How can I reuse or recycle tea bag boxes?
We’ve had an email from Lizzy asking about teabag boxes:
They’re cardboard so I can put them in my green bin but can anyone suggest any reuses for them?
I imagine they’d be good for any general dry storage – as drawer dividers for little things, for recipe cards in the kitchen, or the bigger boxes for keeping packets – of sauces or seeds – organised and upright.
Aside from that, I bet creative kids could use the boxes in a number of ways – an already constructed building block.
Any other suggestions?
(Photo from Lizzy, thanks Lizzy!)
I remember getting a lovely postcard from a german friend and it wasn’t, it was the side of a packet of tea. Very pretty one.
I put the boxes in the compost or use them for shopping lists or with kids projects for houses.
I get yorkshire tea ones, and they’re so pretty I never really want to throw them away – I think the postcard idea is lovely by the way- I’ve been keeping cd-roms in them… and would love to hear of more uses =D
Tea boxes are the right weight of cardboard to make a nice stiffening material inside envelopes–for mailing photos or other non-bendables.
How about crafting. They would make great great gift boxes. Decopouge with pretty papper to make sturdier and you can pack small gifts into them. Maybe use paper to fit the occasion, such as birthday, Mothers Day, St. Patricks, etc. I have used them and added candies to give to my co-workers. Just the right size for a rememberance or thank you box of candies.
or wrap it empty and and tie a ribbon around it. Add this poem and give to someone special.
This is a very special gift
That you can never see
The reason it’s so special is
It’s just for you from me.
Whenever you are lonely
Or are ever feeling blue
You only have to hold this gift
And know I’m hugging you.
You never can unwrap it
Please leave the ribbon tied
Just hold the box close to your heart
It’s filled with love inside.
I recived one of these from my granddaughter for Christmas when she was 5. She is now 14 and it still sits on my dresser. She still comment about how surprised she is I kept it.
This web site has a cute frog made with small boxes. If you have young children or grandchildren they would love helping qith this project.
http://kidscraftweekly.com/frog_issue.html
Hope this helps.
Your could just put them in your recycle bin. Alternatively, why don’t you jazz them up and use them as gift boxes or containers for your othe bits and bats?
Use as fragrant herbs box, punch halls around perimeter of the lid.
Store cookies in them.
My favorite two teas are Earl Grey and Constant Comment. In the time slot in between Thanksgiving (Nov.) and Christmas (Dec.) I always have plenty of empty tea boxes, as well as a calendar that is about to expire, and friends I want to visit. So what’s a crafty gal to do? I decorate each of the tea boxes with one of the beautiful calender pages (glue it). Then I put in two new tea bags along with some cookies (I use fig newtons). I also get some pretty teacups from the thrift store and plant LIVE mint inside them and put one of these in each box. Now go see your friends to hand deliver your holiday cards, and bring everyone a “cuppa good cheer”.
i love that suggestion mommacat! thoughtful and resourceful!
I always use this grade of cardboard for making repair pieces of metal for welding. The cardboard can be bent, folded & cut numerous times to get the right shape & will save wasting valuable metal. When you’ve got the right shape, simply fold back out again & use as a template to cut your metal
I used mine for 4 spools of thread 3 patches and a cushion for sewing needles! The other one I have butterscotch candies in for kids when they come over to my house. They are cute and multi-purposed items that make everyday living that much more enjoyable and easier. Plus you are somewhat calmed by the boxes themselves because you remember how the tea tasted. i usually drink a cup while I sew.
I opened out a Yorkshire Teabag box and adjusted the sizes to draw it on a 12″ square of card – the box would be 3 x 5 x 2.5 inches.
Craft shops and scrapbook suppliers have lovely 12 inch square cards from which, using the drawn-around design, you can make very pleasant gift boxes.
I use embossing folders for texture – a really useful package design.
Cut them to fit and use to organize drawers with office supplies, etc.
If you have six of them, cut the lids off and stick three together. Stick the other three together. Cut some slots on the inside, in the first three that you glued together. Then slot the other three that you stuck together into those slots to make nine little sections. Put some ribbon through the top to make a handle, then you have a lid and you can pull apart. This is a great travel box for nine different pairs of earrings.
I have a large collection of boxes, converted as pages of scrapbooks.
I cut the sides of each box, according to my fancy and the information on the card. I use masking tape to attach them invisibly to pages which I make from Bristol board. I insert the pages into the see-through pockets of display books. There is a wealth of information and art on tea boxes: country of origin, type of tea, growing areas, environmental and marketing agreements.
Display collection may be by type of tea, or brand , or country, or colour of boxes even….endless possibilities.
Part of my excitement in visiting new countries is discovering their tea box offerings. My friends and relatives have been recruited into bringing me boxes from their travels also. I stress that they should select a tea which they wish to drink, because I want only the box!