Miscellaneous Recycling Ideas

Tips by our Readers

For flat buttons, gluing them to a simple wooden picture frame is really neat or to cover the side of an old can that you use for pens or pencils. I also sewed all white buttons made of seashell around the cuffs and bottom of an old blue blazer I had.

A friend of mine made a coffee table top, a mosaic of bottle caps.

Contributed by: Carrie

Since I have two sons, my younger son who is 9 y/o, still hates to pick up the big bottles of shampoo, and try to open and use at same time, and to keep them from using too much (boys do not need that much shampoo).

I take the empty hand soap bottles with the hand pumps, clean them, take labels off, and put kids shampoo in them, and label with tape. They only need one pump of shampoo, so this makes it last longer.
 

Take those plastic Jell-O or applesauce cups, etc.. line with foil, put a votive candle in them for times when you need candles during a storm, etc... One of my friends did this when the electricity went out in her neighborhood, and she loved the idea, and the foil reflects the light so well. You can also turn them upside down to hold Dixie cups in bathroom/kitchen.  

Thanks, Tamara Mink (mom of two boys, ages 13,and 9)

I sent all of the used baby juice plastic jars to the local high school art teacher.  He loved them. 

I use the boxes that wipes come in for several difference purposes.  I have one that I decorated and labeled nail files, etc.  and another that I put the thermometer, and other sick room items in.  My husband used them for keeping nails and screws in.

These two ideas were contributed by: Becky from Kearny  

Recycling Craft Helpers!
These ideas aren't really crafts themselves, but they are recycling ideas to use with crafts.  Empty egg cartons turned upside down make great "holders" when you are painting wooden balls or eggs or other smaller items.  Just set the things in between the egg cup sections. 
 

Those little three legged discs that they put in the middle of your pizza box when you order also make great holders when you are painting smaller items.  Turn it upside down so the legs are sticking up and things will rest in-between the legs.
 

Contributed by: Teri
 

I use those little notepads with your name on them that you get for free from companies near my phone. Whenever you are taking a message there is paper there and no searching the whole house for paper anymore! plus, it uses those worthless little papers.

 

Contributed by: Rachel

Use the travel sized wipe containers for storing markers, especially nice for scrapbooking markers!

-Shiloah Baker

When it comes time to rotate my food storage (sugar, flour, rice, etc) I use the empty 4 pound size plastic containers from peanut butter, Jellybellys & chocolate raisins that I get from Costco.  They work great & you can see what is in them at a glance.  I label them too.
 

Contributed by: Jen Smith

I scrounge around garage sales, etc. for old picture frames, or mirrors. Glue different types of shells on the frame, then spray paint white, blue or what ever to match your bathroom. Put a mirror behind frame. Hang over hand basin.   

Contributed by:  Pat  Kahi

 

Those bath netted puffs that come with bath gels can be reused by either washing them in washing machine or using them as bug removers on the front of vehicles.

Also, as a camping tip to slip several pillow cases on your favorite pillow and use them to carry bath supplies and clean clothes to the shower, then return with all the dirty clothes and washing items, now serving as a dirty clothes bag. Next, evening you have a fresh clean pillow case that you can use over as above.

Contributed by: Jan Miller

A tip for getting wax out of votives: put in freezer about 15 20 min take out tip upside down wax falls out.

-Cris Besser
 

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