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Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Formula Cans Craft Ideas

I don't know how many of you out there still have babies using formula, but I have so many cans coming in and out of this house I figured it was time I start putting them to good use. For you out there that don't have formula cans, any large tub will work. I'm sure if you shop at Costco you will have some.



Explosion Preparedness - Keep a can handy stuffed with some diapers, wipes, onesies, and a complete outfit. For that time when your child leaves a mess like Hiroshima in their pants. You can leave this in the car, especially for your husband since they probably don't carry around a diaper bag. I always like having something to fall back on. (It wont fit everything in the picture, but it give you an idea)



Family Photos - These formula cans are perfect for holding CDs . You can easily decorate the can with the theme of your photos; wedding, birth, or birthdays. We have decorated a can for Lucy, which has every photo in her album (as a back up) or photos that need to be organized in the albums.




Craft Can - Since these cans have lids for them, it makes them GREAT for storage. I especially need storage for craft items. I have buttons, ribbons, rivets, and all kinds of scrap booking scraps that I have laying around. I have a can for each items that I need, especially great for holding a lot of buttons or safety pins.



Great for a Sock...NOT socks - For all the times that you have done laundry and you come away with one sock and not TWO. Well, you finally now have a place for that sock. Just keep a can in your laundry room and every time you find a lost sock, just place it in the can. By the end of the month you should have some matching socks in there from all of the lone socks roaming around your drier, like your own little sock party....it that where they get Sock Hops?



Date Nights - Curtis and I love going out on dates, but we usually don't have the kind of money we would like to spend when we go out. But, if you have a Date Night Can you sometimes can. Simple place change from around the house in your Date Can and a while from now you will have some serious change. Then, when you have enough to make a difference, use all that extra money to make a simple date. Kick it up a notch! Go wild....get an APPETIZER.....maybeeeeee I don't know....popcorn at the movies.....OHHHH the possibilities!




Snack Holder - By snacking you help keep your metabolism up and also keep yourself from being more hungry at meal times which helps you from over eating. These cans are great for helping you keep snacks in your car for you and the kids. A little hungry on the way to pick on the kids....eat a granola bar. Kids in the car running errands around town ...don't stop by McDonald's....hand them some fruit snacks. The can will keep the snacks together, unsmooshed, and dry.



Salt Holder - This is probably only good for people who live in icy areas. If you have a problem with your deck being icy or find your self slipping a lot then keep some rock salt near by. Take a can and fill it with the rock salt and keep it in your entryway for your deck. Next time you run out to get the mail just throw some salt for you and others to keep from slippin'.



Potted Plants - You wouldn't want to plant something in these cans forever, but if you are trying to grow something these could be good for protecting your little leafy friends. Fill the can half way with dirt and plant your seed. As it starts to grow it will still get the sun it needs, but on those cold or windy days just place your lid over the plant to keep it safe. As soon as it is less weak just plant it in it's new home.



Rolling Rattle - If your kid is chasing things around this one might be good for you. Fill your can with beads, bells, beans or anything that will make good sound then glue the lid on nice and tight. Decorate the outside with whatever you want and you have a great rolling rattling toy that is inexpensive, which is really great cause since your kid is playing with it, it is bound to get destroyed.



Cookie Case - Giving some cookies to a new neighbor? Saying thank you with some baked goods? Well, now you have a sturdy cute cookie holder. Simple decorate your tin with simple scrap booking paper and ribbon. Not only do you have yummy cookies, but a beautiful sealed case that would even make Martha Stewart jealous!




Toy Storage - I don't like to have all of Lucy's toys out at once. I don't want her to get over stimulated or get use to having a million toys at her disposal. On certain days I have her play with certain toys. Then by the next day she has kind of forgotten about the other ones. I continue to rotate them through out the week. Simply label every can with a certain day and store those toys in that can. This also helps to keep your house in less disarray...which is something I can always use help with! (mine don't look like this, I couldn't get a good picture)
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Can Shoes - Make some good ol' fashion can shoes for your kids. Get some sturdy string and poke a whole COMPLETELY through the can and tie some string through and around the it. And voila! You have some nice Can Shoes.





Emergency Candle - Get some wax, wicks and make yourself an emergency candle with the can. I am a believer in being prepared, having food storage, 72 hour kits, and first aid in the car. These can candles are great to help heat food when needed, light, and even warmth. Simple to make and you also have room to leave a box of matches taped to the lid.



Hope you have enough cans!
P.S. the cans I use are the Kirkland brand from Costco, you get two good sized cans for $19. Coffee cans also might work

42 comments:

  1. What fun ideas! Our formula cans just keep going out with the recycling. Maybe I'll have to start putting them to better use. I do, though, save every Gerber/Beechnut baby food jar. Those things have come in very handy many times. Who knew there could be so many uses for a tiny glass jar?

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  2. i don't have them anymore, but those are some great ideas!!

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  3. I use cans for storage. I love them and the kids like to decorate them.

