Upcycled Life: Turn plastic tubes into tiny pouches

Does your green conscience cringe when you get to the end of a tube of sunscreen or lotion? Upcycle it into a tiny pouch instead of tossing it. Curbside recycling in our area doesn’t accept any plastic other than bottles so give those empty tubes of toothpaste and body products a second life. Plus, you can eke out the last bits of product in the process.

Materials and tools

Empty tubes

No sew snaps

Scissors or hobby knife

Snap tool or snap pliers

Instructions

1. Cut off the end of the tube, removing the lid.

2. Clean out the tube of any remaining product or residue.

3. Use a sharp scissor or blade to cut a flap on one side. I like to use something round like a roll of tape to trace a smooth curve.

4. On the opposite side cut straight across the tube meeting up at the bottom edges of the flap.

5. Take care to mark where you snaps will match up and account for how far your snap tool will reach before starting to insert the snaps.

6. Apply the corresponding parts of the snaps with snap pliers or a snap tool onto the flap and where the snap will meet the pouch when folded over.

7. That’s it. Now find some small items that need containing in your upcycled pouch.