 Match
stick holder - glued sandpaper to the outside of the film canister and lid
- then place your stick matches inside.Now you have waterproofed matches
& somewhere to strike them! Contributed by Sara
Film Canister people - Use film canisters to make little people. Take the
film canister and turn it upside down (so the open part is on the bottom).
Then put the lid of the canister on the bottom of the canister. Glue an
earplug to the top of the canister as a head. After you glue the earplug
on the film canister glue the top to the film canister on the earplug as
a hat. Then glue a piece of Styrofoam to the bottom of the canister and
glue tiny pieces of paper to that as shoes. If you want to you can make
a face and add hair (bits of string or you can color with a marker) to the
earplug. You can also glue pieces of fabric to the canister to make clothes
for the people and you can also decorate the hat. Make accessories and houses
for the people out of other recycled materials. Contributed by Jean,
jdancer@onetel.net.uk
Pet Tags - When
vacationing or visiting a friend, I cut two slits--approximately 1/2 inch
apart--in the side a film canister and insert my dog's collar through
the slits. Inside the canister I place a piece of paper with the following:
dog's name, my name, address, home and cell phone numbers, vet information,
where we are staying on vacation, etc. If the dog is staying at our friend's
house, I put their information on the paper too. You can fit so much more
vital information on the paper than what is on their ID tags. Contributed
by Brenda Wunder, bwunder@home.com
Stargazer
- Cut out patterns of stars (click
here for a printable star pattern page) and tape to bottom
of film cannister. Using a safety pin or straight pin, carfully punch
holes into the cannister. You can then remove the pattern and tape it
to the outside or just put the name of the constellation on the outside.
Hold up to light to see "stars". You can make a necklace by punching a
hole in the lid and threading yarn through. Contributed by Angelia
Bone, angelia.bone@usm.edu.
Film Cannister
Rockets - Instructions
here
Traveling
Toothbrush Protector - Cut a hole in the cap & insert your toothbrush
in it. Put the canister over it & seal to keep the fuzzies out of
your toothbrush while traveling. Contributed by Renee, BizzyBlond@aol.com
R2D2 - My
13 year old son made a cute Star Wars R2D2. He cut a Styrofoam ball in
half & glued it to the top, decorated the sides accordingly. Contributed
by Renee, BizzyBlond@aol.com
Rattling Insides
for Toys - Put a jingle bell or beans or other "rattles" in the canister
& seal tightly with tape or hot glue. You can now insert this into
a stuffed animal or toy you are making while you are stuffing it for added
fun. Contributed by Renee, BizzyBlond@aol.com
ToothFairy
Treats - My father is a photographer, and as children growing up, we always
put our teeth for the tooth fairy in them. the "tooth fairy" had no trouble
finding them in the dark, and 'she' always put the money back in the cannister,
and then there was no disappointment from lost treats in the morning.
Contributed by Amy, TTLAUGH@cs.com
Lip Gloss
Container - I think that chap stick is a little "pricey" so I take petroleum
jelly and the last little bit of old lipstick and mix them together to
make tinted lip gloss. I then use the canister to store the lip gloss
in my purse. Contributed by N. Hellums
Pin Cushion
and Needle Container - Sew a strip of fabric to be like a snake and fill
it with stuffing (fiberfill) then take the strip and glue it around the
outside of the film canister, you now have a small pin cushion on the
outside and a place to store extra needles for sewing on the inside. Contributed
by N. Hellums.
Katy Pearson, kathleen_pearson@telus.net,
adds: If you glue the "snake" around the inside of the container,
the needles would still fit in the center, and the pins wouldn't catch
on stuff if you wanted to put the little kit in your purse.
Waterproof
Container - Hot glue a strong color cord to the top and use as a waterproof
necklace at the beach, boating or while jogging. Contributed by Maria
A. Alvarez-Lundie, alvarezmaa@hotmail.com
Christmas
Decorations - The film canisters are great for Christmas Ornaments. Poke
a hole in the lid and thread a piece of ribbon through it, putting a knot
inside the lid and forming a loop at the other end. Snap the lid back
on. Glue small beads that sparkle on the entire surface using a glue gun-
cover the lid, bottom, etc. It will hang on the tree and look great. This
was a project I created for a girl scout troop and they loved it. Contributed
by Kathy, ayersmla@global2000.net
Brenda Frazier, frazier@app-net.com,
adds: I put small wrapped candy in some and in others I put money. When
the small children in my family come to visit I let them take one. They
can't wait to get to my house to see what kind of goodie they will get.
