I did this when my kids were small, the youngest is now 32. I did it for my older grandkids, and I am now doing it for the younger grandkids and greatgrandkids. I have saved the colored plastic lids off of various bottles, such as mayonnaise, peanut butter, etc. Lids have to be too big to fit in a young ones mouth. I have a couple metal ones but most are plastic.
I keep them in a drawstring bag in basket, I use as a toy box for when the kids visit. They are good to teach colors, to count, to stack like blocks, to pretend, kids favorite is to pretend we are at a restaurant and the lids are food. Put little one between two larger ones and you have a sandwich, etc. Their imagination can run wild. So much fun with no additional expense. The amount of enjoyment for all is endless.
Source: Just me and my kids.
By Knitter926 from Bloomington, IL
Editor's Note: As Knitter926 mentioned, make sure that the lids are too large to be swallowed by children under 3 years old.
I also use small lids to fit over top of drinks in glasses, cups or cans to keep bugs out (especially flies). It helps keep your drink hot or cold longer.
I save all plastic can lids to use to protect my cupboards from rust, as in on the bottom of my cleanser cans, also I used them to keep under my honey jar.
I love seafood salad. I got some the other day and after a few forkfuls, promptly lost the lid. I could have used a cottage cheese container but ran the risk of forgetting what was inside. There was not a painters tape roll to be found for labeling, so I came up with the next best thing. By using the lid on their store containers, I see what is inside but still keep it fresh.
Recycle plastic container lids into useful key fobs. This project is easy and is a good way to label your keys. This is a page about use plastic lids to make key fobs.
Reuse a large plastic lid as a cutting surface in the kitchen or in your lunch box before recycling it. This is a page about use a coffee can lid as a cutting board.
This is a page about reusing Starbucks coffee lids. Coffee lids can be used for many types of crafts and art projects.
Here is an easy craft you can do with your kids, and they can play with it afterward!
Why spend money of clear plastic coasters when you have access to dozens of free coasters monthly? I use the lids of perishable food items.
The local squrrels love the birdseed I have on the back porch. So much so that they ate into the lid! So, I swapped out the containers, using a metal can with a metal lid.
This is a page about uses for jar lids. Don't throw away used jar lids, there are many ways you can reuse them around the house.
This is a page about crafts using plastic lids. Many of the containers in our homes have lids and most lids are not recyclable.
Save the lids to the pringles cans, they make great FREE coasters. You can glue felt to the bottoms or do whatever you wish to them.
The lids from Pringles chip containers fit the Fruitsation applesauce containers perfectly. Great for sending school snacks and way cheaper than the plastic snack containers currently on sale!
