Sweet Things to Make Out of Tissue Boxes
- If you have a sick child who is going through boxes of tissues as if they're candy, put the boxes to good use to make her feel better. Children love expressing themselves creatively, so let her help you design a nifty "mailbox" where friends and teachers from school can send her get-well letters and notes. Cover the box with construction paper or felt, leaving the tissue hole in tact. Write "Mailbox" on the side, and create a flag out of cardboard to stick to the side. Call ahead to ask the teacher if there is any way the children may write get-well letters to your child. When you pick up her schoolwork, gather the letters and drop them in her mailbox. Alternately, make a funky tissue box bank to help your child keep track of his money. Cover the entire box and the tissue hole with construction paper. Cut a slit out of the side so coins and dollar bills may fit inside. Allow him to decorate the bank with markers, crayons, stickers and whatever material his heart desires. Start him off with a dollar, and then see how much he's able to save.
- Purchasing gifts for friends and family tends to financially add up rather quickly. Instead of heading out to your local department store to pick up premade gifts, pour your heart into a gift-making project with tissue boxes. Not only is it significantly less expensive, you're also putting in more effort and personal touches while creating the gift. A tissue box planter is an environmentally friendly option. Using a biodegradable tissue box, cut out the top panel, and cover the box with felt, ribbon, wrapping paper or any other visually appealing design. Fill the box with potting soil, and plant a seed inside. Attach a gift tag that tells the recipient that when the plant blooms, the entire tissue box may be planted in the ground outdoors since it will break down on its own. In addition, create postcards, bookmarks or gift tags by cutting out squares and attaching ribbon. Take it one step further by laminating them.
- Organize and spruce up your home by using empty tissue boxes to sort mail, file recipes or store stamps, envelopes and writing utensils. If you have an office or work area, decorate empty tissue boxes, and use them to store office tools, such as paper clips, pens or sticky notes. Set an empty, decorated tissue box by the front door to leave notes for your significant other when you leave for work. Or store coasters in a vibrantly patterned tissue box. The options are virtually endless when it comes to using tissue boxes to decorate and organize your home.
- Don't waste hundreds of dollars on expensive party supplies. Instead, use tissue boxes for various party supplies. With a little creativity, an old tissue box may be transformed into elegant party invitations or gorgeous place cards. Cut out squares, approximately 4 inches by 4 inches. Stick a small sheet of white paper in the center of the patterned side, and glue it in place. Write down the party information or guest's name to create invitations or place cards. Create borders with ribbon and lace and have the cards laminated. Alternately, use tissue boxes as goody bags for parties. Simply stuff with shredded paper and add a few gift items such as chocolates, birthday blowers, balloons and gift cards, and you have a funky -- and inexpensive -- party favor.