Here are two tips for the less handy among us.
After making one cut into the handle of a popular coffee can, I ended up with a weather and bug-resistant container for my clothes-pins. One for each line, just slide it as you hang out the clothes. Thinking about it now, connecting the lid with a piece of string would keep it handier than picking it off the ground.
Inspired by this, I took my trusty steak knife and carefully carved an opening in the corner of another can. And I twisted a small hole into the handle to accept the screw hook. Now the birds have another alfresco dining spot.
At least now I'm not tripping over empty containers I knew could be used for something.
David from Cheboygan, MI
This page contains the following solutions.
This is a craft my 2 year old loves to make. She loves to shake up the marble in the coffee can and then take the lid off to discover her masterpiece. She also likes to watch herself shake the can in the mirror. So cute!
This is a recycled empty coffee can. No need in buying the expensive flower pots and vases.
This is a pencil and pen holder made out of a plastic coffee container. It uses hair bands, assorted beads, and decorations. There is no glue used, but in the case of the foam heart I used a bit of duct tape.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I have many 3 lb. coffee cans that I hate to throw away. Does anyone have any clever and practical uses for them? Thanks.
K
My personal favorite is to use coffee cans for perennial transplants in the spring. I divide and give away lots of plant divisions and these cans are often the perfect size to use. They also make good planters for outdoors, and 3 can be wired together to make an interesting, larger-sized planter. You can also paint the cans and decorate them with designs if you like.
Another use is to have an empty coffee can by the sink to put all your compostable waste into. Keep the lid on it until it is full. Then empty into your compost bin. Wash it out and keep using it.
At work, we keep an empty coffee can by the coffee pot. The used coffee grounds go into the tin, and a fellow who is an avid gardener takes the can home when it is full. Then another empty coffee can takes its place and gets filled up again.
This is a page about making a coffee can snowman. Recycled crafts are great fun to make and a good alternative to expensive decorations. Coffee cans are a popular container to reuse and recycle. They can be a great creative starting point for making a cute Christmas snowman.
I am looking for a cute pattern to make the coffee can santas and snowmen.
This is a fun way to recycle coffee lids by making cute animals with paint and/or construction/paper. This is a great activity to do with your child (supervision needed for younger children as cutting/hot glue is used.) You can actually tie a ribbon/string knot from the top (of the hole) as an ornament, or make this as a banner for a party, glue to a craft stick or play as is!
