To: dannys@iis.ee.ethz.ch
Subject: Recycling Ideas
From: jim.speirs@canrem.com (Jim Speirs)
Date: Sun, 21 May 1995 06:16:00 -0400
Organization: CRS Online (Toronto, Ontario)


Article #R137c.
===============

 Recycling Ideas

Turn an empty plastic bottle into a vase.  Cut off the shaped
top, weight the bottom with sand or stones, and either spray
paint or cover with decorative contact paper.


By the way, save the backing from the contact paper you use in
craft work.  It's marked with a 25 mm grid perfect for scaling up
craft patterns.


Back to those plastic containers so handy for making into other
things.  You can erase the print on them by putting nail polish
remover on some paper towelling and rubbing gently.


It's fun to snoop around at garage or White Elephant sales.  Keep
your eyes open for plastic baby bathtubs.  They're great for
converting into toboggans for Beavers or Cubs.


At one of those sales, you might spot the perfect little table
for the meeting hall or camp - perfect, except that it wobbles
because one of the legs is too short.  No problem.  You can fix
it easily by mixing wood shavings and wood glue and using the
mixture to extend the length of the leg.  When the glue is dry,
trim and shape.


Make Life a Little Easier

Try this great idea from the South Saskatchewan Loop to make
changing tails hassle free for your Beavers.  Have the Beavers
sew a small button on the back of their hats.  When they make
their tails, all they need do is cut a small button slit in the
end.  Whenever they change tail colours, they simply unbutton one
tail and button on the new one.

To keep warm at night on a winter camp, put a blanket inside your
sleeping bag.  It will provide about 10 degrees insulation. 
Sleep with your head outside the bag (moisture from breathing
will dampen the inside and lower the temperature) and wear a
toque to keep your whole body warm.

It's easy to remove the sticky glue residue left on things when
you pull off the labels.  Mix up a paste of baking soda with a
little water and rub.

Go easy on the world.  You don't need to pour harsh
environment-damaging chemicals down drains to keep them open and
odour free.  Once a week, put down the drain, in order, 125 mL
baking soda, 125 mL vinegar, and a palmful of salt.

Chewing gum on the kid's clothes? If the piece of clothing is
small enough, plastic-bag it and put it into the freezer.  Since
the gum is frozen, you can lift it right off.

Chewing gum in the kid's hair? Work it out by rubbing with peanut
butter.

Oops.  Someone dabbed a shirt with ballpoint ink.  Nail polish
remover (acetone) will remove the ink stains from clothing.

To keep cheese from going mouldy after you open the plastic
wrapping, close the plastic as well as you can, then wrap the
whole package in waxed brown butcher paper.  (thanks to Ron
Aitken, Scarborough, Ont.)

This spring, when you are storing away your winter activity gear,
stuff a soda drink bottle in each of your ski boots.  That way
they won't feel too tight when you first put them on the next
time the snow flies.