Make It and Love It

Free and Inspirational Do-It-Yourself Crafting/Sewing Tutorials

Holder for Charging Cell Phone (made from lotion bottle)

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My husband and I both have cell phones.  And both of us have phone chargers.  And that means lots of obnoxious cords.  You never know when one of us may be moving phone cords around, to give our phones an extra charge while we’re chatting away……… or trying to charge our phones up before running errands or something. Needless to say, those phone cords seem to be everywhere…..and are generally in the way and hanging all over the floor.

(Okay, and how about when you’re in a hotel or visiting family/friends.  There’s never a perfect place to rest your phone while it’s charging.)

I was looking around on the internet for a solution and found this.  But I read some reviews and some were saying that the platform was unstable.  So I thought a holder that was more cup shape would work much better.  But then I wasn’t sure how I was going to sew some plastic into a cup shape.  And that’s when I decided to use what I have and cut an old baby lotion bottle into the shape I needed.

It made the perfect little holder for my cell phone while it’s being charged.

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 Holder for Charging Cell Phone

And no more phone hanging down from the outlet while in this room or that room……..the cord and phone are  now up off the ground, and tucked away into the little holder, while the phone drinks up a full charge.

And of course I couldn’t just leave the poor little holder alone……I had to Mod Podge some fabric right onto it for some kick.  Hey, when my cell phone is happy, then I’m happy.

If you look closely, you can see that the orange print is fabric.  There are edges of fabric along the bottom and then one line down the back where the fabric met up.  But hardly noticeable while in use.  (For a few more options……you could also spray paint it, then stencil it or use vinyl cut outs over the paint.  That would be cute too.)

And my favorite part, is that I didn’t have to buy a thing.  The entire holder was made from things I had on hand.

And turns out, it’s pretty useful.  And not one bit of an eyesore.

Would you like to make your own Cell Phone Holder?

First of all, take a look around your house?  Do you have any old plastic bottles that are just about empty?  A lotion bottle, a mustard bottle, a hairspray or shampoo bottle?  Whatever you choose, find one that’s more flattened rather than a circular bottle.  The flattened shape will keep the bottle closer to the wall and out of the way once a cell phone is placed inside.

Now, measure your cell phone against the bottle, to be sure the bottle isn’t too big or too small.

I found that this bottle of baby lotion was the perfect size for my iphone.  So I washed this out with hot water and let it air dry.

Then I held my phone up to the bottle, starting at the bottom…..and decided how high I wanted the front of the holder to be.  Then I made a line with a pen across the front at that point.  Then I turned the bottle around and continued the line to the back but curved the back upwards.

I cut the bottle out with some kitchen scissors but a box cutter (or exacto knife) would work too.  I just have more control with scissors…….so I used them for this part.  I cut along the line until I was left with my phone holder shape.

Then, I drew a curved box shape on the upper back of the bottle.  Then I cut it out.  (What worked best for me was using a box cutter/exacto knife with a cutting board underneath.  This helped my control a ton.)  Then I used sand paper to smooth out all of the edges.

Like I mentioned above……you could now try spray painting and adding vinyl or stenciling it to finish your look.  Do whatever is best for you.

But here’s how I added the fabric:

First, you want to sand the surface of the whole thing.  This will really help to rough it up so that the Mod Podge will stick really well in the next steps.  Also, I didn’t want that blue ink to show through from the other side, so I sanded most of the lettering off too.  Worked great.

Then, I cut a piece of fabric that was big enough to wrap around the phone holder and was also an inch or two taller on the top and bottom.

Then, I turned the phone holder with the front facing me, and applied a generous layer of Mod Podge to the front.

Next, place the fabric right on top, centering it where it needs to go.

Then, apply more Mod Podge around the side of the container and continue to lay the fabric down right against it, pulling tightly as you wrap.  Also, be sure to pull the fabric down around the curve of the bottom of your bottle, if needs be.  This will help keep the fabric flat and smooth.  Use plenty of Mod Podge to aide you in this process.

When you get to the back, overlap one of the edges over the other.  Make sure the fabric is smooth all the way around the bottle……and then cut a straight line up the back of the container, trimming off the excess fabric.

