Tot Explorations: Upcycled Craft ~ Make a bank

As a product reviewer, I find myself up to my ears at times with boxes and packaging. Of course, we recycle it all, but I’m challenging myself to find new uses for some of these items before they hit the garbage! Nothing earth-shattering but here’s a super easy craft for kids that can be used a variety of ways (and with a variety of your own containers at home!).

We used our baby snack containers – the narrow, tall plastic container makes a great craft item after the yummy, healthy treats inside have been eaten!

I simply took a razor tool from my scrapbooking supplies and cut an opening like a wide coin slot in the lid.

Then we used this slotted container for a few different activities:

1. My son spent time developing his motor skills by inserting large buttons through the opening. We also have popsicle sticks that are good for this. He loved the rattling noise as they dropped to the bottom. And it made cleanup of his button puzzles FUN! I also had mini pom poms to stick through the hole, but he wasn’t into those.
2. We peeled the wrapper off one container and decorated with stickers – we chose world children stickers because we’ll use this as a piggy bank to save money for charity! So that’s two uses in one: decorating fun, and a visual reminder about giving to others!
3. If I hadn’t cut a hole in the top, I thought about putting rocks or coins in, sealing the lid with tape, and using these as makeshift maracas / noisemakers! But I’d already cut the lid!

What kinds of upcycled crafts have you tried in your home? (Check out Upcycled Container Use 2!)