Welcome to another Wacky Workshops project –  great recycling projects using things you already have.

A few weeks ago I gave instructions for a really cool train desk caddy, How to Make a Starlight Express Desk Caddy.

While this one is really fun and uses recyclables, it may not be big enough for your needs. If you are looking for something larger, my shoebox caddy could be just what you need.

Want something with a simple, clean design? My tin can caddy is easy, looks great, and would even make a lovely gift.

Perhaps you want something pretty to contain hidden treasures? Then you’ll love my petal princess.

GREAT RECYCLING PROJECTS

SHOEBOX CADDY

MATERIALS

• Shoebox – the size doesn’t matter but mine was 22 cm x 32 cm. NOTE: Keep the lid! I have a great project for that.
• Toilet rolls – I used  40 but you could need slightly less or more, depending on the size of your shoebox.
• Glue
• Spray paint

METHOD

• Place the rolls in the box vertically, squeezing them in as tight as you can without stretching or damaging the box.
• Drizzle the craft glue in any spaces between the rolls and along the sides of the box, where the rolls are touching.
• Grab a can of your favourite colour spray paint and cover the box and rolls generously.
• When dry, fill with your office supplies.

The beauty of this caddy is that it has so many compartments you can separate your pencils and makers into colours.

GREAT RECYCLING PROJECTS – TIN CAN CADDY

This project is just as easy as the shoebox caddy but is smaller and looks a little more elegant, especially if you choose gold paint. It would make a great Father’s Day gift.

MATERIALS

• Wood – the length is up to you – the longer the wood, the more cans you can use. I used a fence paling offcut which was the perfect thickness for the project. Mine was 40 cm long, which gave me room for 5 tin cans.
• Tin cans – the number will depend on the size of the wood you choose.
• Craft glue
• Spray paint – I love the look of the gold paint for this project.

METHOD

• Ensure your cans are clean and the labels have been properly removed.
• Line them up on top of your wood, making sure the seams are at the back.
• Attach them to the wood with the craft glue.
• Generously cover them and the wood with the spray paint.
• Allow to dry and fill the cans with your office tools.
• I glued two magnets at the front so storing paper clips is taken care of too.

GREAT RECYCLING PROJECTS – PETAL PRINCESS

This one is great for the little girls in your life. They can store their treasures inside the princess so it becomes a toy as well as a storage container. The instructions for this are similar to my Treasure Box Fairy.

MATERIALS

• Plastic soda bottle
• Box cutters/scissors
• Artificial flowers
• Foam or wooden ball to fit the top of the bottle
• Craft glue
• Googly eyes

METHOD

• Use the knife to cut the bottle about a third of the way up so the top and bottom of the bottle are separate.
• Using the knife or scissors cut about a quarter off the bottom of the top section of the bottle – discard this piece.
• Now when you put the top and bottom of the bottle together they should fit – and you’ll have a shorter bottle.
• Use the scissors to cut individual petals from the flowers.
• Starting from the bottom, start glueing the petals around the bottle.
• Continue doing this right to the top of the bottle, ensuring you overlap each row of petals.
• Glue the foam or wooden ball to the top of the bottle.
• Glue on the googly eyes and add other facial features.
• Give the petal princess a flower crown by glueing one of the flowers to the top of the foam ball.

Want more fun recycling ideas? Check out my Grand Recycling on Pinterest.

Happy crafting and have a gleeful week, Tamuria.