 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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