Shades of Mediocrity: What can I do with .... ?

January 12, 2005

What can I do with .... ?

Okay, boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen, it's time for another Occasional Question:

What can (or should) I do with the following? I'd really prefer not to simply throw these things away, so I'm holding onto them. But lately, I'm starting to feel like a pack rat -- plus I'm running out of space. Your brilliant ideas, please?

Empty tea tins. Most of mine measure about 4" x 4" x 4".
Used shopping bags. You know, the nice paper ones with handles. I have all sizes, ranging from tiny ones from places like Starbucks and Bath and Body Works, to huge ones from Bloomingdale's.
Old purses, tote bags, and book bags. Most are not especially fashionable -- I tend to go for function over form, but they're perfectly good, and I just know I'm never going to use them again.

Come on, you crafty people out there. I know you must have some ideas!

Posted by at January 12, 2005 9:34 PM

Comments

tea tins i will have to think about. you are in luck, though. the paper bags i can take off your hands the next time i have an art show. we are always begging for "nice" paper bags to put stuff in and free are the best kind. what about donating the tote & book bags to a public library? i am sure people come in all the time who could use a bag to carry stuff home in.

Posted by: becka at January 12, 2005 10:04 PM

plastic shopping bags are good for putting poopy diapers in when you can't go outside right away. you can hang them on a door...hee hee. I suppose you can use them to pick up Lando poop too, but I think you're talking about a different kind of bag.

Maybe you could make your own gift bags or something?

Posted by: Philip T. Hunter at January 13, 2005 8:40 AM

I've been saving my altoid tins and stuff like that for nuts/bolts/screws. I am saving coffee cans and things for PJ projects/drums/toys.

4x4x4 eh? I'll have to think some more. But maybe misc. nuts/bolts/screws/washers - if you don't have a lot of these laying around, maybe a friend does.

Have John bring one in so I can see it.

Posted by: Philip T. Hunter at January 13, 2005 8:42 AM

I bet Silja would love some old purses. Anyone with kids could use the purses. I used to tote around a huge pleather purse my grandmother gave me. I used to give my old purses to Nicole, but now she's a little more picky. It has to be trendy for her to take it.

Posted by: Lori at January 13, 2005 8:55 AM

I tend to use all the plastic bags for doggie duty...and some of the paper bags for recycling, but we always have more than we can use.

Posted by: Doc Dregs at January 13, 2005 9:25 AM

Check with your neighborhood elementary school. Lots of kids don't have school bags, kdg teachers are always having to buy bins and baskets to put stuff in. It sounds as if my kid has a plan for your paper bags.

Posted by: becka's mom at January 13, 2005 6:16 PM

Thanks, This is exactly what I was looking for.

Posted by: joe tucker at November 15, 2010 4:07 PM