I have some strange collection habits. It started last year when I began working on projects for my second book, Sewing Green. I wanted to design a handful of projects using non-fabric materials, especially things that cannot be recycled, like Mylar drink pouches. (what an annoyance those things are…don’t get me started.)
I began looking at other packaging as I did my grocery shopping. As I filled my cart, I tried to imagine what I could make out of the waste I was purchasing along with my food. (As a result, I have to say, I’ve changed a lot of my buying habits! Try imagining a full cart of groceries without the packaging. It’s amazing to think of what little food is actually in there…but I’ll save that rant for another post)
Did you know that, although plastic bottles and jars are recyclable, the caps and lids are not? You’re supposed to take them off and throw them in the trash instead of your recycling bin. I have a big empty pretzel jar that I’ve started saving my lids in. Hmmm, no agenda here. Just seeing how many I get over the next few months. They do come in handy for the kids craft projects, I have to say. We’ve used them as game pieces or glued them onto cardboard robot costumes for buttons.
I also started saving the tabs from bags of bread. Wow. Now that’s an eye opener. So little, so easy to mindlessly toss. But they add up fast! (and we don’t even have big sandwich eating teenagers!) I’ve been snapping them onto rings that come off plastic juice jugs. I don’t have a project yet in mind for these, I’m still collecting.
This pom-pom thing is made from plastic grocery bag handles, a byproduct from another project. When I fused a bunch of plastic grocery bags together to make totes, I cut the handles off. At first I started throwing them away, but soon realized how many I had accumulated. I just grabbed a handful of them in the middle and tied them together. Right now it’s hanging from my “inspiration” clothesline I have in my studio. I’m still trying to decide if I like it or not. It’s important to me that if I make something out of garbage, that it look better than it did when it was garbage. I know, I’m snooty that way. 🙂
Did you collect pull tabs and gum wrappers as a kid? I sure did. I loved making those long chains. Wonder what happened to those.
It is amazing how quickly those little lids can add up! I did a project found here: http://shop.lidmen.com/pages/make-your-own with a preschool group at the end of the year, it was lots of fun! Can’t wait to see what you do with them all. 🙂
My daughter recently started collecting caps — plastic bottle caps, metal soda/beer caps, etc. Not sure what we’ll be doing with them either, but I look forward to keeping an eye on your blog for inspiring ideas!
Your not the only one with odd collections…I have been doing the very same thing as well.
I have a few small collections of various things that I am saving and I keep telling myself and my DH who thinks I am crazy for it, that I am going to make something spectacular with it.
I had no idea! I can’t wait what inspiration you come up with for those sandwich bag closures. It’s amazing how much we consume and waste, isn’t it?
Ack! I collect the tabs from bread bags and the rings around milk bottles, too! I have sooo many of them. They are really colorful and my kids love the play with them, but I’m hoping eventually to somehow make bird’s wings with them, or maybe a crest. I just showed this post to my husband because he thinks I’m crazy for saving these random things.
Thanks Kira! I was looking for the “lidmen” link to add to this post, but I couldn’t find it. Those are really cute.
Hey, I have a use for those plastic rings below the cap for milk/water/juice bottles. Wrap a green pipecleaner or two around it, tie on a red yarn bow, and you have a miniature christmas wreath! Did this with my girl scout troop, the girls loved it.
Kathy,
Circleville, Ohio
Oh, I’m so relieved to know I’m not the only compulsive collector of things-that-could-be-made-into-something. And what do you mean, “when you were a kid?” I can’t pass up a can with a pull tab. I have an ever-growing collection to be crocheted up. Someday. 😉
I didn’t realize that you’re supposed to take off the plastic lids to those containers. I’ve always just thrown them in with the rest of the recycling in the past. But once I discovered flickr bigjen’s method of making pincushions using soda cap lids, I’ve started a collection of those. Much more than the amount of pincushions I could ever make. And your collection of bread tabs reminds me of the curtains that my mom used to make from soda cans in the 70s. 🙂
Could you use your bread bag tags as bobbins for small lengths of embroidery floss? (I think there is a apecial law of physics which cause floss to mysteriously tangle together when left in a sewing box!)
Sonja,
The reason I was talking about pull tab chains “as a kid” is that they were made different then! The were a ring with a teardrop shaped strip of aluminum that you could loop around the ring of the next tab in your chain.