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  4. Although I must say I am not overly upset that I do not have formula cans in my home anymore, I LOVE the date night idea! I am going to search for an empty coffee can right now!

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  5. And when they get older you can donate them to the school for art projects. hec k you can probably LEAD the art projects....

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  6. I don't have any formula cans lying around, but I'm thinking about buying some sort of cans just to do some of these things. I love the date night idea. We do date nights anyways... but it would be nice to be able to splurge a little because we saved up to. I also really like the family preparedness thing. I'm working on that right now, and this is a great idea!

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  7. My favorite is "can shoes" - a trip down childhood memory lane!

    Happy TT!

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  8. how fun are those ideas! very creative

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  9. What great ides! You are very creative!

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  10. Girlie you are BRILLIANT!

    "Hiroshima in their pants"...I cracked up at that comment. Very well put!

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  11. Don't forget the can phone! I love that one.

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  12. Those are great ideas. I used to use them for small toys but I love the idea of holding CDs in them.

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  13. Oh, if only you could have posted this a year ago. I had more than 2 of these cans flying out my door each week. GREAT IDEAS!

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  14. i just had a duhhhh why didn't i think of that moment! i think i will save mine to decorate and use for christmas baked goodies! happy TT!

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  15. Those are great ideas... thanks for sharing. Even though we have been without formula for awhile now, I still have empty ones in the garage because I just knew there was something I could use them for!

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  16. ♥ You have a ton of good ideas! We're really working on our storage too!

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  17. GREAT ideas! Formula is so dang expensive... at least I can put the can to good use after the formula is gone!

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  18. I wish I had some of those, after reading all those good ideas!

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  19. You are so smart! Great ideas!

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  20. Those are some great ideas. I might have to actually save my cans instead of throwing them all away.

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  21. Hi, I don't have formula cans around, but your ideas are great. I do remember the 'explosions'! Fun times! Thanks for stopping by my blog! Have a great day.

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  22. Hey, those are some great ideas...who would have thought?!
    My fave is the date can!!!!

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  23. I don't have them but your post makes me want to go out adn buy some!

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  24. ooohhh . . . I'm lovin' the date can, too! Very, very cool ideas! Thanks!!!

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  25. Wow! You just gave me some awesome ideas! I can't wait to get a few cans! I love the one with the picture CDs. I can't wait to put some together for the kids!

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  26. Melissa! I can't believe how many people comment on your blog! Wow! I mean it is quite entertaining and I look at it all the time and I love your ideas, it is just crazy to me that you have like 50 comments on every post from random people, that is awesome! Of course be careful of the "Best Mom" blogger who actually turns out to be some crazed psycho! At least you are in Alaska...far far away...too far in fact! Come back to Utah! I am kidding...good night =)

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  27. I can't believe how many cool ideas you came up with - and have great pics to show of them as well! Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my blog today :)

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  28. LOL.

    GREAT ideas... think green!

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  29. You know, these are some seriously good ideas. I especially like and see great value in your first suggestion. Well done!

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  30. Oh my goodness I look in awe! How do you have time to think of these things!

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  31. Ha! Gives new meaning to going green! Lord knows all of us Mommies with babies under a year who don't nurse have plenty of these laying around!

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  32. I love these ideas. Too bad I threw away all 240 formula cans that I used from 2004-2006.
    You think I'm kidding?
    My girls are 17 months apart and my boobs don't produce milk. We used a lot of formula.

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  33. I LOVE all these ideas! I don't have formula in the house at the moment but I have plenty of cans from other things.

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  34. I sure wish I'd read this back during that two year period of formula cans!

    You are a very creative person and I'm duly impressed.

    If we ever have another baby in the house I'm prepared.

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  35. Oh! I so needed this about two years ago!! All I could come up with was cannisters for Christmas baked goods--and, quite frankly, we don't have that many friends. ☺

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  36. You read my mind! I have been saving formula cans for who knew why and was just getting ready to toss them. These are great ideas! Thanks!

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  37. Hey are you a professional journalist? This article is very well written, as compared to most other blogs i saw today….
    anyhow thanks for the good read!

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  38. Thanks for the ideas. I have a post and linked to your post. You can visit my post here:
    http://talesofdomestica.blogspot.com/2010/01/what-to-do-with-recycled-formula-cans.html
    Thanks.

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  39. I covered mine with scrapbook paper, ribbon and "thickers"...those thick stickers made out of foam. Fab for crayons, felt-pens in the playroom. And felt good to re-use something we would normally justout out for recycling.

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  40. hi , for a gift for the children to give to their teachers at the end of the school year/break up, i recycle pringles crisp / chip tins, and cover and decorate them and fill them with chocolate. check out my face book page..karen byrnes [internationaloilfieldtrash@gmail.com] and a lot of my craft stuff is on there, love your blog...cheers ...australia. karen.

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  41. Love, love, love your ideas! Thanks so much for sharing!

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