Why throw away those old egg cartons when you can reuse them in a number of interesting ways? Since everyone is hell bent on recycling something or the other these days, take this as the perfect opportunity to showcase your recycling skills by giving these egg cartons a second life. You would be amazed at how many items you can end up not buying just because you made them yourself using these cartons. Read on to find out more.
Seed Planters and Mini Gardens
Instead of buying seed starters, consider using old egg cartons for the same purpose. These cardboard compartments are spacious enough to harbor small seedlings. As and when the plants become too big for the compartments, simply cut out the compartments with the plants still in them. Bury the compartments under the soil while planting. The paper would automatically break down with time.
You can make use of this opportunity to also create a mini garden in your home in case you do not have the space to have a fully functional garden. Each compartment can house a different plant, thus creating a very colorful mini garden for your home.
Compost Pile
Adding the egg cartons to your compost pile is considered as a wise option considering the fact that a perfect compost pile would need at least 50% of dry items like egg shells, fruit/vegetable scraps, paper and cardboard, etc. These dry ingredients can then feed the microorganisms that break down the organic matter. So make it a point to tear the egg cartons into small pieces and add them to the compost pile or bin whenever possible.
Bird Feeders
No need to worry if you do not have the space to build a bird house. Use an egg carton to create your own DIY bird feeder. Simply drill holes on the four corners of the carton and string them together. Now use another string to hang the carton from a tree branch. Fill the compartments with seeds and you will be amazed at how many birds flock to your home afterwards.
DIY Organizers
Egg cartons can work as great organizers for all those small items that either end up getting lost or under the couch. Use the egg cartons as carriers for anything from buttons, beads, pins, sequins and stones to nuts and even bolts. Since the cartons can be closed, you can use multiple cartons to store a number of items and simply stack the cartons one above the other to store space. Using a marker, label the cartons so that you would find it very easy to get what you want. No more hunting around for supplies when you need them!
Paint Tray
Another rather creative way in which you repurpose an egg carton is to use it as a paint tray for your kid’s craft projects. The cartons would be big enough for your kids to even finger paint, thus minimizing messes to a great extent. The good thing about this is that you can simply throw away the carton after the project is complete.
DIY Lights
How about using egg cartons to create your own ‘one of a kind’ lamp shades for lights? You can cut out the individual compartments in any shape you want, color them up in a nice color as per the occasion or season, and simply place them over bulbs to create a luminescent effect. Try it out and be amazed at how a simple egg carton light can do a spending job of turning your home completely around.
Bulletin Board
Instead of using a pegboard or cork board, consider using an egg carton for the bulletin board in your home. Paint the carton in vibrant colors and hang it on a wall or door. You can now use pins to attach almost anything to the carton from business cards and phone numbers to photographs and personal notes. This extremely lightweight bulletin board will definitely be the cynosure of all eyes in your home.
There is no need to throw out those empty egg cartons. There are plenty of ways you can reuse them in and around your house, including using them as bulletin boards, light holders, paint trays, organizers, bird feeders and mini compost piles, etc.