Fingernail
Polish Remover - After you wash and dry them, take a used foam roller,
for curling your hair, take off the sponge part, put in the cannister,
cut down to size, then fill it with fingernail polish remover. The hole
in the middle of the sponge will fit all your fingers to remove your old
fingernail polish on each finger. This is a good idea, when you travel
or make a few and give them to your friends. Contributed by Ms. Jerry
McGinnis, CRAFTYLADY1@worldnet.att.net
Portable Aromatherapy
- I've been introduced to aromatherapy and find that peppermint works
extremely well for my headaches and lavender helps me relax when I'm feeling
stressed. Since I don't want to carry the glass bottles in my briefcase,
I fill Fuji cannisters near to the top with Epsom salts, add a few drops
of essential oil and make a label for the blend. I can pop off the top
and inhale deeply without offending my co-workers with my oil's lingering
scent. Contributed by Sirgtahk@aol.com
Tiny first
aid kits - Print out small labels to wrap around the cannister and put
a cotton ball, a band-aid and an antiseptic wipe on the inside! Contributed
by Natalie Yancy, nyancy@seitel-inc.com
Stamp Dispenser
- My favorite hint is to cut a slit down the side of the canister and
use it to store and dispense a roll of stamps. Contributed by MLH62@aol.com
Smell Experiments
- As a kindergarten teacher, I use film canisters for sensory experiments
involving smell. I put a cottonball soaked with vanilla, lemon, vinegar,
etc., in the canister, put the cap on it. Then I open it up and the children
have to guess what the smell is. The smell lasts forever. Contributed
by Daffie333@aol.com
MANY Uses
Contributed by Lori, yelowf@webtv.net
- They are the perfect size to hold 2 tbs of mayo or mustard for the
lunch box or salt for the picnic.
- Cut in half and paint, fill with greenery and punched fs and they
are outside barrel size planters for the dollhouse.
- Need to take salve on your trip but don't want it to spill in your
luggage? It's great.
- Cut in half and decorate the top for napkin rings.
- Use the bottoms as small feeding bowls for small animals. I'm using
them now to help me wean a baby bird.
- Drill a hole in the bottoms of two black ones, put mirrors inside
and tape together and you have a kalidascope.
Make them
into little Oscar the Grouches. - Take a 1 inch green pom pom and glue
it in the open end of the canister. Add small wiggle eyes and a small
red felt mouth. Glue the top of the canister on the top of the pom pom
(Like the trash can lid. Contributed by Daria, dakers@winston.com
Make them
into little Halloween Cats - You don't need to paint them, just make black
cats. Decorate with google eyes and pompom nose and whiskers.
Small give-a-ways
at parties or at craft shows. - Fill them with candies or a small toy
or jewelry. Tie ribbon around outside or hot glue small things to top.
Contributed by Petey, pat.m.1910@juno.com
Rubber stamping
helper - Use the empty film canisters to mount rubber stamps on. Glue
the stamp to the bottom, easy to hold onto while stamping the image.
Craft item
storage - Use them to store beads, buttons and embellishments, stickers,
confetti, scraps, pin backings, etc. To keep track of what's inside, glue
one of whatever is inside to the lid or front.
Gift basket
"samplers" - Decorate them by decoupaging or painting, etc.
and fill with samples of bath salts, tiny bath beads, etc. Include an
assortment in a gift basket. OR, in a food gift basket, fill the cannisters
with samples of dry dip mixes, herbs, special homemade spice mixes, etc.
Be sure to include instructions on how to prepare.
Traveler's
Helper / Emergency Kit - Use the cannisters to carry a small supply of
aspirin, safety pins, sewing stuff, matches, mini band-aids, etc. for
emergencies. Keep in your car or purse. Split your pant seams or pop a
button while out running around grocery shopping or whatever and voila,
you have the items available. Plus you never know when another fire or
earthquake will happen and can't get home and might need some little item.
Contributed by JSO2897@aol.com
Necklaces
for children - Pop a hole in the bottom of the container, knot a piece
of ribbon, string or yarn through the hole. Fill the container with little
treats, like candy, gum, or small toys. Have the kids decorate the outside
with stickers.
Paint storage
- Use to store small quantities of paint, especially when you've mixed
a special color!
More Ideas
from Reduce
Garbage, Eliminate Landfills
- Storage of thumbtacks, rubber bands, paper clips, etc.
- Fill with quarters. Put in your child's backpack for emergency phone
calls.
- Fill with suntan lotion and carry with you when hiking. (Rae)
- Fill with water or sand as a souvenier from a vacation. (Courtney
& Christina)
- Fill with household odds and ends (such as nuts, bolts, etc.) and
store them in an old purse. (Gail)
- Use for storage of seeds. (Christine)
- Put a few loose buttons or beads inside and use as a cat toy. (Amy)
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