Using Empty Oatmeal Canisters
Storage Containers
I use mine in various ways. Cover with decorated paper and fill with homemade cookies to give as presents. I even make homemade dog cookies and give to friends with dogs.Use to store dried bread crusts. Later use the bread crusts for cooking. Also pasta and the like.
I store a lot of things in them; lids for canning, old candles that I use for various projects later, yarn, ribbon and other projects 'stuff'. I put a picture of the time on the box to make identification quick and easy.
By CascadeMom
Weblinks With Ideas
I saw on TV or in a magazine where they stacked them on their sides in rows and stacked (can't remember how they kept them together, might have been tied or glued or both) but they used them to store small craft bins or yarn or small kids toys, etc. The link below is somewhat similar: A Few Other Ideas:- HGTV: Stamped Recycled Container Lamp
- Crayon School Box
- Oatmeal Container Witch
- About.com: Oatmeal Container Crafts
By Kaelle
Form for Concrete Legs
I emptied one yesterday and thought those could be used to make round, concrete legs for a low bench or something. Maybe someone can make my idea work.By Lily May
Yarn Storage
They make great Yarn holders! Just cover them with contact paper or wall paper to make look pretty and then make a hole in the lid to pull your yarn through.Make A Little Purse
When I was about 4, my mother made me a beautiful Easter dress and a matching drawstring purse. She used an oatmeal container for the base. She cut the container in half, and she lined it in muslin then covered it in a white dotted fabric that came up to a drawstring closure, made out of white silk ribbons. Then she used fabric left over from my dress to put over the container and brought up to little points on each "corner" and put a small button on these. This was a cute, and very sturdy little purse. Long after the dress was outgrown, I still played with the purse. As a matter of fact, my daughters played with this purse too. It was kind of dingy by then, but was still structurally quite sound!By Bailegirl
Mailing Cookies
Decades ago when my husband was in Vietnam, I would use empty oatmeal cartons to mail him cookies.Toy Drums
Drums for little boys are fun. Decorate with paper, punch 2 holes on the sides for a rope so he can wear it around his neck or if it needs to be safer for smaller baby just cover with paper, give a little wooden spoon and let him bang away. My son loves these. I also used them to make a baby bank. I made fake money. I used rounded oj lids and covered in paper. Later i put a little dry beans and rice and sealed tight for a noisemaker. I can't get enough oatmeal containers!By Wayfarer
Do you have any more ideas? Post them below.
Feedback About This Post:
RE: Using Empty Oatmeal Canisters
I've used them to store rolls of wrapping paper on end, rolled up paper intarsia patterns for my knitting machine, and long tools for my knitting machine.
Post by Jantoo
RE: Using Empty Oatmeal Canisters
When I was in elementary school each student handmade a gift for another student in the class. A friend of my mom suggested that I cut part of the side of an oatmeal container out, making the container look like a cradle. I then covered it with fabric and hand sewed a small mattress, pillow, and blanket. Many of the girls in the class hoped I had drawn their name for the project. It was great fun.
Post By pmclausen (Guest Post)
RE: Using Empty Oatmeal Canisters
When my husband was going through chemotherapy, he received oodles of cards in the mail. I cut the bottom off of an oatmeal canister, covered the canister with cheerful wrapping paper, and then every time he got a card, I ran a piece of bright yarn through the inside fold of the card, and then through each end of the canister and tied the ends together inside the canister. It was a neat way to display the cards, and kept them all together so he could re-read them whenever he wanted to. By the way, he beat the cancer!
Post by destridg
RE: Using Empty Oatmeal Canisters
Perfect size for holding two rolls of toilet paper. I have them in both bathrooms, covered with contact paper to match my decor. They fit on floor beside toilet and wastebasket. I've had mine for years. You always know how much you have available.
Post By EGGZ (Guest Post)
RE: Using Empty Oatmeal Canisters
Cut off the bottom - being sure to leave no sharp edges if it is metal. Cut in half lengthwise to create a tunnel - good for small trains, matchbox size cars. You can cover with paper mache and make it all nubby and paint it green, or just leave it plain. Decorating with paper and markers works also.
Post by QueenBeeCrafts
RE: Using Empty Oatmeal Canisters
i also have decorated these with really pretty paper from dollar stores etc real florally paper and hot glued flowers to the top and put bath lotions and bubble bath in and then they can keep the preety almost hat like box for storage!!!!!
Post by KimmyLynn
RE: Using Empty Oatmeal Canisters
i made them into drums with my preschoolers for music week but i got a few rubber raincoats at goodwill and puched holes into a few places and punched holes to match in canister and we tied the rubber part to top and then we covered the drums in paper and let kids glue on foamies and color etc my son and daughter made one too they have had this for going on 4 yrs now!!!we stretched the rubber really tightly so it really did sound like a real bongo drum
Post by KimmyLynn
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