What Fantastic (and Janky) Things Do You Do With Leftover Packaging?
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Original question by: @[email protected]
If you buy things to any extent, you've probably got some leftover packaging hanging around. What are some cool ways you've found to make use of all these materials? Special props to ideas that can be replicated!
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Original question by: @[email protected]
If you buy things to any extent, you've probably got some leftover packaging hanging around. What are some cool ways you've found to make use of all these materials? Special props to ideas that can be replicated!
As a packaging when selling stuff. At least that's the plan. Unfortunately some things will clearly have to hit e-waste since I can't even sell them for 5 cents.
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Original question by: @[email protected]
If you buy things to any extent, you've probably got some leftover packaging hanging around. What are some cool ways you've found to make use of all these materials? Special props to ideas that can be replicated!
Pretty obvious but you can use plastic containers from yoghurt, margarine, etc as plant pods (the ones that go inside the pretty ones). Just make sure to put some holes in the bottom for drainage. For seedlings, egg cartons work too.
Packaging paper we reuse as gift wrappings. I like to draw or "airbrush" something on it.
And toilet paper rolls... If you got a child you probably know.
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Pretty obvious but you can use plastic containers from yoghurt, margarine, etc as plant pods (the ones that go inside the pretty ones). Just make sure to put some holes in the bottom for drainage. For seedlings, egg cartons work too.
Packaging paper we reuse as gift wrappings. I like to draw or "airbrush" something on it.
And toilet paper rolls... If you got a child you probably know.
And toilet paper rolls... If you got a child you probably know.
Stuff them full of dryer sheets and blow your weed smoke through them?
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Pretty obvious but you can use plastic containers from yoghurt, margarine, etc as plant pods (the ones that go inside the pretty ones). Just make sure to put some holes in the bottom for drainage. For seedlings, egg cartons work too.
Packaging paper we reuse as gift wrappings. I like to draw or "airbrush" something on it.
And toilet paper rolls... If you got a child you probably know.
OH, speaking of egg cartons. The larger ones (30 eggs) if clean make a pretty good laptop cooling pad. If you want to use laptop on a bed, this is the way (cheaply).
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And toilet paper rolls... If you got a child you probably know.
Stuff them full of dryer sheets and blow your weed smoke through them?
"Binoculars" probably. Not sure.
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Original question by: @[email protected]
If you buy things to any extent, you've probably got some leftover packaging hanging around. What are some cool ways you've found to make use of all these materials? Special props to ideas that can be replicated!
Both of these options involve taking the time to remove all tape, stickers, and other add ons.
I run cardboard through the bandsaw and slap the strips together to make new scratchpad inserts. Walmart now wants $10-13 for a small one, up from $3-5. It also breaks down boxes fast. Use a tiny bit of nontoxic school glue, in the middle of the strips. Too much glue and they’ll be too hard and the cat won’t use them. If I had to do the cutting by hand, I wouldn’t do it.
Break boxes down flat to kill swaths of lawn for garden space. Cover with garden dirt & compost. Alternatively, cover with wood chips, gravel, or rocks for borders or pathing.
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Pretty obvious but you can use plastic containers from yoghurt, margarine, etc as plant pods (the ones that go inside the pretty ones). Just make sure to put some holes in the bottom for drainage. For seedlings, egg cartons work too.
Packaging paper we reuse as gift wrappings. I like to draw or "airbrush" something on it.
And toilet paper rolls... If you got a child you probably know.
Toilet paper rolls are good for sorting power and usb cords. Just loop them a couple of times and then pull them through the roll. It will act as a band to keep the cord rolled, and you can write on the roll what it is with a marker.
(Saw this on YouTube once)
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Original question by: @[email protected]
If you buy things to any extent, you've probably got some leftover packaging hanging around. What are some cool ways you've found to make use of all these materials? Special props to ideas that can be replicated!
wrote on last edited by [email protected]I was making Minecraft style swords and armor outta styrofoam used to pack and protect from various things my parents bought years before Minecraft even existed.
