Creative Containers

Tots have toys, tiny toys, and they need some place to go.  We save empty coffee and oatmeal containers to corral toys and I recently decorated a few to make them more fun. 

The first container is a pipe cleaner game, the second 'Bug Jug' holds the dozen small bugs my son has (and leaves around the house to terrify me when I'm groggy first thing in the morning and think scorpions and tarantulas have invaded), the third holds small balls that go with a Melissa & Doug Tower game.

These are simple to make and take about 45 minutes each.  You need an empty container, decoupage glue, sponge brush and a scrap of fabric, wrapping paper or scrapbook paper.

Measure your container's height and width. Add an inch to the width for overlap.

 Cut out a rectangle of your chosen fabric or paper. I think this Travel Along fabric from Joann's is pretty cute.

Working a few inches at a time, add glue to the container with a sponge brush, then smooth the fabric over it.  The top of the fabric/paper should be lined up evenly with the top of the container.  Be sure to smooth the fabric or paper as you go.  Paper especially loves to get bumpy.

Once the fabric completely surrounds the container, trim the overlap as needed and glue in place by smoothing decoupage below and over the overlap.  Then add a layer of decoupage over the entire piece, being sure to cover the top edge.

Now you can trim the bottom of the fabric even with the bottom of the container or wrap it around the bottom.  I cut the wrapping paper even with the bottom and wrapped the fabric.  To wrap: add glue around the bottom, press the fabric down, then decoupage over the fabric, smoothing in place.

 Allow the containers to dry upside down for at least an hour.  All done!

For the 'Bug Jug' I made and printed a label then decoupaged it over the dried paper.  Be sure the ink is completely dry.  I did not, and there is faint smearing.  I hot glued one of the beetles to the top of the lid for fun. 

Pipe cleaner game to follow!

Craft time: about 1 hr each

Cost: Recycle!  You probably have all supplies on hand: empty cartons, scraps of fabric or wrapping paper and decoupage.  If not, you can get fat quarters or wrapping paper for under $2 and decoupage is around $7 for a good-sized amount.