Packing Peanuts Crafts for Summer Decorating

Packing peanuts can be so annoying but guilt-provoking, too. You don't want to toss the packaging materials out and have them end up in a landfill. But you don't want to save bins full of them, either. They can be recycled, however, for a wealth of summer decorating ideas.

Please note: Packing peanuts come in various sizes and shapes, so find shapes or a combination of sizes you can adapt to your needs.

Packing Peanuts Summer Decorating Idea - Jazz up a Side Table

If you have a side table that is basically plain and not very interesting, simply take some packing peanuts, dip them in a little paint and lightly stamp the table edges or whatever areas of the table you'd like to decorate,from table top to the sides and legs.

You don't want to use packing material made from organic matter, though.Not only are they most likely recyclable but they will simply dissolve when exposed to most paints. You'll also want to use waterproof paint if you'll be likely to use the results as outdoor summer furniture.

You can really come up with a multitude of packing peanuts craft ideas for summer tables. It is best to practice on a spare piece of wood first, just until you have your technique down and know how much paint the average packing peanut can take before starting to lose its shape.

You can also mix different shapes of packing peanuts. Use an S-shaped one or those that look like little figure eights to form spiral patterns. Again, practice mixing and patching designs until you come up with a pattern that you like.

If you don't like the color of your table, paint it a base color first. Then let it dry and go from there. Use a sealer or glossy shellac over the finished results.

Use Packaging Material for a Pretty in Pink Summer Dresser or Chair

If you've found an inexpensive chest of drawers or a dresser or chair at a discount store or garage sale (or perhaps at an unfinished furniture store), why not have some fun and spice it up? Packing peanuts make perfect summer decorating "stamps", ones you've probably gotten for free in a shipment. First, you'll want to paint a base coat over the existing color of the furniture, unless it is already white. If the finish is glossy, you'll need to use Bin or another primer before painting the furniture (alternately, you can sand off the original paint).

For a dresser, use the packing peanuts as part of a design on the edges or center on one or two drawers and then alternate with stripes or checks on the other drawers. If that seems too "busy" for you, then color the exteriors of some drawers a solid color, perhaps the same pink you used to stamp the peanuts on the edges or center of the other drawers. Let your imagination guide you or look inside decorating magazines to find designs which can be adapted for packing peanuts summer crafts. If you use pink paint, you can end up with a delightful dresser or chair for a girl's bedroom or other area of the house.

Packing Peanuts Can Decorate Summer Tablecloths and Place Mats

If you'd like to work up your courage before tackling furniture, get some fabric paint and try stamping plain summer tablecloths and place mats. Odds are, once you've done this you'll want to move on to larger items to decorate with packing peanut stamps.