Free Supplies to Start Collecting Now

I’ve seen some of the most amazing things made out of recyclables from around the house. Unfortunately, usually by the time I realize I want to do something like that, it’s too late to get any more than what I already have on hand and I end up, say, stripping the boxes off of all the cereal in the cupboard to get what I need. So: if you like any of these projects, now would be a great time to start collecting…

Cardboard Tubes

That’s right, start collecting toilet paper rolls for Christmas!

1. Yule Log Favor Boxes from Martha Stewart 2. Garden Party Favor Boxes from The Tomkat Studio 3. Cracker-Style Gift Tube from Shivaya Naturals 4. Recycled Pillow-Box Favors from Skip to my Lou

Every single one of those is based around a toilet paper roll. What a great way to package small gifts and treats! Usually I toss a handful of candy into the stockings on Christmas Eve, but wouldn’t it seem more special wrapped up in a pretty little tube? (That’s the premise behind M&Ms in a candy cane shape, after all.)

If you have a lot, you could even make some of these cool crafts:

5. Snowman Ornament from Crafty-Crafted.com 6. Cardboard Stars from Muffin Tin Mom 7. Printable Kids’ Nativity from Catholic Icing 8. Cardboard Rose Wreath from Proverbs 31 Life

I definitely have plans to print out that Nativity for my kids.

Cereal Boxes

The thin, clean cardboard from cereal boxes is ideal for packaging gifts, but that Tony the Tiger on the side may not send the vibe you’re looking for. The solution is simple: cover it up.

9. Recycled Gift Box from Craftiness is Not Optional 10. Suitcase Goody Bags from Nounces Design 11. Cereal Box Gift Bags from Stuff You’ll Love 12. Cereal Box Tote from Muffin Tin Mom

It seems like a great way to avoid buying gift boxes or bags…as long as you stock up ahead of time.

Milk Jugs

I don’t know about you, but my family goes through several gallons of milk a week. If I started collecting now, I could probably have a couple dozen jugs by Christmas.

13. Glowing Snowmen from Stuff by Ash 14. Recycled Milk Jug Container from Crunchy Catholic Mama 15. Milk Jug Igloo from Recyclart

Those snowmen lights would be super easy to do with black and orange Sharpies, I think. Also, I’ve wanted to do a milk jug igloo for a very long time. Maybe if I started saving now I could have enough jugs by next Christmas…

Altoids Tins

Perhaps you’ve already seen a First Aid Kit, a Survival Kit, an Urban Survival Kit, a Catapult, or those cute Mini Toolboxes made out of Altoids Tins. There’s quite a bit more you can do, though.

16. Anti-Boredom Pocket Kit from Instructables 17. Altoids Advent Calendar from The Sassy Crafter 18. Movable Watercolor Palette from Instructables 19. Altoid Tin Pocket Garden from Elizabeth Abernathy 20. Sewing Kit and Pincushion from The Twisted Stitcher’s Tutorials 21. Altoids Pocket Travel Games from Instructables 22. Travel Tin Dollhouses from Home Spun Threads 23. Pocket Tackle Box from Instructables 24. Altoids Games Chest from Flickr

Gifts this size are great for stocking stuffers or for shipping. I absolutely love the travel games, and the garden, and the advent calendar, and the doll playsets…heck, I love them all! Something about practical and useful things carefully packed into a tiny tin container just makes them awesome. I wonder if there’s any way I could make a playset for Hot Wheels in one? Maybe parking spaces or a car wash or something?

Pringles Cans

I’ve only found one good idea to reuse Pringles cans, but it’s really good.

Cover the outside of the can with paper and fill it with cookies. Perfect! So much nicer than handing out cookies on a paper plate covered with plastic wrap, don’t you think? Check out how Jen did it over on A Thousand Words.

I hope this has some ideas churning as you plan what supplies to rescue from the recycle bin – now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to save a TP roll before it hits the trash can.