Crafts from Pens and Other Household Items

When considering a crafting project to complete at home, you can save money and help keep the environment clean by using household items. Pens, food storage containers, unwanted CDs, bleach pens and empty toothpaste tubes, when combined with supplies such as scissors, paint and glue, can all be used to complete a variety of crafts.

Obtain a small potato chip can. If desired, paint the can any solid color to hide advertising. Collect enough used, empty pens to fit all the way around the can if placed side-by-side and upright. For best results, pens in various colors and of the same length should be used. Paint the outside of used, beat-up pens red, blue and black to give them the illusion of new pens. After the paint dries, glue the pens in an alternating pattern around the outside of the can. After the glue dries, place the pen-holder on your desk and fill it with your favorite writing utensils.

Purchase a bleach pen from your local store and gather any imperfect clothing from your closets. Use the bleach pen to draw designs on the clothing that hide the imperfection. For example, use the bleach pen to remove the dye around a stain, creating a flower shape around the stain. After the bleach dries, use fabric paints to add extra details or highlight any desired areas. Accent the clothing item with spray-on glitter purchased from a craft store.

Use five empty toothpaste tubes to make a toothbrush holder. Using a pair of scissors, cut away the tops and bottoms of the tubes. Open the tubes up, flatten them out and wash them. Cut four tubes into 3.5" X 4.5" rectangles and cut the fifth tube into a 3.5" X 3.5" square. Punch holes up and down the edges of each piece, every half inch. Match up the long sides of the rectangles so that they create a box and lace them together with a twisty tie. Punch two holes for drainage into the bottom center of the square and lace it onto the bottom of the box to finish the toothbrush holder.

Gather up a variety of CDs and DVDs that you no longer need and use them as decorative photo frames. To make, attach a magnet strip to one side of the disc and paint the other side. Once the paint dries, center a favorite photo on the disc and display it on the refrigerator or other metal surface. Alternatively, paint the discs in neon colors and glue them around a larger frame to create a disco-style frame. For younger children, leave the discs unpainted but glue the magnet to the back. Attach a photo of the child to the center of the painted side of the disc and place the child's fingers in paint. Surround the photo with the child's fingerprints.