5 Things to Do With Old DVD’s

Last week I cleaned out my entertainment center cabinet. I found drawers and drawers of DVD’s that I hadn’t viewed in years. I’d kept them for the “just in case” moments when I may want to see them again but I’ve moved on. Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu mean I no longer bother to find and load a DVD when I can see what I want with a few clicks on my computer.

I boxed them up and stuck them in the garage while I thought about what I wanted to do with them. I did a little research, a little experimenting, and here is what I came up with to ensure that my DVDs didn’t end up as landfill.

Get Cash!

DeCluttr
After downloading the app, (which was the major reason that I chose DeCluttr above it’s competitors) all I did was scan the barcode on each DVD to see the price DeCluttr will pay. Most DVDs went for .50/DVD, some went for.10, and a few were worth $3.
The app does the hard work. After confirming which DVDs I was selling to DeCluttr I just packed them into a box and applied the free shipping label that DeCluttr emailed to me. Ten days later their payment posted to my account. I chose the direct deposit option.

While DeCluttr was my favorite you may want to try some of the other online options for selling your DVDs such as SellDVDsOnline.or SecondSpin or EagleSaver.

 Make a Mosiac

Use a pair of tongs to immerse the DVD in VERY hot water for 10-15 seconds, then use scissors to cut it into pieces. Glue the pieces to a table top, a plant pot, a frame, kitchen or bathroom backsplash, or whatever you want to add sparkle to. Instructables has an

Use the DVDs as is, or cover them with contact paper, decals, or decoupage.

DVD Clock

It’s remarkably simple to make a clock from a DVD. This Instructable will give you the detes on how to make your own clock.

DVD Coaster

Use the DVDs as they are, or cover them with contact paper, a decal, or decoupage a picture onto them.

 Spinning Tops

These spinning tops are not only fun for the kiddos to make, but they’ll have a blast playing with them. Lalymom shows you how to do it.

 

 

Egg Carton Games & Crafts

Chances are that after all the Easter festivities are over you’ll have a lot of egg cartons that you don’t want to stash in the trash so here are some fun craft projects and even a game that you can make with egg cartons.

Pot of Tulips

from CareFreeCrafts.com

 

This craft is a fun activity for a child’s birthday party or mom’s and daughters tea party. The girls can make their own table centerpieces, then take them home afterwards.

Materials for each pot:

  • 4 to 6 separate sections from a paper egg carton
  • 4 to 6 green pipe cleaners or wooden craft sticks
  • paint or markers
  • glue
  • plastic, Styrofoam or paper cup
  • popcorn kernels, rice, beans or coffee beans

Cut apart the egg carton so that each section is a separate little cup. Cut a V into the middle of each side of each egg carton section so it looks like a tulip. Repeat for each section. Decorate the tulips with paint and/or markers. Set aside to dry.

Pipe Cleaner Stems

Shape one end of a green pipe cleaner into a U shape.

Glue the U end of the pipe cleaner onto the bottom of the tulip. Set aside to dry. Repeat for all tulips.

Craft Stick Stems

Paint both sides of all craft sticks green or color with markers. Set tulip bottom side down on a safe cutting surface. Use a craft knife to cut a slit in the middle bottom. Draw a bead of glue along slot. Slide green craft stick through slot. Set aside to dry. Repeat for each tulip.

While waiting for tulips to dry decorate your plastic, Styrofoam or paper cup with paint and/or markers. This will be your tulip “pot”.

Fill the cup with unpopped popcorn kernels, rice, beans or coffee beans. Stand your tulips up inside the cup for a pretty spring decoration.

 

Dress Up Shoes

Open an egg carton and cut away (lengthwise) roughly half of the bottom of the carton (the side with the bumps). Close the carton and have your child put his/her foot in the hole to see if the hole is the right size. Cut away some more if needed and when the “shoe” fits, slip it off. Decorate so that the shoe fit’s your child’s dress up costume. When your child is ready to wear her new “shoes” tape the carton shut.

