We’ve had another email from our wonderfully suggestive friend [Am]:

Due to a slow day at work on Friday I killed time by tidying out my drawers which seem to be black holes for all sorts for junk. What I discovered were about two dozen biro lids. After saving about nine for the numerous biros I also found in the drawer I was left with a collection of lids.

I don’t want to just throw them out and I know most people don’t even use the lids, once they’re off they never see the pen again.

So, does anyone have any crafty or useful ideas for these or if not, can they be recycled?

I used to use them to accessorise blue-tac desk art or to chew when I was bored. I suspect neither the health and safety people or my dentist would approve of the latter though ;)

Better suggestions then?

(Unlike [Am]’s, my office drawer was surprisingly biro lid free and I couldn’t find a photo of them on my usual stock photo site but hopefully you get the idea ;) )

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The other week when I was trying to find a picture to illustrate the cardboard cup sleeve post, all I could find were these beverage holders. Just everywhere.

Then the next day, I went downstairs and there was one on the sofa. I nearly jumped out of my skin: my internet history had become solid!

Thankfully it wasn’t a Twilight Zone episode which would end with me being beaten to death with a giant Google logo - just John had used it to carry some Chai tea home when we had choley & puree for breakfast (mmm).

I could just fling it in the compost but as always, I’d rather reuse than compost/recycle.

So any suggestions?

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We’ve covered the standard food size ones, but what can be done with little tin cans?

John gave a talk at the Manchester Free Software group last month and afterwards we all adjourned to a nearby pub where we found these little nuts cans on our table.

As I’d just been talking about this website to a couple of people, we decided to do a group-think on how we could re-use them but the best we could come up with was a mobile equivalent of a tin-can ‘telephone’ (because they’re more portable).

With a couple of holes punched in the bottom, they’d make cute little plant pots - but only for very little plants - so any other suggestions?

(The cans are about 4cm in diameter and 5cm in height, quite a solid metal and I think they originally had a paper lid so the rim at the top is quite dull, unlike most opened cans.)

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We’ve had an email from Nathalie, telling us about the fab ottoman she made from an old washing machine drum (links includes full instructions). She also links to another site where one has been turned into a floor lamp - very cool.

Involving less crafts, I’ve also seen them used as planters in allotments (since the holes let excess water drain away) and an outside toy bin in a garden - so they’re obviously versatile little chaps but has anyone else got any other suggestions?

(Image courtesy of Nathalie and Esprit Cabane)

(Oh, and we got a mention on Zaproot yesterday - a cool eco-show. If you’re already here, you already know about us of course but still, it’s nice to be mentioned.)

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We’ve already covered the wheel rims but Erika has emailed asking:

I was wondering if there were any ideas about old bike tubes….

I’m presuming we’re talking inner tubes anyway - it’s quite possible there is another type of bike tube since I’m not a terribly keen cyclist - I live at the top of a steep hill and prefer to tackle it on foot. If there is some other ‘bike tube’, please feel free to answer about both ;)

(Photo by kikashi)

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