How can I reuse or recycle pen lids?

pen lidsWe’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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9 Responses to “How can I reuse or recycle pen lids?”


  1. Just Staci says:

    Attach the lids,all open end up,together(stuck in a lump of clay,or glued together),and fill with water.Then use to hold cut flowers with short stems,making a small table top bouquet.

  2. Vicky says:

    put them on the end of straws assigning a certain color to each person and put them on the straws so you know your drinking the right drink.

  3. Mike says:

    Use them as pencil or crayon covers.

  4. bookstorebabe says:

    If you have a pencil so short it’s hard to write with, put the pen cap on the end to make it easier to hold and write with.

  5. Yukino says:

    Not really a suggestion, but an inspiration of sorts, I guess: http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/01/10/bic-ballpoint-pen-chandelier/

    It still awes me every time I see it.

  6. anon says:

    this may be a little rediculous, but back in my high school days, my friends and I used to use the pen caps as a make shift smoking pipe.

  7. Gulia says:

    Use them as cloth pins, or paper pins. if you attach a string to your message board, hang massages or pictures there with your lids ( if they have holding mechanism). They can also hold shits of paper together, recites, business cards.

  8. Annie says:

    How can I recycle my uncle’s old smoking pipes

  9. Jeff a says:

    I hav Ben collecting big pen lids now for about four years working in an office situation we get through a lot. My intention is to make a pen lid curtain. Using some fishing line insert the line through the hole in the top ensuring that they line up then keep repeating on several lines. As we mainly use black ink I have a few red, blue and green lids to add some colour



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