Monday, August 1, 2011

Recycled Cans Turned Pencil Containers for School


I think I've mentioned before that I like to troll through other teachers' classrooms and lift their brilliant ideas. This is yet another example of that. I've seen a lot of teachers with two pencil cups, one with pencils needing to be sharpened, and one with pencils that are sharp.

This is a big deal in my world because I like my pencils sharp, and I don't like digging through my pencil cup trying to find the perfect pencil with the perfect point. Again, I have such enormous problems.

I have also seen cutesy decorated soup cans to house the writing utensils, and I'm in love with the idea.


So you know I had to make some for myself.

Of course.


I'm in love.

I spray painted my cans black, decorated them with pretty paper, Mod Podged them to within an inch of sanity. Okay, insanity.

I put a lot of Mod Podge on to protect them from the hazards of teaching. The kids. Then I hot-glued some buttons on and used my Crop-A-Dile to cute-ify them some more.


Oh yes I did. The eyelets serve absolutely no purpose other than to cute-ify the cans. The Crop-A-Dile is A-MAZE-ING. I could gauge my own ears with pretty eyelets if I wanted.

I don't want.


Okay, school can start now. I'm ready.

No I'm not. I'm not ready! I take that back! I have more things on Pinterest I must make.

Peace out.

15 comments:

  1. You make my old pencil boxes look really sad.......lucky you are w a a a a y down the hall from me...

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  2. That is adorable! I would love to see pics of your classroom!

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  3. That is very cute!
    Mod podge and cropadiles.....
    Interesting love.

    Do take a pic of those gauged ears will ya?

    I'm off to check out pinterest. Looking at some of the cute things almost makes me excited for Christmas.

    Almost.

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  4. Those are so cute!! Problem is ALL of our pencils would disappear, sharpened, unsharpened - wouldn't matter. WHY, do they come to class without a pencil/pen? I.AM.CLUELESS.

    Gotta looove the crop-a-dile and 'cute-ify-ed' cans! Bein' ready to go back to school? Ummm, not so much... yet...

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  5. I want a crop-a-dile so I can cute-ify. Those cans really are a great idea. Even at home it is frustrating lifting pencil after pencil to find THE sharp ONE.

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  6. I love this idea! I may need to make these :) I doubt mine will be as cute.

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  7. Your cans look great, and there and it will have great classroom extensions in sciece.

    How will you keep those cans full? My kids must eat pencils, because each time I set some out the dissapear?

    William Smith
    www.strengthtoteach.blogspot.com

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  8. Yeah, once again, I'm in awe of your amazing talent.

    I don't care if you "borrowed" the idea, look at that beautiful execution.

    I don't even need cute pencil holders and I'm totally wanting those.

    Actually.. hm.. Those would make amazing teacher gifts!

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  9. Since I have read your blog for a while now I understand your love for Mod Podge and now, Pintrest. Here is a link from one of my pins for home-made mod podge!! Its crazy easy and c-h-e-a-p!!! Cause the real stuff is pricey!!
    http://sunnyslifeinrehab.blogspot.com/2010/08/homemade-decoupage-medium.html

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  10. Funny as ever. I too would love to see some shots of your classroom. You should see my lame ass cans covered with scrapbook paper. Not even close! :(

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  11. another damn project of yours I need to make... LOVING the eyelets. Its too bad a certain short, blond haired, blue-eyed, monster that dwells in my home, BROKE my CADII. Yup. BROKE it. I can punch holes to my hearts content- but the little block thingy that helps smoosh the eyelets in place is MISSING.

    dang kids. oops- I mean monsters!

    perhaps its time for a new CAD...

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  12. Can I ask how you did the lettering??

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    Replies
    1. Sure, Rhonda. I used white scrapbook stickers and Mod Podged right over them, several coats, to make sure they didn't lift. It was super easy.

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  13. Hi, how do you ensure the top of the can (where it has been opened) isn't sharp?

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    Replies
    1. I didn't notice that being a problem with my cans. I suppose it depends on the can opener that was used to open the can, but if it were sharp, I would have just covered that part with electrical tape or duct tape to avoid cuts.

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