| In this day and age, landfills are becoming over filled | | | | reused for many different craft projects. They also |
| and anything we can do to help with recycling makes | | | | make great trays for mixing up paints. |
| a difference. One great way to recycle is to make | | | | Coffee cans could be made into pretty containers by |
| homemade crafts using things you would normally | | | | simply decorating the outside of them. Children will |
| throw away. | | | | have covering them in construction paper and |
| Before throwing something away, think to yourself: | | | | attaching foam shapes to the outside. Adults may |
| can this be used again in a craft project? Even if you | | | | enjoy decorating the cans by using decoupage to |
| don't intend to use it right away, or if an idea does | | | | decorate them. You can have the cans match the |
| not come to mind immediately, still save it if you | | | | décor of any room in your house and then |
| think it could be re-used. Keep a box of some | | | | use these handy containers in your bathroom to hold |
| recycled items with your craft supplies, so if you find | | | | hair supplies, in the garage to hold tools, or in the |
| a project you will already have the item needed on | | | | kitchen to hold spatulas and spoons... the possibilities |
| hand. | | | | are virtually endless. Coffee cans could also be turned |
| Of course it is much easier to come up with a craft | | | | into beautiful birdhouses that work quite well. |
| if you have some ideas on what can be done. But | | | | Empty milk and cream containers are great for |
| always be creative and try to come up with new | | | | children's crafts, where they can be decorated to |
| ideas too! Here are some ideas to get you started. | | | | look like animals, like a duck or chick. Old tennis balls |
| Cleaned out soup cans or vegetable cans can be | | | | can be turned into puppets, by slicing a slit through |
| used for a variety of crafts. If you fill them with | | | | the side of the ball to become a mouth. And of |
| water, and allow them to freeze in the freezer, you | | | | course there is always the sock monkey puppet, a |
| can punch holes in the side of the cans using a | | | | great use for a sock that has lost its partner! |
| hammer and nails (the ice inside keeps the structure | | | | Cardboard is used in many craft projects and should |
| and keeps the can from denting). The holes can be | | | | always be saved. It serves as a good surface for |
| punched to form a design. The outside of the can | | | | painting or crafting projects to protect your work |
| could be painted and when a tea light is added, they | | | | surface. Empty egg cartons can be turned into little |
| make beautiful luminaries. These can be hung up on a | | | | animals or an egg carton flower bouquet. |
| patio, lined up along the driveway for a party, or | | | | I never throw away pretty glass bottles or cute mint |
| used indoors as beautiful decorations. | | | | tins. These can be decorated using decoupage, using |
| Soup can lids can be painted on or decorated using | | | | pretty paper (like decorative napkins or tissue paper) |
| decoupage, and turned into refrigerator magnets or | | | | and be given away as soap bottles or pill cases for |
| Christmas ornaments. Photos can be applied using | | | | your purse. People love homemade gifts. |
| decoupage too, and they can be made into a family | | | | Jars can be used to make pretty candle vases. |
| tree mobile. | | | | Trying filling a jar with sand and add some seashells, |
| Empty toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls can be | | | | and place a votive candle in the middle. This is a quick |
| used for a variety of craft projects, many suitable | | | | summer time centerpiece for your table. Or use the |
| for children. Try making a pencil cup holder by gluing | | | | jars to fill up with dry cookie ingredients. This is a |
| three toilet tubes together vertically, and glue them | | | | perfect gift to give a host or hostess at a party. |
| on a sturdy cardboard base. Empty paper towel rolls, | | | | Just cover the jar lid with some pretty fabric and a |
| when cut into one-inch sections, can be made into | | | | bow and it is ready to give away. |
| napkin rings. Just paint them and glue on decorations, | | | | Have fun searching the Internet for other fun ways |
| like seashells or other embellishments. | | | | to re-use things you would normally throw away. You |
| The foam plates that come under many types of | | | | will feel good helping the environment and making |
| meat from the grocery store can also be saved and | | | | inexpensive gifts! |