Recycling materials is good and reusing the materials is even better. Before those canisters, jugs, containers and tubes take a trip to the recycling bin, find a way to re-purpose them in the home. The materials may be used for organization, children’s crafts, or as decorative objects.
Egg Cartons
Use egg cartons to organize beads and findings for jewlery making. Paint the egg carton with a black or white paint and let it dry. The painted egg carton may also be used to organize office supplies including paper clips, binder clips, lead refills, erasers, staples and any other small objects. Start garden seeds in egg cartons rather than purchasing new peat pots. Cut and plant. Egg cartons also become buses, caterpillars, ants, space ships or trains with the right color paints and embellishments in children’s crafts.
Tube Container for Chips
Wash and dry an empty tube after the potato chips are gone. Decorate the outside with adhesive paper and write a child’s name on it. Use the tube to send paperwork to and from school. Cut a slit in the cover to transform it into a bank for coins. Store children’s paint brushes, magnets or sidewalk chalk in the tube. Store broken spaghetti, pasta, beans, lentils or rice in the canisters. The canister can also keep new scouring pads organized and dry under the sink.
Tissue Boxes
Tissue boxes may be covered with white or brown paper and used to store large recipe cards, packets of gravies and spices, or plastic shopping bags in the kitchen. The boxes also make good napkin holders inside and out. For kids, the tissue boxes can hold decks of cards and small toys. The tissue box can be transformed into a car garage, a doll house or an airplane when two wings are added with paper.
