A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Hobbies, Crafts and Creativity Helpful Hints how do you 'reuse'?

thankyou for the information. I'll keep an eye out for them.

I would simply punch a hole in the center of the bottom of each can using something like a fat nail.

Then, I'd cut lengths of macrame cord or heavy twine such as Jute, and tie a fatter-than-the-hole knot at one end and thread the other end up through the hole. The un-knotted end would be used to secure it to the thing I was using as a hanger.

Before I connected them together, though, I would hang them separately so I could paint each one or decoupage them with a waterproof coating. Once they were dry, I'd hang them into the final arrangement.

The only reason you'd have to be concerned about balancing the cans is if you were making it a mobile. An ordinary chime doesn't have to be particularly balanced. You just have to make sure they are ultimately hanging close enough to bump into one another with little provocation.

Merme

Decoupage ...How do you do that ?/ I have photos and dont know what to use to do it .Help

thanks, merme. so you think some heavier rope would work better than fishing line? we have a couple of cans we put into the bonfire to give them a nice charred look. but, we have some paint too.

I wish I didn't get so much junk mail. It seems irresponsible of the companies involved, to purposefully create all that waste and leave it up to the other person to dispose of it properly!

I have friends who subscribe to magazines as a group. Each person picks a different magazine so the entire group gets to read them all. I do not live close enough to my friends to participate and so I usually do not subscribe to anything. But recently an out-of-state friend gave me Good Housekeeping as a gift and every month I wish I had someone to pass it along to. So I'm thinking of taking them to a waiting room somewhere.


Merme

when my dad was in the hospital years ago, people from work brought me their old magazines and I'd drop them off in the waiting areas when I went up to visit him.
the library here has old magazines for 10 cents each. I usually grab some each time we go to put out on the porch, bathrooms, living room. the info is old, but with most of the magazines it doesn't really matter.

I get bothered by the amount of plastic in our lives. I try to reuse what I can but it isn't always possible. I know it is a way for manufacturers to make thing inexpensively, but still.


Merme

we don't eat a lot of packaged food, but I save most of the containers if they're plastic. I use them for seed containers, jello, dips, trays for organizing things in, in drawers...the ones with dividers in them are good for putting cut up veggies in. everyone can build they're own salad that way.

Those are some very good ideas, Cricket.

But oh, it isn't just the plastic in the kitchen that bothers me; it is everywhere else in the house I find it!

Sometimes I feel like we are all drowning in plastic!


Merme

I cut the tops off plastic grape holders and use them on my window sills for plants there....
I used the bottom to hold soil in the flower pot to keep it cleaner.. Also drains the soil very well.
Yogurt cups for plants and give away .

plastic strawberry cartons for my tomatos from the garden. that way they don't get crushed in the fridge.
those tiny plastic containers with lids that come out of those 'gum ball' machines. the 'gum ball' machines that give tiny toys - for seed. label the top with a sharpy, add small amt of cotten to absorb moisture. (my kids get the toys, not me. he he)

Your a smart cricket......