Then trim around the entire container, cutting off the fabric nice and close to the edge.  Now, apply a nice thick layer of Mod Podge over all of the fabric.  Be sure and seal around all of the edges of fabric with the Mod Podge, ensuring that the fabric won’t peel off.

Lastly, cut an oval shape (or whatever shape applies to you) to fit the bottom of the bottle.  Place a layer of Mod Podge on the bottom of the bottom, place the oval shape on the bottom, then apply another coat of the Mod Podge.  Now set it upside down on something tall and slender and that your container can fit on top of, so that it can dry without touching anything.  (That’s a single flower vase that I’m using.)

Once it’s dry, use a box cutter/exacto knife to cut out the square-ish opening.  You’ll probably need to apply more Mod Podge around the opening and allow it to dry again.

Now, don’t worry if your edges aren’t smooth and have little pieces of fabric sticking off.  Use your box cutter/exacto knife and run the blade right along the edge of the phone holder all the way around, to remove any stray threads or chunks of dried Mod Podge.

And that’s it.  Your phone holder is ready for use.

**Use at your own risk.  There are many controversial comments down below……a large amount supporting both sides.  Bottom line: if you’re worried about electrical/outlet issues, attach a hook right next to the outlet, to hang your holder from while it’s plugged in.  Or use the holder for other purposes. :)

Now, don’t you feel like a smart re-purposer? (Is that a word?) Well, don’t stop here! Try your hand at some of these re-purposing projects next:

Turn an old men’s shirt and tie into a little man’s tote:

Transform a bunch of old t-shirts into an adorable ruffled heart dress:

Or, if you’ve got a bunch of old jeans laying around, we’ve go 35 clever projects for you to make:

35 Clever Projects from OLD DENIM JEANS | via Make It and Love It

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Comments

    • omg – that is so cool!
      I just found a parents choice (wal-mart brand) of baby lotion for bedtime…with a purple lid
      it has easy to peel off stickers on the front and back… no need to sand letters… in fact until
      I can find material I like to match my kitchen… it is an ok look… to keep my counter a bit less
      cord cluttered : )

    • Also would be great to hold your phone near kitchen counters, when you need your phone close at hand but don’t want i to get messy or wet while cooking. Any ideas of something that would be big and sturdy enough to hold my e reader? I hate leaving it on the floor to charge, always afraid I will step on it.

    • Hi, this is random but what type of camera do you use to take photos of the steps?

      Thanks! looking into buying a new dslr!

    • Sometimes, the simplest things solve big problems. And still, we pay good money for something expensive when something created at home will do the job better. Thanks for the lesson.

    • This is an absolutely awesome idea. I made one for my daughters cell phone. Its not an apple but the holder fit great none the less. thanks for sharing.

    • I made mine a with two holes, for two phone chargers. That way me and the hubby can charge both our phones at the same time. I used mod podge and scrapbook paper and it looks fantastic!

  9. I love it, When I travel its always hard to find a spot to charge my phone this is great!!

  10. Genius! I’ve got a baby lotion bottle that’s just about empty! :)

    I’d love to meet up with you and a bunch of crafters in Denver! Only, I live in Utah, and I don’t think I’ll be able to talk my hubs into the drive. With five kids. Sigh…

    But, I’d totally do it if it were here! :)

  11. Um, I am making one of these babies like pronto! My phone and ipod use the same charging plug/cord, and they are always sitting on the floor somewhere. This will be wonderful. I even have a empty baby shampoo bottle to use too. And my sewing machine is in the shop, so a no-sew project is fantastic! Thanks!

    • Made it, love it! Waiting for it to dry, and then I’ll blog about it and add it to flickr. Way excited to use it, and I’m making this for Christmas gifts as well. Thanks again!

      • Me too! Love mine, and will be making ones for my hubs (in manly camo print) and daughter for her Nintendo DS!

  15. While cute, it is potentially dangerous. Lotion bottles are not necessarily designed to be heat-resistant, and I kinda think that the LAST thing you might want is for it to either melt into the outlet or slip behind the “head” and hit the prongs. Pushing it forward doesn’t help, as it stresses the wires inside. Just sayin’.