Betz
I’ve made those gum wrapper chains, though I could never figure out what to do with them. Of course, now they don’t print the wrappers…but I don’t chew gum either.
Mary Ellen,
I love that idea…must try immediately!
Betz
Oh I can’t believe you wrote about the bottle caps! I saved a few and then imagined my house a few years from now looking like I have a problem with hoarding.. so I threw them away!
I’m going to start collecting again, and if anyone tries to send me to therapy I’ll send them your way!
Can’t wait to see what you come up with.
Julie
I just purchased your book yesterday and when I blogged about it I was luckily directed straight to your blog. I am so into recycling, thrifting and crafting so your blog is a perfect mix of everything. I can’t wait to see your next book.
I use bread bag tags when I’m knitting for all those long loose ends that have to be woven in later. Works a charm, although I have more than enough tags now! I’ve been flirting with making sandwich bread in our bread machine but haven’t had much luck.
I collect odd things too! It’s amazing what little things should be recyclable and aren’t. I try shopping with out using plastic anything. I save bags from onions and use them for produce.
Oh my god, I’m totally cracking up right now because I’ve been saving the bottle tops to soda, water, milk and juice bottles lately, too, and guess what they’re in? Yup, an empty Utz container! Not pretzels, but still, hilarious.
The bread tabs could be stitch markers for crochet or knitting, if you’re in a pinch!
We went to the Utah Arts Festival in Salt Lake City recently and their kids’ art yard was all about creating with discarded items. One of that we especially enjoyed was painting old CDs and creating mobiles / wind chimes out of them. You can string them with any number of other “found” items and they actually look pretty cool! Love your blog! 🙂
It was pretty exciting to get a plastic cap when we were kids (we were milk drinkin’ folk–no pop allowed) and we would always pry the inside out. There is a little blue disc on the inside and it is just the right size for a plate for Barbie.
I know your boys might not be excited about this, but now there is something else to work with in that cap.
Very strange coincidence, I just blogged about how my teenage son seems to be collecting empty kleenex boxes. He keeps his collection on the floor in the corner of his room though.
I always knew that I was not alone in the collectoholic syndrome :+}. I love all the ideas shared. As for the gum wrapper chains…I still have mine and have always planned on framing it in a shadow box. It is huge and I think someday grandchildren might get a kick out of it. Love your blog!:+}
LOL. I collect those things too! as for the can tabs, I make collect and make belts out of those:)
I was listening to Fran Crowe on the BBC last week. She’s been collecting plastic stuff from beaches in eastern England. Have a look:
http://www.flyintheface.com/46000.html
You could use the bread tabs to keep odd ends of embroidery thread on.
I use to collect bottles caps when i was little so i like your collection 🙂
As soon as I saw your bread tabs I thought of jewelry. Paint them with Adirondack alcohol inks and then stamp images on them. Then string them into bracelets or necklaces. I may have to try this. I’ll let you know if I come up with anything amazing.
My cats think those pull rings from milk jugs or juice jugs are the best cat toy ever. They throw them up in the air and bat them around.
The result? When my kids pull them off, they just throw them over their shoulder for the cats. Somehow I’ve accidentally taught my kids to litter in our own home. Argh!
We use bottle caps as food dishes for our pet frog.
when i was little my mom saved all those paper juice cartons (you know like you get minute maid juice in?) and she would cut off the pinched tops so all you had was the rectangle carton and then when she had two she stuffed one inside the other to make a play “brick” then we would build walls and castles with them…i should start doing this myself!
in the UK the regular recycling truck won’t take bottle tops BUT our local children’s centre is collecting them and when they have enough{loads} they can be collected and recycled – i have a 2litre icecream tub on the kitchen counter overflowing with them right now!!
i HATE throwing things away!!
In our village there is a lady who is collecting the plastic bottle tops for a disabled boy. Apparently when he gets his own weight in tops, he gets a wheel chair. Not sure quite how this works, but the amount of lids that have been saved by the children in school is huge. I wonder what they do with them all if they can’t be recycled.
Do you have little net bags that come in the boxes of washing powder tablets? I never throw them away but have no idea what to do with them.
We’ve been collecting pop tops and water bottle caps for a couple of months now in preparation for Cub Scout camp in August.
Got out my paint pens last night and went to work. I’d love to see what other ‘critters’ people come up with.
http://troutberry.blogspot.com/2008/07/paint-pens-and-pop-tops.html
I have just stumbled across your blog and feel like I have struck gold – your work is adorable! and those pin cushions – wow!!
