Upcycled Craft Project- Toothbrush holder

I have blogged about TerraCycle before. I absolutely love this company because of their dedication to upcycle as much waste as possible and helping schools. Their products are always creative and look great. I get some many people asking about my messenger bag made from recycled vinyl billboards.

Their brigades at school's help reduce lunch time waste and raise money for schools. If you aren't familiar with their programs, check out their website for more information about how you can start a Terracycle Brigade in your child's school.

If you are like me, I am hopelessly disorganized! I am always looking for containers to hold stuff. This is a cute idea, using empty toothpaste tubes. You can use it to hold your toothbrushes, pencils, or just about anything else you can think of to put in it.



Materials:
5 empty toothpaste tubes
scissors
ruler
clear tape
hole punch
ribbon or plastic lanyard
binder clips

Instructions:
1. Collect five Colgate® toothpaste tubes. Clean them by cutting off the bottom and slipping your scissors into the side seam. Flatten them out and clean with soap and water.

2. Cut four tubes to 3 ½” x 4 ½” and one tube into a 3 ½” x 3 ½” square. Fold down the top ½” of the four rectangular tubes and tape.

3. Take one of the four rectangles and punch holes every ½” along the two tall sides and along the short bottom side that is not folded. Use this punched piece as a template and punch holes in the exact same spots on the other three rectangular pieces.

4. To punch the small square piece, line up the short punched side of the rectangle piece with any side of the short piece. Repeat punching holes for the other three sides of the square using the short side of the rectangular piece as a template.

5. Then punch two holes near the center of the square. This will be the bottom of the container and the holes will be for drainage.

6. Match up two large pieces and lace up one side tying it off at the top and bottom. Open it up. On one of the non-laced ends, attach to the next rectangular piece in the same way with the printed sides facing out. Repeat for each additional rectangular piece. When you’ve laced all four pieces, connect the two end pieces together and lace creating a cube with your pieces.

7. Match up the square piece with the bottom of the container. Use binder clips to hold it in place. Lace around the bottom of the container and tie it off. You’re ready to put your upcycled toothbrush holder into action.



Colgate has some great coupons listed on their website. Save the tubes when you are done and upcycle whenever possible.