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Cross Stitch Storage - I use old cardboard tubs to store my cross
stitch work. It keeps them neat and clean while I'm working or storage before
framing. Contributed by jvick
Make
a Christmas Angel - Instructions
here
Paintbrush
Carrier - I use them to transport my paint brushes back and forth
to painting class. Just stuff a paper towel in bottom and drop brushes
in. This keeps them from getting crushed in my tote bag. Contributed
by Sandy D'Ambrosio, tonyd611@bellatlantic.net.
Crafter's
Desk Organizer - use cardboard tubes along with an empty cardboard
tissue box to make a crafters desk organizer. Take the tissue box and
snip the corners diagonally on the top,fold down the flaps to the inside
and glue-this reinforces the box.Then take the tubes and cut them off
so they are the same height as the box. Hot-glue (or use tacky-glue) in
rows in the box (it takes about 15 toilet paper tubes). If you use a tissue
box with a floral or decorator design it's very pretty. Then store all
your markers,pens,glue sticks,scissors,hole punchers etc.on end in the
tubes, within reach on your craftbench! Contributed by cyndee@catlover.com.
Store
Pantyhose - Each empty toilet roll core can hold a pair of pantyhose.
I usually fold my pantyhose to about palm-sized, and stuff it into the
core. Each pantyhose should fit nicely into one core, without much of
it dangling out. And when I travel, I just pop as many filled cores as
I need in the luggage, and I don't have to worry about tearing the pantyhoses
accidentally! Contributed by Angie B., angela_boey@yahoo.com.
Grocery
Bag Storage - Re-use paper towel cardboard tubes to store those unruly
plastic grocery bags. fold the grocery bags fan style in the palm of your
hand and stuff in the tube. Stores nicely in a drawer or under the cabinet.
Keep one in every bathroom and the utility room to use the bags as wastebasket
liners. Contributed by Maria A. Alvarez-Lundie, alvarezmaa@hotmail.com
Bracelets
- Cut tube down one side, then cut into sections (same size as napkin
rings). Then cover with wrapping paper or material, using glue stick.
Use clear adhesive shelf paper to cover bracelets. Little girls like these
and it's easy to make a few at a time. and different styles. Contributed
by V.Grl, Vanilagrl@aol.com
Binoculars
- Here's an idea we use at playschool. Take two rolls and staple them
together side by side. Punch holes in the top sides of the rolls and put
yarn through to hang around the child's neck. They can let their imaginations
go wild decorating them, whether it's simply coloring them or glueing
odds and ends on. When they're done, they have a pair of binoculars. The
kids at playschool LOVE these and always enjoy going on a jungle safari
with them. You can also use an elastic to put on some colored cellophane
on the end of them. Contributed by Tracy, tproctor@nbnet.nb.ca.
Make Rain
Sticks
- great activity for kids. Instructions
here! Contributed by Roberta, isewg@email.msn.com
Cord Organizer
- They make an excellant way to store all those extention cords tangled
up in your drawers. Fold extention cord back and forth about 10 inches
long and stuff in tp tube. Mark length on tube for future use. They will
also hang well on a nail in the closet.
Contributed by Cathy Williams, cathy@tfs.net
Fire Starters
- Fill an empty roll with dried leaves in the fall. Wrap it with newspaper,
4 inches longer than the roll, and twist the ends of the paper, for easy
lighting. If you wrap them with decorative paper and put them in a basket
they make a nice accessory to a fire place. They can also be covered with
Christmas wrapping paper for the holidays.
Contributed by Claycrazy, Claycrazy@aol.com
Party
Favors - One year I took toilet paper rolls, or cut paper towel rolls
and put small gifts inside. Since all the men in my family are fishing
nuts I put a lure in each of theirs, for the women I put small bottles
of bath gel, lotions or perfume. There are many things for the kids. I
wrapped & tied each end with ribbon & set them on their dinner
plates. The little ones couldn't wait to open their gifts.
Contributed by Kathy, timkathg@newnorth.net
Party
Poppers! Instructions here
Build
stuff - Using several lengths of tubes and clothes pins my children
love to connect the tubes to build structures.
Contributed by Mommy2JnA@aol.com
Make a
Christmas Wreath - Instructions
here
Lincoln
logs - You can easily make your own lincoln logs out of cardboard
tubes. Just cut a notch in the ends.
Megaphone
- Kids discover this one pretty quick... and parents get tired of it pretty
quick. :)
Boot savers
- Stuff several paper towel tubes into your boots to help them hold their
shape.
Napkin
rings - Really! We made some very elegant napkin rings using ribbon
and toilet paper tubes. Instructions
here.
Knitting
needle storage - Paper towel tubes can be used to store your knitting
needles. Keeps the plastic ones from bending and breaking.
Christmas
light storage - Wrap your lights around a paper towel tube to store
them for next year. They won't tangle up as easily!
Tree guard
- Cut a paper towel tube in half lengthwise and wrap around the base of
small trees to prevent scarring when you're weed eating around its base.
Poster
/ document saver - roll up old posters or documents and slide them
inside a cardboard tube. For large posters, use the cardboard tubes left
over from wrapping paper.
Build
a doll house or castle - We built a fairy castle completely out of
cardboard, plastic containers, old wall paper, all kinds of scraps. Instructions
here. Use
to paint circles - Dip one end of a toilet paper tube into some paint.
Press gently down on paper to paint a perfect circle. Make a whole picture
with just circles, and fill in the spaces between the circles with different
colors for an abstract work of art. |
