Frugal Green Living: Easy Kids Crafts Made with Coffee Cans

According the National Coffee Association of U.S.A., in 2007, consumption of coffee surpassed that of soft drinks. While it's easy to recycle aluminum soft drink cans, coffee cans are another mater.

Coffee cans can be re-purposed as tool holders, flower pots, and penny banks but also make great bases for sturdy children's crafts. The next time you have a few coffee cans to dispose of, let your children use them for these easy and fun kid crafts:

Monsters and Aliens

Materials Needed:

Empty Coffee Cans & Lids

Paint

Foam Craft Sheets

Pipe Cleaners or Yarn (optional)

Glue/Adhesive

Scissors

Instructions:

Remove lid from coffee can. Help child paint exterior sides of coffee can in colors of choice for their aliens or monsters. Allow to dry on newspaper, wax paper, or metal tray.

While drying painted coffee cans, help child to cut out shapes from foam craft sheets for eyes, mouths, ears, noses, hair, arm, legs, scales, or other features for their monsters/aliens.

Optional: Cut yarn or twist pipe cleaners to use for hair, arms, or other features for the monsters/aliens. Pipe cleaners work well for hair as they can be inserted directly into the plastic lid of the coffee can.

Once painted coffee can is dry, replace lid. Have child glue on shapes from foam crafts (and yarn/pipe cleaners) to form their monster.

This durable craft can now be used for play or display.

Boo Boo Kit (Makes a great gift!)

Materials Needed:

Empty Coffee Can & Lid

Paint

1-2 Bandaids

Suggested Filler:

Various shapes and sizes of Band-Aids

Alcohol Wipes or Anti-Bacterial Cream

Hand Towel

Emergency Ice Pack (one that does not require refrigeration)

Small package of tissues

Instructions:

Remove lid from coffee can. Help child paint exterior sides of coffee can in colors of choice. Allow to dry on newspaper, wax paper, or metal tray.

Help Child paint the words "Boo Boo Kit" in a contrasting color to the base paint. Allow to dry.

Remove backing from Band-Aids and help child to place them (like a sticker) on the outside of the can in a decorative fashion.

Fill the can with helpful "boo boo" items.

These handy gifts are very useful to keep near outside picnic areas and in cars for "emergency" boo boos.

Tip: An alternative craft idea- instead of a "boo boo kit" create a "snack pack canister" for trips to the beach, camping, or long car trips. Decorate with stickers instead of the Band-Aids. The colorful can will be easy to identify and the sturdy canister will keep snacks intact.

Bauble Holder

Materials Needed:

Empty Coffee Can

Felt

Embellishments such as buttons, ribbon, foam craft sheets, and yarn.

Optional: Fabric Paint

Glue Adhesive

Scissors

Instructions:

Help child trim one felt square to wrap around exterior sides of coffee can. Apply adhesive/glue to exterior sides of coffee can. Wrap felt square around the can (ends of felt should meet in a seam-like fashion.) Press on felt to ensure adhesion. Allow glue to dry.

Once felt is securely adhered. Have the child decorate the canister with embellishments as desired.

Optional: Using fabric paint, write the child's name on the front (opposite side of felt seam.)

Decorated coffee canisters can be used for all types of baubles and storage. They make great costume jewelry holders, bathroom catchalls for lotions and hair accessories, and crayon holders.