    • LOL… you realize that plastic is non-conductive, right? if the bottle hits the prongs (gasp!) there will not be a electrical current surge through it… that’s why all plugs, connectors, etc are plastic!

      And as far as stressing the wires inside… what do you mean? There are MANY products on the market that weigh much more than a phone and cord (think battery chargers, CO2 detectors and the like). You’re not going to ruin your plug and it’s “wires” from hanging an additional few ounces!

      Just sayin’.

      • I thinks Marie means that the plastic could heat up and melt, which could be dangerous. I have seen a bunch of tutorials on this project, and lots have been deleted because it could be a safety hazard. The lotion/condiment bottles probably are not meant for this kind of use. But it is very cute!

        • I totally agree…while I was reading this I thought about it getting warm and who knows…just when you least expect it..something crazy happens right! Be safe..sounds like a nice idea but best to find something else to use.

          • Ashley, I wonder, do you think that vinyl fabric would be safer or do you think that it would be the same amount of risk? I think a vinyl version of this would be very cute, too. The plastic just seems a little iffy

            • It’s *probably* not going to shock you or melt unless it’s touching both prongs at the same time. Even then it might not do anything. But I certainly wouldn’t hang anything from a live conductor in my house! The weight shouldn’t be a problem, there are extension cords that weigh more than a phone. It’s a cool idea, I’d just look for a way to hang it from something else.

              • Ok….Let’s just brain storm just a little shall we. If you only cut the bottom 3/4 of the square cutout for the plugin then you could bend it outward and make a shelf for it to rest on top of the plugin, instead of sitting on the prongs. This would eliminate any issues others have brought up. There is usually solutions to problems if we just think and be creative!

                I love this idea of cell phone charging holder!! What a creative and CUTE way to deal with this frustration! Way to go Ashley!

                • Or, if you’re nervous about hanging up like that, stick a nail in the wall next to where you always charge your phones, and instead of cutting a square in the back, punch a hole in it with a paper punch.

                  I think this a FANTASTIC idea, and am going to search for some bottles as soon as I get home. I am so sick of the dang phone cords all over the place

                  • You could make the top edge wide enough to include a hole that you could secure the ‘basket’ to the screw that holds the wall plate to the plug. Then it wouldnt be hanging on the plug.

                    • Solution to your paranoia: command hook! Stick it right next to the outlet; no damage to the wall, no worries about the outlet!!

                    • Brilliant! And the container wouldn’t be in the way if/when you didn’t have the charger plugged in.

                  • I think a self adhesive hook would be way safer than sticking a nail in the wall right beside any plug socket as you may hit the nail into the wires inside the wall,,,very dangerous and wouldn’t recommend this to anyone.

                    The holder is fantastic and I have already made 1 for me and several for friends and family, they also love them!

              • I really don’t think it would do anything even it was touching both prongs at the same time. I have never pulled a plug out if the wall and had the prongs feel even warm to the touch ;)

                • What about putting electrical tape on the part that would touch…its hidden by the plug anyway. Just a thought for those concerned about the issue

                • then you’ve never lived in an older(1970s) house with older aluminum-type electrical wiring. I’ve lived in one for over 20 years now & there have been many times I’ve pulled a plug & it felt warm. One of my outlets in my kitchen actually burned/melted the plate cover because the wiring inside got so hot- what alerted me to it was the smell of the smoke in the wall! We were lucky it didn’t burn our house down, some people are not so lucky! We’ve had to replace several outlets & rewire them because of this issue! I LOVE this idea, but would suggest extreme caution, especially if you live in a home built before 1980.

                  • What if you put one of those 3M hangers on the wall next to the outlet and hang the holder from it?

                    • You could also hange small 3M hangers in your car with this idea to hold phone or ipod in this holder!

                  • exactly. my wiring is about to be redone in our 1940s home and all i could about was heat and fire.

                    i love this idea and i think it could be done to where it doesnt slip behind the plug and this would work really well.

                  • A house built in the 1970s is “older”? I’m gonna shoot myself. Apparently, I won’t need a nifty thing to hold my cell phone because I’ll probably drop dead any second anyway. Goodnight all you young whippersnappers!

