What Fantastic (and Janky) Things Do You Do With Leftover Packaging?
If you buy things to any extent, you've probably got some leftover packaging hanging around. What are some cool ways you've found to make use of all these materials? Special props to ideas that can be replicated!
My kids have a pile of cardboard screws that they use to turn boxes into all sorts of things; rockets, forts, cars and you could probably make organizers, shelves and the like too. The screws grip the cardboard surprisingly well, and it's easy to make even quite large structures robust.
Holy jam, these are so cute and I think I might gather some cardboard and create a sensory deprivation chamber I once sat in many moons ago with something like this. I didn't think about how you could use plastic screws to fortify cardboard builds you make. Thank you!
That's so cool. My kids are probably too old to appreciate this, so I'll just buy it for myself
Oh, wow, that's such a neat concept! Kinda wish I had this type of stuff when I was younger, would've been so freaking cool!
Where tf was this when I was a kid?
I do shipping fulfillment for my brother's business and at least 60% of the boxes I use are just reused from stuff getting mailed to us. I reuse all kind of stuff for packing material, especially xmas/birthday wrapping paper.
Colorful paper packaging can be good for collage art.
Oh yeah, this is a good idea too. When I used to work at a mom and pop we did this. I forgot about it until you said something. We did use our own air compressor and bubble wrap (not sure what to call this packaging otherwise, but it's those tubular inflatable packaging materials) for delicate glass materials. Otherwise everything else was just a reused product. Solid suggestion =)!
Have any visuals for the collages? Would love to see them with my peepers.
I don't have any pics, but I'll link you this list of artists using recycled materials, and you'll have a good time if you Google that phrase.
I got a book about 15 years ago called Guerilla Furniture Design. All about turning things like cardboard and scrap metal into DIY furniture.
I’ve never actually done it, but looks like you can make pretty sturdy chairs out of double corrugated cardboard packaging boxes.
I love the artistry of the creations. I think it sort of reminds me of the difference between frugal minimalism and mindful minimalism. Thanks for the recommendation, I am going to have to take some ideas from this book.
I can think of anything, but because lots of packaging is cardboard, I’m reminded that Adam Savage has recommended cardboard and hot glue as a way to get into making props and cosplay and such! It’s such a low barrier to entry and really easy to work with, and surprisingly versatile. Even if you plan on using more robust materials in the future, it can be a cheap way to make a proof of concept
Ooo, got any resources? Pass the deets m'friend! Thank you by the by, for the suggestion =)
I shred all my cardboard and paper with all plastic windows and tape removed. I use the shred in my compost. I also reuse it as dunnage if I need to ship something.
I plan on getting into building worm farms as a project too.
You can get a 12 page shredder used in tons of places.
I like to cut it into manageable sizes with this tool from harbor freight or one like it: https://hftools.com/app56192
You could cut the cardboard with a razor in a vice too.
I grow edible mushrooms on the shred too. https://lemmy.world/post/22563343
I've considered doing something like this too. Looks like you can make all sorts of cool stuff with it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRa1Lx0zvkI
I am making a mental note on this. I once lived in a place where getting dirt was so nearly impossible, and compost seemingly was the only way to produce more outside of just importing it. I have always found this kind of stuff so interesting. I plan on living in the middle of nowhere again at some point soon, and need to put this somewhere in the depths of my brain-bin for future reference. Thank you for not only sharing, but also providing awesome links. I am going to scour them. Cheers and keep being awesome =)!
Hey there, took a look at all of these resources. I had no clue that cutter existed, but it looks quite lovely. Once upon a life ago I used to use box cutters to hand cut a lot of precision things. I still take immense joy from doing so, and have pretty much been cannibalizing everything with an x-acto. I gotta share this guy and see if maybe it'll be a good fit for our household now or later. On the shroomies, looks like you got a good grow with just the boiled cardboard. Gotta love fresh oyster mushrooms =)
Also I think I gotta make one of those finger-friendly cutters because it's just to cute and tinker-y not to. Thanks again for the share!
You're so welcome!
Hit me up with questions here or in DM if you'd like. I've gone down so many rabbit holes on this topic. It would be fun to share and interact with someone else who got excited about it as well.
A legendary example from the past: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FedEx_furniture
Edit: the archive has some of the photos!
I use empty cardboard boxes and shoe boxes to store my coin collection, and one to use to dry out my spools of filament.
Filament? 3D printer? Why do they need to be dry? I am just interested, I don't know. But I'd like to know =)!
Also yes, shoe box gang rise up! They're just so convenient for storing loose things. Their different branding makes it easy to identify what's got what in it.
Moist filament leads to bubbly prints :)
Used Styrofoam to insulate my greenhouse and chicken coop. Cardboard has 1001 uses.
Recycled the plastic that is used to go around office paper boxes so they don't open into coasters.
To keep the content from tumbling out? Apologies, I don't totally get it, but I am trying to picture it here.
Yeah. They wrap the boxes with two plastic bands to keep the contents from tumbling out. I would wind them together to make a giant flat coaster.
It also gave me something to do with my hands.