 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 flowers 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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