                    • Hell ya, a house built in the 70’s is considered ‘older’. It is over 40 years OLD…

                    • Haha thats what I thought, you americans know nothing about old houses, the original part of my dads house is around 450 years old, 40 years?! Pahaha even my house is over 100 years old.

                  • If you have outlets melting or burning I would highly suggest you get your ENTIRE house re-wired. Or your toaster could blow you all up. I don’t think a cell phone charger would be the “reason” for a house fire. Its the wiring itself & sounds like a HUGE safety issue for you. Either re-wire or sell your house and move to one that is up to date electrically.

                    • Amen to this! If you’re worried about this contraption causing a fire, then you have bigger problems to worry about with your electrical system in general.

                      While plastic touching the prongs should pose no problem as it is non-conductive, sometimes the charger itself can heat up. I suppose there is some potential of plastic melting if in contact with a malfunctioning or overheating charger. Even then, I seriously doubt that in a house THAT IS UP TO CODE WITH WIRING that any true danger is posed.

                  • Please have your wiring checked if you have even a slight heat from your electrical plugs. There is a reason it is overheating & needs to be checked!

                    No reason to wait until you have a much bigger issue. Something is making that wiring HOT.

              • People! its not going to melt PERIOD! Ever no way no how. its plastic, an insulator. completely resistant to electrical charge. no matter if its touching one or both prongs. stop being moronic worry warts and do some research before you want to start piping up about safety.

                • The electric charge’s not the one that’s gonna cause it to melt. It’s the HEAT. o__O as for the comment about thebaby safety plugs, they don’t and won’t melt since it DOESN’T generate heat, unlike the phone charger.

                  o___O

                  • there is also glue & fabric on there to consider. but a 3m command hook would take care of the problem

                    • fantastic idea. I am always looking for ways to stay organized, and this is it. Thank you for the helpful tip. I love ideas that are creative and fun projects to do with my time. Sincerely Mary .

                • Don’t call people that are safety conscience “morons”. Remember the “plugins” that melted? Many other consumer products that have gone through testing had issues as well. And if these bottles are made in China who knows what could be in them! I had the same thoughts and would never take chances!!!

                  • If you’re worried about it melting because of the plastic, if it was made in china or whatever, THEN DON’T MAKE IT!

                    I’ve gone ahead and tested this damned thing in several older houses and guess what?

                    NOTHING HAPPENED!

                    not to mention if your charger is getting hot enough that it might melt plastic, then you have a bigger problem and its the charger that is at fault. I’m calling the so called over “safety conscience” morons because thats just it, they are over thinking this, use common sense, and don’t go hanging 2 lbs of crap in it, with an over heating charger in a wall socket that is blackened with carbon and half melted because its been obviously abused and y’know what? you’ll have a great little holder that will do its job and you will have nothing to worry about.

                  • Are you talking about the Glade Plug Ins Scented Warmers that supposedly caused fires? If so, always check out snopes before you pass something on. I did on this one and got my butt handed to me in a pet forum, of all places. Never again! I always check snopes and I’m not afraid to use it to let people know that they’re wrong either. I think the cell phone holder is a great idea but I’m going to try it with the new patterned duct tapes that are all over the place now.
                    http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/glade.asp

                    • Wow. Love the duct tape idea. They have an adorable butterfly print one. Time for me to head to Wally World :) thanks for an awesome idea :)

                    • Very interesting comments on this really cute DIY.
                      Watch the SNOPES sight. Not all the info you get there is accurate either!!
                      Just sayin”.

                • Plastic isn’t a magic insulator, you moron. There are varied types of plastic with different capabilities. What exactly do you think happens when a home has an electrical fire? The plastic things just come out, virtually pristine and unscathed? Do you see people who’ve lost their homes saying, “We lost almost everything! Thank god I still have my spatula and shampoo!”

        • You do know that extension cord, and light coverings are made
          From plastic right?

      • When baby proofing my house, I bought outlet plugins that go directly into each receptical. These plastic plugs have two plastic prongs that you push into the socket. Again…. 2 plastic prongs that go directly into the plug at the same time. It then has a cap on the end to keep fingers safe. So I’m thinking a small lightweight plastic hanger on a plug isn’t a big deal or a safety issue If they sell these for child safety.