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Both of these options involve taking the time to remove all tape, stickers, and other add ons.
I run cardboard through the bandsaw and slap the strips together to make new scratchpad inserts. Walmart now wants $10-13 for a small one, up from $3-5. It also breaks down boxes fast. Use a tiny bit of nontoxic school glue, in the middle of the strips. Too much glue and they’ll be too hard and the cat won’t use them. If I had to do the cutting by hand, I wouldn’t do it.
Break boxes down flat to kill swaths of lawn for garden space. Cover with garden dirt & compost. Alternatively, cover with wood chips, gravel, or rocks for borders or pathing.
I tried the cardboard trick in the garden one time, but it just rotted after a good rain, and the grass/weeds came through pretty quickly.
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Original question by: @[email protected]
If you buy things to any extent, you've probably got some leftover packaging hanging around. What are some cool ways you've found to make use of all these materials? Special props to ideas that can be replicated!
I put the cardboard from egg cartons underneath potting soil for elevation and drainage
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Original question by: @[email protected]
If you buy things to any extent, you've probably got some leftover packaging hanging around. What are some cool ways you've found to make use of all these materials? Special props to ideas that can be replicated!
I use all the plastic bags I get from the grocery store (fruit & vegg, bread, etc.) to keep my pottery projects from drying out too fast. This is especially important when pieces have really thin parts. They would crack if I just let them to dry without something to cover them.
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I tried the cardboard trick in the garden one time, but it just rotted after a good rain, and the grass/weeds came through pretty quickly.
We had similar results. Some spots held up better than others, so overall it's not a terrible idea, but it's not 100% effective either.
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Original question by: @[email protected]
If you buy things to any extent, you've probably got some leftover packaging hanging around. What are some cool ways you've found to make use of all these materials? Special props to ideas that can be replicated!
I used the cardboard sheets found in boxes of canned cat food to make this little tent:
I miss that cat so much.
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Pretty obvious but you can use plastic containers from yoghurt, margarine, etc as plant pods (the ones that go inside the pretty ones). Just make sure to put some holes in the bottom for drainage. For seedlings, egg cartons work too.
Packaging paper we reuse as gift wrappings. I like to draw or "airbrush" something on it.
And toilet paper rolls... If you got a child you probably know.
Legit in one place I was living I cut a tetra pack in half and started glomping plants and tossing them in there. They were self-watering plants and I was a happy person. I used to use them for paint, but I am lazy and I have a friend who is a chaotic painter. They showed me that you can paint on anything, with anything and that pallets are optional. I started keeping/mixing paints on whatever I wanted as I worked. Be it the canvas itself, or whatever I had nearby (that I wasn't planning of keeping). There's these little sake bottles, I forgot what the brand was because I don't drink, but a friend swears they're a perfect travel kit for water color. Those are nice to use. it's one of the major brands and it's pint sized with a little baby cup. Speaking of which, I don't mess with a lot of Japanese products as a whole because they have so much packaging. I love the intent, to experience this one mini thing in all its splendor and not gorge on it. It just is so much packaging, so damn much! Eee!
Can you sprout in egg cartons? That'd be cool af. I gotta look into this. Would make sense, it's a perfect vessel for it.
Hahaha, you're awesome - you know I love people who are smart with this stuff. Sounds like you've got at least one little one too. I feel like it teaches your kid(s) that they can have nice things (the gift) but that they don't have to be absolutely materialistic monsters (the shiny packaging) over what they get. Likewise, I think it helps you as you age, because you're less susceptible to all that fancy design work they've got out there to sell you the same thing as the $10 item, for $100. Two folks in my family have diyed their presents for as long as I can remember. There's nothing better than getting something with a little personal drawing or note on it. I move around a lot, and I don't keep much nowadays, because I figured I've always got one foot out the door. I keep that stuff though, in a lock box actually. Cause that's the real stuff. You're a good parent =)!
