(With Free or Inexpensive Materials!)
When I Started Turning Trash into (my) Treasures
Ever since I was a child, I’ve liked turning all kinds of things that most people would just throw in the trash into crafts. I made doll beds out of tissue boxes, converted a cardboard appliance box into a clubhouse, and created sock puppets out every sock that lost its mate. Some of my projects turned out really cute and others, not so much. I enjoyed making all of them though, and I got in the habit of seeing the potential uses in items that would normally just end up being thrown away.
The Benefits of Using Recyclables in the Classroom
When I became an art teacher, I was able to really stretch my class budget by requesting parents send in all types of materials that they wouldn’t normally hang onto. I incorporated the glass jars, cardboard tubes, scraps of ribbon and yarn, etc. they would send into unique and fun projects. Of course, I brought in my recyclables as well, which included a number of medical related supplies used to treat a genetic condition my son Al was born with.
The Unusual Way I Get My Coolers
Al was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at a very young age. At one time, he was taking over 14 different medications a day. Fortunately, as new, better treatments came along, he has been able to discontinue some of the things he used to take, but we still get a cooler in the mail each month for one prescription that needs to be refrigerated during transport. In the past, I’ve tried to come up with crafty uses for them. This Frankenstein cooler is my latest idea. I know our endless cooler supply is pretty unique, but they are available at the Dollar Store and grocery stores in a number of shapes and sizes.
Supplies
The other supplies needed are pretty basic. I used black, green, pink, white and silver acrylic paint, a wide paintbrush and an angled paintbrush, three different sizes of foam paint dotters, two champagne corks, and some hot glue.
Instructions
- Paint the bottom of the cooler with green acrylic paint. Two coats should be enough. Next, paint the top black. I went back later and painted the rim of the bottom part black also just in case it showed through when the cooler is closed. When the paint is dry, paint the top inch or two of the bottom part of the cooler black around three sides. Make the side you want to be the front jagged like bangs.
2. Next, add the eyes, nose and cheeks. I used foam paint dotters I got from a craft store. I freehanded the mouth using a medium sized angled brush.
3. For the bolts, I painted champagne corks silver and hot glued them on the sides. This is what the finished project looks like!
It’s large enough for me to put a bag of candy in or I can just use it as a decoration, it’s a great no budget/low budget craft, and it’s also one less thing for the landfill!