      • Just wondering what your charger is made out of. Because mine is made out of plastic. If your charger is getting hot enough to melt plastic something is really wrong with it. On that note, your plastic charger would melt first not this hanger. I made mine out of a plastic Johnsons baby soap bottle and scrapbook paper. Never had any issues and works fantastic. If I went by your line of thinking, I would be up all night paranoid that my plastic and paper were going to get so hot they would burst into flames and kill us all in our sleep. Yes all chargers get warm, but hot enough to melt through 1/8″ heavy duty plastic? No I don’t think so….

        • Why does everyone keep talking like plastic is plastic is plastic? Toiletries are put into very different kinds of plastics to phone chargers, which are made to be heat resistant. It’s not useful to say, “oh, that didn’t melt so this won’t,” obviously. The guy up there calling everyone morons doesn’t seem to grasp this either.

          That’s the reason that not all plastics are recyclable, why plastic cutlery are weak but computer cases are strong. I’m not commenting on the safety issue, I just don’t understand why people keep saying a lotion bottle wouldn’t melt because a charger wouldn’t.

    • If it’s potentially dangerous because it’s plastic and will melt then why in the world did people make baby safety outlet plugs plastic???

      • The plastic safety plugs aren’t sitting on top of metal prongs that are plugged in and actively conducting electricity. Personally, I think all this worry is for naught. There is a product being sold that works using the same principle. I wouldn’t worry about it being a hazard.

    • Please be assured that this is safe to do.

      Here’s a brief explanation why:

      Electrical components heat up due to the amount of electricity going through them and the resistance of the material inside of them. Plastic and rubber are excellent insulators – meaning they do not conduct electricity. This is why the metal (conducting) portion of cables are wrapped in these materials. So, because the plastic phone holder doesn’t conduct electricity, it won’t heat up, and it won’t melt.

      Now the phone charger itself may get very warm, but it is highly unlikely to get hot enough to melt the plastic. In the event that it did get hot enough, the plastic casing around the charger would probably melt too. This is something that just doesn’t happen.

      Finally, if you made the holder out of metal, you would probably trip a breaker switch before any real damage could occur. In this instance, the metal holder would create a short and pass the electricity directly between the two prongs on the plug.

      In my opinion, there’s nothing to be worried about here.

    • That is not dangerous, not in my culture, anyway. Although it depends on a wall plugs but hardly even in US you have anything that doesn’t match with plastic bottle.

      This is absolutely brilliant idea and so wonderful tutoring.
      I need to make one for myself asap, and few more for family.
      Thank you for sharing this.
      I send hugs to you. :-)

    • How do you figure anything will ‘melt’ the holder? Have you held your hand to the outlet while it was charging to be sure it’s overheating the phone causing a potential hazard? I have an actual holder I purchased from a phone store just for this purpose and in 8 years, nothing has happened and no ‘melting’ or potential hazards have occurred.
      Just sayin!

  16. I LOVE this. Thank you so very much for sharing! I think I need to make up a bunch of these to gift the family for Christmas, we all have iPhones and get sick of having to set them in awkward spots just to get a good charge lol. <3 it!

  20. It’s amazing your head doesn’t explode with all of these fabulous ideas! Love it! Thanks for sharing!
    Smiles~Beth

  21. Do you need to use the REAL Mod Podge or have you ever used a homemade concoction? I love the fabric, by the way! :)

  22. Genius!! Now I’m wondering how many lotion bottle I have that are almost empty. I’m thinking everyone in my family needs one of these.

  35. Found this on Pinterest, and I can’t wait to make one! This is absolutely genius…one of those things that you need to run out and brand! I think I’ll make a camo one for my husband too!

  39. I need to start using up more lotion! I don’t have a sewing machine, so projects like these are ideal for me so I don’t have to bug a friend to borrow theirs! Also, I know about 6 family members who probably need these as well for Christmas; I may just start dumping out lotion/shampoo to be able to make these soon!

  40. You. Are. A genius.

    I saw the title on my blog list and thought “how could that possibly not be ugly?” (Forgive my lapse in loyalty. :( ;)) I am so impressed, as usual, and now I have another DIY item added to my Christmas list for the hubby! AND I still need to make stuff for a baby shower Saturday. AUGH! Okay, I need to go craft now. Thanks for another great, cheap idea!