We've got weasels and these assholes like to stick their heads into anything and get stuck. So we actually just toss them in the recycling bin. I have been thinking about what I can do with them lately though. Like, could I utilize them by cutting them up into teency tiny pieces little pieces and embed them into a cardboard frame that I then cover with fabric and toss on the walls. The place we're currently living at has some of the craziest sounds crawling through them, so I figured it's time to think about some green-ish sound proofing for peace of mind. Either way, thanks for nice response
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I use all the plastic bags I get from the grocery store (fruit & vegg, bread, etc.) to keep my pottery projects from drying out too fast. This is especially important when pieces have really thin parts. They would crack if I just let them to dry without something to cover them.
I have met all but 1 - ONE! Potter my entire life and you guys are the just I mean - fuck! This isn't English but the way your guys' brains work just blows my mind. You've got such a great understanding of how (I am just sitting here flailing my hands around openly trying to explain what I am thinking but it's not really translating to words). You guys amaze me is all. You've got such a great understanding of how to turn what you see in your minds eye to such a physical scape it blows my mind. I pretended over the pandemic that I was about to make some air-dry sculptures, but nah. I was watching this gal and she absolutely encompass what I mean about sculptors. I (personally) think that all arts require different skillsets. Growing up I figured being strong in one, means you could pick up another pretty easily. That it was all sort of one umbrella, and that creativity was the guide. Nah, son. Not true! I realized they're different camps, even in my own ventures between the arts. I guess this was all jus one giant gush to tell you I love sculptors, and wish I had more in my life. I feel like though, the kind of mindfulness it requires to sculpt would absolutely be holding a little transparent baggie in their hands and thoughtfully think "I can use this to keep my pieces from drying out." Augh! Keep sculpting, I love you guys! Augghhh!!
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I have met all but 1 - ONE! Potter my entire life and you guys are the just I mean - fuck! This isn't English but the way your guys' brains work just blows my mind. You've got such a great understanding of how (I am just sitting here flailing my hands around openly trying to explain what I am thinking but it's not really translating to words). You guys amaze me is all. You've got such a great understanding of how to turn what you see in your minds eye to such a physical scape it blows my mind. I pretended over the pandemic that I was about to make some air-dry sculptures, but nah. I was watching this gal and she absolutely encompass what I mean about sculptors. I (personally) think that all arts require different skillsets. Growing up I figured being strong in one, means you could pick up another pretty easily. That it was all sort of one umbrella, and that creativity was the guide. Nah, son. Not true! I realized they're different camps, even in my own ventures between the arts. I guess this was all jus one giant gush to tell you I love sculptors, and wish I had more in my life. I feel like though, the kind of mindfulness it requires to sculpt would absolutely be holding a little transparent baggie in their hands and thoughtfully think "I can use this to keep my pieces from drying out." Augh! Keep sculpting, I love you guys! Augghhh!!
Defos! It something that really takes YEARS of almost daily practise to get good at. I mostly do it for fun, or if I want cup or something... or if someone I know wants a cup (or something). I can't hold a candle to people like the lady in the link, or probably anyone that uploads videos of themselves doing pottery lol. So far I can maybe get a good cup or two every 8 hours where-as professionals can make hundreds in the same amount of time. The skill gap is INSANE.
It's good to know your limits, but IMHO there are virtually no limits to creativity. I took a few pottery courses in uni and the teacher knew a lot of us didn't really think of ourselves as "creative types" (many enrolled in it as an elective), so she always told is to "fake it till you make it". I think it's really awesome that you pretended to make air-dry sculptures, and I think you should keep pretending! It doesn't matter what they look like, it's something you made and you should be proud of it (screw anyone who tells you to give up).
