We are a cereal-eating family and always have empty boxes to spare. A few years ago, I went on a mission to find creative ways to reuse them. The beauty of cereal and other cardboard boxes is that they are designed to be aesthetically pleasing with bright colors, patterns, and logos. While good for marketing, it also makes them ideal for upcycling into fun postcards and notebooks. To make postcards, simply cut the boxes down to rectangles, round the corners with a punch, and then draw lines on plain cardboard side for the address. Environmentally-friendly and fun!
To make notepads, simply sandwich paper between two cardboard rectangles, use binder clips to hold in place, and apply several coats of Mod Podge on the edge, allowing for drying time between coats. The Mod Podge will seal the edge and make for a tear-off pad. These are fun to give as gifts and also handy to keep in your purse to jot down notes or entertain your kiddos in restaurants.
Here's one of my favorite upcycling projects of all time - turning a Lysol wipes canister into a storage container for plastic bags! These are perfect for throwing in a beach bag for wet swimsuits, a car for summer road trips, and all the other places you need plastic bags. It makes those potentially unruly bags perfectly neat and portable. I have a little trick for folding the bags so they are interconnected and one bag comes out at a time while pulling the next one out a little. Awesome, right? And, of course, prettying them up with fabric and Mod Podge makes them all the better! Make a few for yourself and all your friends and keep those Lysol containers out of landfills!
A few years ago I found a stash of Jack Daniels bottles while out for a run. Of course, I couldn't resist coming back with my van to pick them up! They have come in handy for several projects. such as making pretty Christmas vases with Krylon Looking Glass Spray Paint. I made similar vases with "BOO" for Halloween. You could, of course, add any text to make them work for a special holiday, season, or your everyday decor. Would you ever guess these pretty vases came from a nasty pile on the side of the road?!?
Gift cards certainly aren't the most meaningful gifts, but here's a way to give them your own personal touch -using a repurposed Altoid container! Start off by painting the tin and then have fun embellishing it with patterned paper, ribbon, stamps, and other embellishments. You can simply place the gift card inside or even make a paper accordian so it "pops" out of the container.
If you drink Crystal Light or a similar off-brand product, the cylinder containers are perfect for upcycling into gift packaging for sweet treats! For Teacher Appreciation a few years ago, I designed a custom printable that I wrapped around the canisters and secured with double-sided tape. Then I mixed up a batch of mini Whoopie pies and slid them inside. You can also find store-bought treats that fit nicely inside. It's amazing how a pretty, personalized container can turn even a small treat into a thoughtful gift - all while helping our planet!
Remember those nasty old Jack Daniels bottles? They're back! This time as giftable bath salt containers. I am all about a long, hot bath, so the bottles were perfect for storing my homemade bath salts. Add in a pretty, custom label, and they also make awesome gifts.
So, are you a hoarder like me? Do you have a hard time throwing away what others consider trash? I'd love to hear about your favorite products to upcycle!
For more craft-time fun, check out these resources:
Original article and pictures take www.ebay.com site
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