Package Treats In Festive Boxes Made From Recycled Baby Formula Cans!

Purim Materna Boxes 3 

When there are babies, there is very often baby formula! Hopefully not
in place of nursing, which we all know is the best for any baby, but
every mother has to make decisions about how to raise her family that
are for the good of everyone! That said, Materna (baby formula) is
quite popular here in Israel, and so there are lots of cans floating
around begging to be used for craft projects!These metal cans have wonderfully strong lids which make them ideal candidates for recycling as gift containers for any occasion!

Purim Materna boxes 2

It’s true, you can’t pack too much into one of these, but I think everyone appreciates a beautiful container that they can use again more than an abundance of treats which they really don’t need! So ask your neighbors to save their Materna cans if you don’t have any, and for those of you in the rest of the world, well I’m sure you can find a nice substitute. Just make sure the cans you choose have smooth sides, and choose a color scheme that works with the color of the lid!

You’ll Need:

  • Metal baby formula cans (or of course any type of can with a lid, or not)  Materna has two sizes, the large ones are really great!
  • Sparkled contact paper (tepet in Israel)
  • Metallic silver tape (mine was from the hardware store!) or metallic silver contact paper
  • Round metallic silver stickers in two sizes, I like to use the largest together with some that are about the size of a shekel (penny)
  • Purple ribbon for the decorative bow on the top
  • Thin ribbon to wrap around the box and to hold the card

How To:

  1. Preferably using a metal ruler and a craft knife, cut strips of contact paper no wider than half the height of the can. The thinner the strips the easier they are to apply. Trying to cover the whole can is generally a mistake as you’ll end up with lots of bubbles and creases. That’s with the product I used though. With thick American style contact paper you may be able to do the whole can in one strip. Try both and see what works for you!
  2. With most cans you’ll want to start applying the contact paper to the can just beneath the area covered by the lid, though it definitely depends on the type of can you’ll be using. The main thing is that taking the lid off and putting it back on won’t dislodge the paper.
  3. After you’ve covered your cans in the base color, add strips of silver tape or paper to disguise seam lines and add some interest.
  4. Finish off your work of art with metallic stickers placed evenly around the circumference of the box.
  5. Make the bows for the top by simply looping ribbon back onto itself, and securing in the center with a staple. Secure to the top of the can with a piece of double sided tape.
  6. Make small cards from some interesting paper, punch a hole in them and tie onto can. (This was paper I’d stamped for another project I’ll be showing you soon.)
  7. Line up all your creations and enjoy looking at them before you give them away!

Comments

14 responses to “Package Treats In Festive Boxes Made From Recycled Baby Formula Cans!”

  1. Almost Unschoolers Avatar

    Very pretty! I hope you’ll post more about your Purim celebration. We read the book of Esther often, but are not very familar with how Purim is celebrated in Jewish communities – we’d love to get an insiders look! 🙂

  2. Ita Avatar

    What are you putting in them? Last year I made challah rolls shaped like hamantashen with sauteed onions in the middle.. yumm.. I also put the traditional hamantashschen cookie in also.. two brachos (blessings)..

  3. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Hi Ita, These are actually from a few years ago (lest you think Im already prepared for Purim, ha!) and I filled them with small containers of nuts/dried fruits
    and some cookies,as I recall! I started to feel a bit insecure with the lack of quantity, but people still thank me today for those cans!

  4. Lisa @celebrate CREATIVITY Avatar

    I love re-purposing projects. This is really cute. I’ll have to keep it in mind.

  5. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Hi LIsa, thanks so much, love the name of your blog and cant wait to spend a few more moments looking at all your amazing projects!
    Would love to have you link up to some of them at my blog party every Sunday! All the best to you and happy creating!

  6. Teomim.blogspot.com Avatar

    This is great! I’ve been saving up my Materna canisters (and with twins I have a lot!) just waiting to come up with a good way to use them for mishloach manot. This sounds like such a simple way to decorate them, I’m so excited! Thanks for the idea!

  7. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Thanks so much! Im so excited that there is actually some one out there who thinks like me and has been saving their Materna cans! The large cans also make great containers for keeping little baby stuff, like socks, Q-tips, etc. so while youre at it make some to match your home deco as well!

  8. Joyfull Avatar

    Wow, beautiful and useful. Love the idea. Thanks for sharing.

  9. Kim @ Cheap Chic Home Avatar

    You’re crafts always looks so professional. I would like to receive a can like this.

  10. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Awwh! Thats so sweet, Ill see what I can do! If I lived in the United States Id put one in the mail to you right away, given that were across the world from one another, well its a git more difficult, but hey you never know!

  11. LYNNE Avatar
    LYNNE

    I just got home from my weekly Ulpan class. Tonight the teacher brought Israeli magazines and each of us was supposed to choose an article to discuss (in Hebrew, of course). I, however, chose an ad and spoke about Creative Jewish Mom — because the ad I found (in Isha, April, 2009) was for Materna!

  12. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Gosh Lynne, thats so sweet, thanks for sharing! And good luck with the Ulpan…..planning to come to the Holy Land? Would love to see you!

  13. carolyn Avatar

    I never would have guessed that those are baby formula containers! They look so pretty and festive.
    Thanks so much for linking up to Make it Yours day! I’m looking forward to seeing more of your creativity!

  14. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Thanks so much Carolyn, so glad weve connected here in blog land!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *