craft knife. Small craft knifes are good for creating fiddly, rounded details. Spray paint the finished bottle.