Dee
x
What great ideas! I never would have thought to collect these things. I can’t wait to see what you do with everything!
Love the gum wrapper chains and have done those recently with my kids.
I have been collecting bottle caps from soda bottles. We rarely drink soda around here but for special occasions we have it for a treat. I did a project for Parents using bottle caps in a craft for the September issue. I love stuff like that. I can’t wait to see what you come up with for your collections:)
p.s. We almost put an offer on a house last week and then decided last minute it wasn’t quite perfect for us. I am getting my house cleaned out in preparation just in case something comes up….
susan
I love this concept of making something from things that would normally be thrown away! Can’t wait to see what you do with those bread tabs.
—Tif
I saw the cutest pincushions the other day at the following website:
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/945/how-to-make-pretty-pincushions
They are made from the screw tops of bottles and felt.
Yup, I stash things like that too. I’ve got the empty foil packs from years of birth control pills. I imagine that I’ll do some cool art project with them at some point.
And yes, there are many other bread tab collectors.
I am inspired… I am going to collect my bottle caps and save them for my preschool class in the fall. Wouldn’t they be the cutest little picture frame you can attach a pin on the back and wear them. OOOOh i’m on a roll now!
I love that, shopping while thinking what to make with the bits of leftover packaging (what an inspiration you are!) You are definitely ‘Sew Green’. Thanks for the ideas.
Wow, I didn’t realise there were so many kindred spirits out there. I love this post and the comments it has inspired. So many people who hate to waste what can potentially be used for something else. I love it. Can’t wait for your book.
I once kept milk cartons for about 6 months-washed them out and taped up the end to make “bricks”. Then I taped and glued them all together to make a cubby house for my young boys. We papier mached it and they painted it and it lasted for a long time-until we moved and it had to go out in the trash. And recently I’ve been saving those little tickets stapled on to the bottom of your dry cleaning…I have a project in mind for them…
Always love reading your blog! I thought I’d share a couple of cute projects for your lid collection …
My son came home with a cute “recycled garden” made with green pipe cleaners, bottle lids and 1/2 easter eggs,
here’s a picture. I immediately thought of this project when I saw your collection.
This week our local library used different sized lids to make caterpillars … A large lid for the head, and smaller ones for the body. A small whole was drilled in the center and a pipe cleaner was used to string a series of lids decorated with small round dot stickers.
My MIL makes pin cushions using soda bottle lids (like the link already posted), but she drills two holes in the lid and strings a small amount of 1/4 elastic through, turning it into a pin cushion ring.
while it’s not very crafty…if you can find an aveda store they will take the plastic caps and recycle them into container lids for their product. I have a huge collection of them that my kindergarten class gathered…just a thought.
Amazing post. Do make sure you collect you plastic bag and then return them to a grocery store recycling post. I’m not sure what they do with them but I feel better about it! I think you plastic bread tabs. The colors are beautiful!
Chelsea Ann
I just found a link to an idea for lids at Plum Pudding:
http://myplumpudding.blogspot.com/2008/07/make-way-for-ducklings.html
And I also have an idea for larger lids, like the kinds on butter tubs or sour cream tubs. If you cut a shape into the “inside” of the lid, it can be used as a stencil for kids. The best part is that the lip of the lid will keep crayons from going outside the circle and making marks on the rest of the paper. Cool!
I just had to comment on this because I was just, today, thinking about the tops I throw away and if it would be wierd to save them. I used to make child memory games and counting discs with the lids from frozen juice cans. Also the pop lids make great little pincushions they would be right up your alley. You can see one here http://myspinninghead.blogspot.com/2008/05/its-new-day.html . I have made them with a little loop of elastic threw the bottom so they fit on your finger. You may already know this- if so sorry. Great post!!
Hi-
I came across your blog a while back and have been wanting to come back with something to add an I came across this post today… cute idea for those caps!
http://allysonhill.typepad.com/allyson_hill/2008/07/colors-blue-red-and-yellow.html
Tricia
we collect bottle caps here for a cancer hospital in italy. basically, they melt down the lids (since they are the part w/ the most plastic and recycle them) if you are interested in donating your lids; please let me know. i’d be more than happy to pay the shipping 🙂 last year they raised 40 million euro for the hospital w/ just the lids!!