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I have met all but 1 - ONE! Potter my entire life and you guys are the just I mean - fuck! This isn't English but the way your guys' brains work just blows my mind. You've got such a great understanding of how (I am just sitting here flailing my hands around openly trying to explain what I am thinking but it's not really translating to words). You guys amaze me is all. You've got such a great understanding of how to turn what you see in your minds eye to such a physical scape it blows my mind. I pretended over the pandemic that I was about to make some air-dry sculptures, but nah. I was watching this gal and she absolutely encompass what I mean about sculptors. I (personally) think that all arts require different skillsets. Growing up I figured being strong in one, means you could pick up another pretty easily. That it was all sort of one umbrella, and that creativity was the guide. Nah, son. Not true! I realized they're different camps, even in my own ventures between the arts. I guess this was all jus one giant gush to tell you I love sculptors, and wish I had more in my life. I feel like though, the kind of mindfulness it requires to sculpt would absolutely be holding a little transparent baggie in their hands and thoughtfully think "I can use this to keep my pieces from drying out." Augh! Keep sculpting, I love you guys! Augghhh!!
I totally get how some people's brain work is mind blowing. I do origami and I've met a bunch of origami creators over the years, I have no words to express the amazement I feel with how they manage to visualise the potential of a few preliminary folds.
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Original question by: @[email protected]
If you buy things to any extent, you've probably got some leftover packaging hanging around. What are some cool ways you've found to make use of all these materials? Special props to ideas that can be replicated!
wrote on last edited by [email protected]Plastic package? Unless it's a very well made box (in which case I will find some use to it), it's send to recycling.
Cardboard?
- I will keep a few to be able to send stuff myself (why pay for boxes when you're already receiving perfectly fine ones)
- I like to use it too to scratch simple little boxes and storage I need for small stuff. One of the last one I made (out of recycled packaging) is this... thing (I don't know the English word, sorry) where I can store pens and index cards, on my desk.
It's not pretty but that's just me not worrying about making it look nice. I care about it doing its job and being cheap (aka, free) and quick to assemble (I will often make two or three attempts before getting it right so I prefer when it can be done quickly).
Along the years, I have made quite a few of those cardboard things and even offered a few to people who wanted one. For example, the very last thing I made is this... I don't know if this even have a name?
It's a portable A6-sized index card holder. Between the two cardboard sheets there is a foldable space that acts as a (foldable) storage for extra cards. as you can see, on one side it is also a makeshift pen holder. The whole thing is made out of sturdy black paper (the black foldable thing), an old binder (the purplish cardboard) and some pen case part I imagine a kid had thrown away that I salvaged from the recycling bin.
What do I use it for? I take all my reading notes on index cards and it helps a lot having a small flat surface to write on. For years I had been using makeshift solutions but it was never great. So a couple weeks ago I decided I had enough and started working on my own solution. That the second iteration of it and I think it's close enough to being exactly what I want it to be that I won't need to make a third attempt. And, yep, it will stay the ugly duck it is. At least up until it's damaged enough for me to be willing to make a new and a prettier one
I have no idea if anyone else on the planet could ever be interested in using such a thing but to me it's great and I like it a lot. It's small and light enough I can hold it in the same hand I'm holding the book too and I can comfortably take my notes using my other hand. Also, I made it a tad larger than needed to store A6 cards so I can easily clip on one of those battery powered Led readign lamp when I need more light for reading... The hastily sewed on pocket over the pen holder is there to prevent the lead of my pencil of smearing everything when I shove it in my messenger bag.
Cardboard can be very sturdy when used properly but that doesn't mean I'm averse to using more traditional and more sturdy materials like, say, wood, or leather, or even fabric. But sturdier/heavier materials also demand a lot more dedicated tools and a lot more space to work with. Living in our small apartment in an expensive city, space is something that comes at a premium so I'd rather not need too much of it.
Cardboard is also great because it's easy to work with and it's mostly free (when using recycled packaging, at least), and because one doesn't need any specific tools: a decent cutter with some fresh blades, a cutting mat, a steel ruler, some imagination, and maybe also some (hot/white) glue to assemble things together. That's all what one needs.
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Plastic package? Unless it's a very well made box (in which case I will find some use to it), it's send to recycling.
