Recycled Milk Jug
Today I want to share a recycled milk jug project that I saw over at Disney Family Fun. By cutting a milk jug you can create a reusable container that you can use for a lunch box or other purposes. All you need is a plastic one gallon milk jug, a sharp pair of scissors, a marker, a nail or thumb tack, a button and a bit of yarn.
Mark your milk jug as shown and use a sharp pair of scissors to cut away the top and handle portion of the jug.
My first attempt was done free hand and I found it difficult to get my shape even when I marked the jug for cutting. I made this little template below and used it as a guide for marking the jug on my 2nd attempt. Just hold it up to the milk jug to help you mark the shape for your cuts.
It’s very important that you cut up high to the top of the milk jug opening to get the curved flap area for your lunch box. I used a small sharp nail to push the holes through on the plastic to create the folds for the flaps. My milk jug had a natural line molded in the plastic that I used for the line for my holes. Once the holes are punched, you can fold over the flaps along the punched edges.
The original recycled craft project called for a Velcro closure but I wanted to create a simple closure using some spare buttons I had on hand along with a scrap of yarn.
Here is my first completed lunch box. As you can see the top flap doesn’t curve over enough for a good closure.
I finished off my lunch box container using a small button and a bit of yarn. I just used a small nail to push through the plastic to create the holes for my button and for the yarn tie. I threaded a small piece of cotton yarn through the hole in the front and tied a knot on the inside to secure the tie. Then you just use the yarn tie to wrap around the button to close your lunch box.
Here is 2nd finished recycled milk jug box. The flap curls over the outside nicely and makes a great way to recycle an old milk jug into something new and reusable.
Tags: lunch-box, milk-jug, plastic-crafts, recycled, recycled-plastics
Nov 28, 2011
Great job! I need to try and make one of these.
Nov 29, 2011
That is AWESOME! Now I have to see if I can scrounge up a jug to try it out. Thanks so much for sharing.
Nov 29, 2011
Oh my gosh, that is wonderful! I’ve felt bad for taking up space with my jugs, but yet I feel bad for throwing them away. This will be a wonderful way to bypass all of that and make some recyclable xmas wrapping.
Thanks!
Nov 29, 2011
@Crystal – That is a great idea to use the recycled milk jug for a Christmas gift wrap. You could use Christmas ribbon for the tie closure and you wouldn’t even need a button if you just loop the ribbon through another hole in the plastic flap. Thanks for sharing this wonderful idea. I’m going to have to try it for one of my presents this year.
Dec 01, 2011
I am actually glad I have some jugs at home. I will start practicing on them and hopefully get it right. I could think of many uses for these boxes. I am probably going to show it off as well.
Feb 07, 2012
This is really neat. Could I post this on Pinterest?
Feb 07, 2012
Linda — Thanks for the comment and please just provide a link back to my post if you share it on Pinterest.