  42. This is awesome! And now I’m thinking of other types of things that could use a little holder! These would be great for small tools, etc. if I hang them on the peg board in my craft room! Great tutorial – THANKS!!

    • OH! and if you make the back part (the “neck”) a little longer, you could wrap the extra cord around it so it isn’t hanging down :~D

  46. This is cool! I need to file this away in my brain for future use. We’re in an old apartment right now, with about one outlet to each room, so we have power strips behind all our furniture…. but when we’re actually in a nice place, this idea is being put to use!

  47. I can not tell you how much I like this trick, it is simply genius. I had seen something similar in fabric but yours combines recycling and fabrics and elegance, the top. I relay your idea on my blog this morning.

  51. This is GENIUS!! I found you on pinterest! I have so many of these from the kids that I haven’t thrown out so I will definitely be busting at least 2 of these out! Maybe even add a vinyl monogram…”D” for dad & “M” for mom maybe? Hmmmm…thanks again for the awesome idea!!!!

  54. Love it! Love it! Love it!

    I like how the rounded square mimics the iPhone charger! Btw, love your blog and clever ideas!

  55. Probably smells nice like lotion too! What a great upcycle. Repinned on Pintrest. Love your creativity. Will be a new follower.

  58. If you were standing next to me I would jump up and down yelling…..THIS IS AWESOME!!!!!! I am making this today thanks for sharing. The fabric is totally cute! you are very creative and smart I have been looking for some cute way to hide cell cords, this is prefect! :)
    Lindsay

  59. I was just about to throw the empty lotion bottle , now iam holding it for such a wonderful project . All Thanks to you .

  60. I am sitting in the office looking around at everyone’s desks for lotion bottles…..Hmmmm! I am so LOVING this! gotta go find a bottle now!

  63. Brilliant! So much so that I just dug through my recycling for the bottle I emptied last night. Thanks for the tutorial. I would have never thought to use fabric and modge podge.

  67. Awesome! I’m going to make one of these for my husband, who travels, and modpodge stable fabric printed with his name, address, and email addy on the back, in case he forgets his charger anywhere.

  72. This is so perfect!! No more cell phones etc all over the kitchen counter!!! Such a great tutorial, thanks so much

  73. Wow!!!!! You are a freakin’ genius!!!!! If I could only find an empty lotion bottle. I may have to dump some out ;). I’m so sick of not having a place for my hubby’s phone. This is the best idea EVER!!!

  75. that is pretty genius. Always wonder what could be done with all those plastic bottles in our house. Great solution and just a great jumping off board for other ideas.

  80. I am making one for every cell phone using person in my family. Thanks so much for the tutorial and sharing your great talent with us.

  82. This is a great idea! It looked so easy I dove right in and made one of my own. Even my husband (who is so anti crafty) liked it. Thanks again for sharing.

  87. Whoever thought of this is a genius!! I plan to make several of them for throughout my house. I love the idea! Kudos to you for making this blog and making it look so easy! Love it!!

    **Idea for these when not in use…hang them on the outlet with baby safety electric plugs. They will hold the basket still if your charger is being used in one of these in another room. =)

  88. For all of those who aren’t sure if they have an empty lotion bottle…try a shampoo bottle..ketchup bottle…or even a half gallon milk jug could be used. =)

  90. If you have safety concerns about hanging it off the outlet, you could just hang the bottle/holder thingy on a hook next to the outlet – like one of those 3m removable hooks or a cup hook or other decorative doojobby. This would also let you unplug the cord when not in use.

  91. I do have that one that linked to and it actually does work. But I like this so much better, especially having a little one around that could bang right into it and knock it off!! Thanks for sharing!

  95. Can I just say that this is ONE AWESOME IDEA! This is by far one of the best ideas I have seen in a long time! How amazing! I can’t wait to try to make one. Then I’m going to need to make one for um…let’s see…..the hairdryer, the curling iron, the laptop…… LOL

  96. Really amazing ! I just happened to make a stand for my broadband modem inspired by a mobile phone charger holder. And then I stumbled upon this in Pintrest… Stunned by your creativeness ! Couldn’t help but link back to your post !!!