If you are an aspiring photographer, you know what it’s like to drop a pretty penny on a fancy lens and eat ramen for a while. However, once you have that expensive lens, you don’t exactly have a lot of money to buy special casing for it to keep it safe from bumping around in your bag or the elements when it’s not in use. Fear not, there’s always a cheap way to get the job done, and with materials that can be found around the house!

The Plastic Bottle Lens Case was devised by marcellahella, and it is quick, easy, and effective. All you need are two same-shape bottles that fit your lens, some sort of foam or sponge-like material, a zipper, dental floss, scissors, a safety pin, and a needle. Cut one bottle with enough room for your lens and a little extra space, sew on the zipper with the floss, cut and fit the foam appropriately. Lastly, find a stretchy, but waterproof material such as intertube, and make a ring out of it to place around the zipper to make it as waterproof as possible. This is cheap could probably be found in your house and put together within about two hours. To get step by step instructions with photos, follow the above link.