From trash to treasure

CREATIVITY UNLEASHED: Devansh Ladha displays his creativity by making the best use of waste items. Picture by Paul Rickard

So, let us get started with our innovative ideas for making crafts with waste so that you need not throw away what can be reused effectively.

These nicely jazzed up containers are a fantastic addition to the dining table. A simple 5-minute task for a lovely table decoration or an easy way to transport silverware for meal times.

Empty yoghurt container

Knitting yarn

Broad ribbon

Beads

Glue

Scissors

Take an empty, clean yoghurt container, apply some glue on the outside of the container and wrap it with knitting yarn (you can use different colours of yarn, I have used whatever was left at home). Let it dry.

Add the zing to the container by decorating with some beads and flowers.

Now take the broad ribbon of any colour of your choice and cut out some flowers. stick some beads in the centre of the flowers and once they are ready, stick the flowers onto the container.

Bring spoons, forks and knives and place them in the container — you have a beautiful cutlery holder crafted by you.

A lovely, simple addition to your desk, these pencil holders would even be fantastic for pens, paint brushes, erasers, scissors . . . the possibilities are endless.

Tin can, with lid removed

Gift wrapping paper

Colourful gem or any other decorative item

Lace or ribbons

Scissors

Glue

Take a clean tin can, apply glue inside and outside. Wrap it with gift-wrapping paper all over (I used wrappers from the gifts I got on Christmas and my birthday).

To make it look a little attractive, decorate the can with some lace, ribbon or some colourful gems.

Your nice pencil holder is ready to clean up space on your study desk.

Saving money is a habit that my mum wanted me to learn. And to do that, she never bought me a piggy bank, rather made me learn to make one and then save money in that self-created piggy bank.

Tin can

Gift wrapping paper

Lace or ribbons

Craft knife/Scissors

Glue

Take a clean tin can. Apply glue to the inside of the can and wrap it with gift-wrapping paper (again, I used wrappers from the gifts I got on Christmas and my birthday).

The can I used had a plastic lid so with the help of a craft knife I made a slit on the lid big enough to insert coins through. But if there’s no plastic lid then grab a piece of cardboard and cut it into a circle that fits and can close the tin can opening. Make a slit in the cardboard lid for the coins and using some glue, stick the lid to the can.

Apply glue all over the tin can and wrap it with gift-wrapping paper. Cover in such a way that the lid cannot be opened. Also slit the wrapping paper at the same place where you slit the lid to put the coins.

If you wish to decorate your piggy bank then you can use some lace, ribbon or some colourful gems to give it a jazzy look.

Your piggy bank is ready to keep your money safe.