Christmas Gifts for Pets: Coffee-Can Treat Holders and More

We try to come up with ways of recycling items around the house. We came across this idea last year and started to recycle and reused items as gifts for pets of family members and friends. We take our coffee cans, decorate them with pet -elated pictures and fill them with dog bones and toys for Christmas. They become a storage tool after the holiday for snacks throughout the year.

We save all our empty coffee cans through out the year, we spend one night cleaning them out and tearing off the paper label, set them aside to dry. Another evening after they are dry, we pull out magazines, catalogs, Christmas cards, pictures of the pet it is going to or any other printed item that has pet related material on it and start clipping.

Once we have everything cut out and the cans are dry, we simply paste the items that we have chosen for that particular pet on the outside of the can. Seal it with a layer of clear tape. We have found that shipping tape works best. Put a zip lock bag inside to be filled later, then set it aside till it gets closer to the Christmas holiday. When the season comes along don't forget to shop for dog treats, we buy a bulk bag that will fill as many cans as we need. Slap a bow on top and it is ready to go. Pet owners love that you have thought about their pets. We find it easy and fun to do. We start clipping coupons and picking up toys and non perishable things for the cans through out the year for cost savings. The cans are great because they are resealable and attractive. You can store them any where.

Some other ideas for this project:

You can also use this idea for other items, you can do it by theme. We have used them for Christmas cookies, through in a few packets of hot chocolate or tea, with some sugar packets and some marshmallows, and a small not with your Christmas and new years wish to them on it. You can use them for the practical joker by filling one with coal. There are many ways to use this idea, we prefer the pet idea, because we alway store our pet treats in these containers to keep them fresh anyway. Whatever your idea, just use your imagination and you will make some ones day. You will also be keeping the earth a little cleaner.

These cans can be used to store camping supplies, nuts and bolts and a million other household items, but decorating them for use has made them look a lot nicer. We did a set for canisters, they look pretty nice, One for sugar, one for tea bags and of course one for coffee, all natural.

Whatever you decide to do, have fun with it.