Do you buy powdered instant drink mix by the can? If you do, you may have noticed that many brands have changed the shape of their canisters. The new shape features a lid that can be used as a measuring cup and the plastic canisters themselves are uniquely shaped with curving lines.
When the drink mix is gone, the lids can be used for mixing paint, cleaning paint brushes, or mixing up some homemade decoupage medium (two parts white glue to one part water – thin with more water as needed). They can also be used for sorting beads and you can find many other uses as well.
The canisters make great pen holders. The curved shape creates an interesting look instead of a plain cylinder. Simply remove the label and add scraps of fabric, pictures cut from magazines, scraps of wrapping paper, or photos, stickers, or hand painted images.
Older kids may prefer to paint the inside one color and the outside a different solid color, while smaller children may prefer lots of bright colors and assorted images. Words cut from magazines may also be fun to use especially to represent a theme. For example, a little boy may want to cut out the word “baseball” in different sizes, colors, and fonts, and then add pictures that represent the baseball theme.
Another good use for these canisters is making a catch-all for hair accessories such as combs and brushes. Teen girls often accumulate quite a collection since different hairstyles demand different tools. The mouth of the canister is wide enough to hold quite a few different combs and brushes, and your daughter can decorate the holder with pictures of her favorite band or her favorite celebrity or anything else she fancies.
Mom might also find these containers handy. They work great for holding plastic silverware for a picnic or outdoor party. You can clean one, remove the label, and use as is, or you can decorate it as desired. For a child’s birthday party, you might want to decoupage it with a napkin that matches the party’s theme to tie it in with the rest of the accessories.