Save a few empty plastic and glass bottles for these easy-to-do projects:

* Tear off short strips of masking tape and tape in a random, overlapping fashion around a smooth-sided glass bottle, except the opening and the base. Rub your favorite shade of shoe polish over the bottle with an old rag. Let polish dry. The bottle is now ready for a spring bouquet.

* Run hot water over the outside of a clear plastic 2-liter soft-drink bottle and remove the label. Remove the black plastic base.

With adult assistance, use sharp scissors to trim off the closed rounded end of the clear plastic container. Put bottle on its side and insert and glue items in it to make an ocean or harbor scene, using sand, seashells, sea gull figurines and small foam pieces for waves. Set and secure the miniature ship inside.

Replace the black plastic base over the end cut. If the base is loose, glue it in place. Insert a cork or replace the bottle cap at the other end.