One of my favorite crafts for kids is to decorate empty film canisters and attach a
plastic clip to it. The kids love to hook these to their belt loops or backpacks and fill
them  with something they want to keep handy. We
have instructions on-line to make personal first aid
kits and the lip gloss holder shown here. We had many good suggestions from our visitors. This idea mini maracas come from Dawn of Morganton, North
Carolina.
Hot Chocolate SWAP
"Take an empty film canister and cut about 1/2" off the top. Poke two holes in
the side of the canister and put in a piece of black pipe cleaner for a handle, twisting
the ends inside the canister. Cut a circle of tan fun foam to fit into canister. Glue
around edges and set in canister. Glue white "E" beads on top of fun foam for
marshmallows. Glue on pin back."
--Katie
Bumble Bees
"Paint yellow stripes on a black film canisters. Glue on a black pompom for the head
and a black pipe cleaner for the antenna. Wiggle eyes can be used for the eyes."
--Marta, Garden Grove CA
Stamps
"Glue foam shapes to the top of the lids to make easy-to-hold rubber stamp for little
hands"
--J's mom, Alabama
Astronomy Lessons
"Punch holes in the bottom of black canisters to represent the constellations. Hold
up toward light and put your eye to the open top to view the constellation."
--Anonymous
Mini Hair Accessories Holder
"Glue a strip of colorful felt around the canister and then glue a circle on the top
of the lid. Then decorate with sequins, small seed beads,etc. Wrap ponytail holders around
the outside and put clips are barrettes in the inside."
--Lynda S., Sioux Falls SD
Learning about the Sense of Smell
"Punch holes in the top of canisters, and put a cotton ball inside each one with
various smelly things such as vinegar, lemon juice, perfume, cinnamon. Pass around and
have kids describe the smells."
--Anonymous
Bug Collecting Kit
"Tie the film canister to one end of a string and a laundry scoop to the other along
with a small coffee scoop or plastic spoon. Tie on a hook so the kids can hook it to their
belt loop while they are on their nature adventure. Decorate the canister with a fun foam
bug shape or with paint pens."
--Michelle A., Rowlett, Texas
Homemade Ball and Cup Toy
"Poke a hole in the bottom and slip a piece of yarn through it. Tie a pony bead to
the other end of the yarn. Attach a popsicle stick to the side of the canister."
--Pack 313 Cub Scouts, Bushnell, FL
Owl Caller
"Remove the lid from two film canisters. Drill a 1/2 inch hole on the side of one
canister about 1/2 inch from the bottom. Using masking tape, tape the two together at the
open tops. Gently blow into the hole and it makes the sounds of owl calls."
--Lynn H., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
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Canteen SWAP
"Glue two grey lids together. Blue a small strip of leather around the outside,
leaving some hanging for the 'carrying strap'. Glue pony bead on top for screw top."
--Angelia Bone Flower Vase SWAP
"Use small amount of putty or play dough in the canister to hold small silk flowers
in place. Glue a pin on the back."
--Angela
Alka Seltzer Rockets
"0Fill a clear film canister half way full of water and add a 1/4 tablet of Alka
Seltzer. Quickly put the lid on and turn it upside-down on the side walk. The canister
should shoot up in a second or two."
--Nichole, Copperton UT
Crayon Organizer
"Glue empty film canisters together by the sides. Decorate the outsides and then fill
with crayons."
--Rae
Toadstool Pin Cushion
Hot glue a florist pick in the bottom of a film container (the lid becomes the bottom).
Cover half of a 3" Styrofoam ball with fabric using short straight pins to hold the
material in place. Attach the half ball to the pick sticking out of the film container.
Glue on silk flowers. The top of the toadstool is the pin cushion and the film container
can be used to store needles and pins."
--Pat, Essex, Ontario
Tabletop Figures
"Use ribbon for hair... buttons, construction paper, or any other small objects to
make body parts. Fill with candy."
--Lisa, Orland Park, IL
Pet ID Holder
"Poke two holes in the top. Run a cord through it to attach to your pets collar.
Decorate it and put your pets name, address and phone number inside."
--Jennifer, Sugar Land, TX
Bubble Necklace
"Cut a small wand out of plastic canvas. Hot glue it to the inside top of an empty
white film canister. Tie and glue a ribbon around the canister to hang from your neck.
Fill with bubble mixture. Decorate with stickers, jewels, and paint pens."
--Karin W., Olympia, Washington
Classroom Tooth Holders
"Punch two holes near the top and string some yarn through them. They make great
tooth holders students lose a tooth. Put the child's name on the outside and they can
proudly wear it around their neck the rest of the day."
Martha B., Erlanger, KY
Toy Soldier Christmas Ornaments
"Cover the canister with glue, roll in glitter, add a wooden doll head, some ribbon
and a little felt visor."
--Susan, Sayville, NY
Oscar the Grouch
"Glue a 1" green pompom half way inside the container. Glue on two small wiggle
eyes. Glue the lid on at an angle so the pompom head shows peeking out."
--Anonymous
Frying Pan SWAP
"Use paint markers to draw tiny bacon and eggs inside the lid of the film canister.
Glue a toothpick to it for the handle. Glue a pin on the back."
--Brittany
Change Holders
"Decorate them with fabric, felt, or a cross stitching that says...""Milk
Money"". The kids can keep it in their lunch boxes to hold their milk money or
change."
Kelly, Fairview Park, Ohio
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