Cardboard?
- I will keep a few to be able to send stuff myself (why pay for boxes when you're already receiving perfectly fine ones)
- I like to use it too to scratch simple little boxes and storage I need for small stuff. One of the last one I made (out of recycled packaging) is this... thing (I don't know the English word, sorry) where I can store pens and index cards, on my desk.
It's not pretty but that's just me not worrying about making it look nice. I care about it doing its job and being cheap (aka, free) and quick to assemble (I will often make two or three attempts before getting it right so I prefer when it can be done quickly).
Along the years, I have made quite a few of those cardboard things and even offered a few to people who wanted one. For example, the very last thing I made is this... I don't know if this even have a name?
It's a portable A6-sized index card holder. Between the two cardboard sheets there is a foldable space that acts as a (foldable) storage for extra cards. as you can see, on one side it is also a makeshift pen holder. The whole thing is made out of sturdy black paper (the black foldable thing), an old binder (the purplish cardboard) and some pen case part I imagine a kid had thrown away that I salvaged from the recycling bin.
What do I use it for? I take all my reading notes on index cards and it helps a lot having a small flat surface to write on. For years I had been using makeshift solutions but it was never great. So a couple weeks ago I decided I had enough and started working on my own solution. That the second iteration of it and I think it's close enough to being exactly what I want it to be that I won't need to make a third attempt. And, yep, it will stay the ugly duck it is. At least up until it's damaged enough for me to be willing to make a new and a prettier one
I have no idea if anyone else on the planet could ever be interested in using such a thing but to me it's great and I like it a lot. It's small and light enough I can hold it in the same hand I'm holding the book too and I can comfortably take my notes using my other hand. Also, I made it a tad larger than needed to store A6 cards so I can easily clip on one of those battery powered Led readign lamp when I need more light for reading... The hastily sewed on pocket over the pen holder is there to prevent the lead of my pencil of smearing everything when I shove it in my messenger bag.
Cardboard can be very sturdy when used properly but that doesn't mean I'm averse to using more traditional and more sturdy materials like, say, wood, or leather, or even fabric. But sturdier/heavier materials also demand a lot more dedicated tools and a lot more space to work with. Living in our small apartment in an expensive city, space is something that comes at a premium so I'd rather not need too much of it.
Cardboard is also great because it's easy to work with and it's mostly free (when using recycled packaging, at least), and because one doesn't need any specific tools: a decent cutter with some fresh blades, a cutting mat, a steel ruler, some imagination, and maybe also some (hot/white) glue to assemble things together. That's all what one needs.
Believe it or not, I cannibalized the back pad of some watercolor paper when I had finished the lot and legitimately built a micro portable (A6-ish) sketchbook kinda like that. I had some cool boho-y fabrics and I covered the outside with it. I had a little pencil sharpener that I sewed into the inside, along with a pencil holder and then trimmed cardstock (I shit you not!) and put them on the inside in a pocket I made to hold it. Then I sewed a little pocket that wrapped around it to keep it closed (it opened vertically - and put a gummy eraser in it in case I needed it (although I don't really believe in erasing much)). I had that guy for a couple of years, but I am sadly allergic to cats and one of the places we moved had a crap-ton of dander and I really couldn't salvage much of the fabric-based stuff I had. I think it's nice to have a little portable sketchbook you made, it makes you feel connected to it. I tend to work with individual papers too, as I find an entire blank journal to be quite intimidating but singular sheets to be an absolute joy. I too used my led light to clamp on to mine. I think we might be the same person, so you might as well take off your Scooby Doo mask and reveal it =P!
One thing I would really like to get into is wood. I have been thinking about getting a handsaw, because we move a crazy amount and non-compact tools aren't on the agenda right now. Ah, yeah - you get it actually I see that! Also on your caddy, I think it works plenty fine. When living in spaces with limited storage you get really creative with the ways you tend to go about things. Either way thank you for sharing such a detailed response and keep being a practical craftsperson. Cheers!
