Using Reusable Item As Craft Supplies And Save On Cost

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Tuesday, April 14th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

Craft supplies can be pricey, so before you hand over your cash, look for items around your home that can be used in your artwork or for crafts for kids. Not only will you save money, but you’ll rescue these items from unnecessarily ending up in a landfill site. In this article, we’ve got some tips for turning ordinary household items into cool crafts that everyone will admire.

We all have empty jars kicking around our cupboards. Instead of tossing them, you can turn them into potpourri containers that you can use again and again. It’s economical and a good way to be green. All you need is a clean jar (baby food jars are ideal), a paper or lace doily, an elastic band, and your favorite potpourri. All you have to do is fill the jar with potpourri, cover it with the lace, and secure it with an elastic band, or instead of a plain elastic band, use a hair band with some sparkle or flowers on it to secure the doily. This will make a potpourri holder that looks attractive in any room.

Toilet paper or paper towel tubes are craft supplies with endless possibilities. You can turn them into napkin rings, egg holders and ornaments. To make a really environmentally friendly project, turn the tubes into pencil holders. You’ll need an empty tube with all the paper removed, some popsicle sticks, cardboard, paint or markers, glue and rubber bands. Small erasers and glitter are optional supplies. Start by painting or coloring the popsicle sticks. You can choose a theme like red and white to make a pencil holder that looks like a candy cane or add some blue to pay tribute to Old Glory.

While the sticks are drying, trace the end of the toilet paper holder on to cardboard. Cut this circle out and glue it to one end of the cardboard tube. This becomes your base. You can also use cork for this purpose. Once that has dried, cover the tube with a coating of glue and carefully attach the popsicle sticks. Wrap with rubber bands until dry. If you want additional decorations, you can glue small erasers in fun shapes and colors to the sticks or add a layer of bright glitter.

Most people have no clue what to do with old CDs and DVDs, so they just toss them into the garbage. Instead of adding to the world’s waste problem, turn the discs into a potpourri wreath candle. For your craft supplies you’ll need a candle, an unwanted CD or DVD, potpourri, metallic beading, a 6″ wreath or garland to form into a wreath, felt or craft foam, and glue. Place the disc on felt or foam and trace the outside. Cut out the circle and glue it to the printed side of disc. The shiny side will be up. Secure a candle to middle of the disc with wax or glue. Now glue the wreath or garland to the disc. You can use some string to hold it in place while the glue dries. Once it has dried, decorate the wreath with beads, potpourri or dried flowers for a wreath candle holder that you can use year round.

Almost all items around your house can be turned into craft supplies so use your imagination. Turn old jars into coin collectors, attach old Christmas cards or post cards to some cardboard and cut it up to make a homemade puzzle or transform a show box into a treasure chest! Not only will you enjoy the time you spend with your family making kids crafts, you’ll teach them the importance of being earth friendly.