 

Mancala

This is a game for two players. I’ve played it successfully with children as young as five years old. I like to keep the lid attached to the bottom so I can pack the Mancala game away with all the pieces stored inside, but if you find the top gets in the way of playing the game you can remove it then when the game is over place it over the bottom and secure with a rubber band.

Decorate the bottom portion of the carton if you like – or don’t – it’s not necessary.

Place a small container at each end of the carton. Containers do not need to be attached to the carton. If you’re playing with a young child you may find it advantageous to label the each player’s container with his or her name. These containers are called Mancala’s.

To Play: Sit across from your opponent and place the carton between the two of you so that your Mancala is to your right and your opponent’s Mancala is to your left. Fill each egg section with four tokens (peanuts, buttons, large beads or beans, Tip: experience suggests that chocolate chips don’t work well). The object of the game is to collect the most tokens in your Mancala.

We usually start by allowing the youngest player to go first. Player 1 picks up all tokens in any one bin on his side of the game, which is the row facing him. Player 1 places a token in the bin to the right of the empty bin and continues dropping tokens one by one counterclockwise. If he reaches his Mancala, he drops a token in the container and continues dropping tokens into his opponent’s side until all tokens in his hand are distributed. Do not drop a token in your opponent’s Mancala.

If your last token ends in your Mancala you get to go again.

If your last token lands on your side of the game in an empty section you can take all of your opponent’s tokens from his section that is directly opposite your previously empty bin. Place captured tokens in your Mancala.

When all sections from one side of the game are empty, the game is over. The player with the most tokens in his Mancala wins!

 

Egg Carton Crafting on Mega Drive!

Artist Makes Challenger II Tank From 5,016 Egg Cartons For Charity

Get crafting!

Book Shelves Gone Wild

My friend G and I were wandering around The Lab (it’s an industrial chic outdoor mall) after lunch at The Gypsy Den and ended up in this little clothing store “Gloss” that had the most creative displays. Take a look at their books made into shelves that double as jewelry organizers.

Here’s how to construct a floating book shelf:

Invisible Bookshelf

from WebUrbanist

 

Dollhouse Bookcase

This is a dollhouse made from an Ikea bookcase. It’s a fantastic way to salvage a bookshelf that you may not have a use for anymore or which is marred in some way that makes it unsightly as a bookcase. I found this pic while traipsing through Grosgrain Fabulous. It’s worthwhile to click on over there and read her comments and thoughts regarding this dollhouse.

20 Unusually Brilliant Book Shelves

WebUrbanist has put together some wild book shelves which lend themselves to the DIYer with access to a glue gun and a hammer.

Bookshelves Made of Books

And check out these book cases made from books. I’ll call them Cannibal Cases.

Bookcases Made of Books

 

Check out this hanging book case made of – wait for it – HANGERS! You’ll need to incorporate some plier action into your skill set, but it shouldn’t be too difficult. I think this is my favorite simply because it’s so hard to find ways to reuse dry cleaner hangers.

Creative Hanging Bookshelves

 

Funky Bookcase

I think this one is made from pallets.

 

If you have a lot of cardboard boxes around, decoupage them (for beauty and strength). Stack them how you like them and secure with 2 straps. This contraption won’t survive an earthquake or a pair of toddlers, but it could work nicely as a room divider.

Elegant Bookcase

And this is just for fun. It doesn’t necessarily use recycled materials but it’s too much fun to not pass on to you all. Oh the possibilities!

created at: 10/20/2010

 

 

Old Calendars = New Games

"Green Issues" Snakes & Ladders game.

2012 is on the horizon and it’ll soon be time to ditch your 2011 calendars. Instead of tossing them in the recycling bin, how about using them to add to your family game collection?

Challenge your family or friends to each take one month’s grid and create a new board game out of it. We’ll even get you started with Green Issues Snakes & Ladders Calendar Board.

Make up a new game or recreate an old favorite such as Candy Land or Life.