Packaging Repurposing #1 - Cardboard Trivet

I had a science teacher in high school who had a reputation for being... frugal. As part of a lecture on observation in science (I think that's how we got there), he pointed out trash. He said it is wise to find a way to reuse packaging, because you've already paid for it. If you throw it away, it's like throwing away part of the price you paid for an item.

Now, the idea of reusing or repurposing stuff in general, even packaging, was not novel to me. My paternal grandmother used a metal can with the bottom cut out as a biscuit cutter. Made biscuits the size she wanted, having the bottom cut out meant there was no vacuum lock and the dough did not get stuck inside the can. Just one example from my childhood.

Now, YouTube is full of videos about making something out of discarded packaging. Most of the ones I've seen are quite unappealing to me aesthetically, take hours to do, or are only for "craftsy" folks. That's all fine and good, but not everyone falls into those categories. I intend this to be the first of several posts about how all of us can quickly and easily repurpose discarded packaging or reuse common household items.

First up, the one I thought of tonight: Cardboard Trivets. A trivet is something you put under a hot pot, pan, or dish, like a larger version of a coaster.

• You will need some cardboard, and something that will cut the cardboard - scissors, box cutter, Swiss Army Knife, whatever you have.

• First, decide the size and shape of your trivet. Draw it out if you want to make it neat.

• Then carefully cut it out.

• Done.

Alternative - Heavy Duty Cardboard Trivets.

• You will need some cardboard, and something that will cut the cardboard - scissors, box cutter, Swiss Army Knife, whatever you have.

• You will also need something that will poke holes in the cardboard (an awl is perfect, a metal skewer will do, a knife or screwdriver can work), and something to hold the trivet together - bit of heavy string (the string holding some large feed, food, or cat litter bags is about the right weight), yarn, faux leather lacing, twist tie (from a bag or other product packaging, just not the ones covered in plastic) anything that won't melt and you can poke through the holes and securely attach the ends together.

• First, decide the size and shape of your trivet.

• Then, decide how many layers of cardboard you want your trivet to use.

• Cut out as many layers as you need.

• Poke holes in (at least two of) the corners in the same location on all layers. Using the first one as the template for the others the simplest way to do this.

• Insert your string, twist tie or similar object through the hole in all layers, knot or twist together to secure the ends.

• Repeat for each corner hole.

• Done.

Alternative - Pasteboard (food box) Trivets.

• You will need some food boxes (cereal, cracker, trail mix bar, popsicle, whatever), and something that will cut those - scissors, box cutter, Swiss Army Knife, whatever you have.

• You will also need something that will poke holes in the pasteboard (an awl or heavy duty needle or hole punch is perfect, a metal skewer will do, a knife or screwdriver can work), and something to hold the trivet together - bit of heavy string (the string holding some large feed, food, or cat litter bags is about the right weight), yarn, faux leather lacing, twist tie (from a bag or other product packaging, just not the ones covered in plastic) anything that won't melt and you can poke through the holes and securely attach the ends together.

• First, decide the size and shape of your trivet.

• Then, decide how many layers of pasteboard you want your trivet to use.

• Cut out as many layers as you need.

• Poke holes in (at least two of) the corners in the same location on all layers. Using the first one as the template for the others the simplest way to do this.

• Insert your string, twist tie or similar object through the hole in all layers, knot or twist together to secure the ends.

• Repeat for each corner hole.

• Done.

5/21/2021