Feeling Boxed In?

I am beginning to feel boxed in!

With this being Earth month, it seems like a good time to look at new uses for all those boxes. We toss so many cereal boxes, noodle boxes, and others that one has to step back sometimes and say, "What I can do with this stuff?"

Here are a few ideas to keep you busy!

I have quilt magazines, sewing patterns, and craft magazines all in these holders. They look so much neater on my bookshelf and I can cover them in the décor of the room.

I also add labels to them to tell me what is in each one. Toddler sewing patterns or kids golden books.

Take a cereal box that is a bit taller than the magazine size you need and measure 2 inches in from the edge on the right side of the box and about 4 to 6 inches up (depending on the height of your magazine).

Next, place your magazine on the box, cut off the excess on top of the box, and of course recycle it. Now measure in 2 inches from the edge on the left top side of the box make a line from the end of the 2-inch mark on the left to the end of the 2-inch mark on the right.

Picture 1 - Cuts

Cut off the excess box

Picture 2 - The plain box

You can cover with wrapping paper, contact paper, or any medium you want. Now you have a magazine holder.

Picture 3 - The finished box

This is made with a pasta box. First, cut around the cellophane window to make a windshield.

Picture 4 - Window

Now cut out the tires, leaving the two pieces connected as shown in the picture

Picture 5 - Tires

I usually add a strip of cardboard to connect the tires on the inside so they do not collapse. Now paint your car, add a Barbie or action figure, and drive away. I cut out a second box by cutting about 2 inches off the bottom of the box and put it in through the tire holes. I added a steering wheel for the driver.

Picture 6 - The finished car

Cut three holes out in a side of a box and teach your child how to pitch marbles. I have different size holes and award points for each hole they hit.

Did you know you could make a nice gift box out of a used box?

First, cut the face off the box. On the other long side, decide how high a box you need. I made mine 2 inches. My box was 11 inches long and I subtracted the two inches I needed for the spine of the box. On one side, I measured up 4 1/2 inches and cut into the fold, then did the same on the other side. Cut the entire back off the box.

Picture 7 - Measure the box

Now I fold a crease where I cut, and now I have a box.

Picture 8 - Open box

The end flaps are tucked in

Picture 9 - Folded box

The box can then be covered with contact paper or wrapping paper. You can also cover it with plain paper and make drawings on it, or glue pictures from newspapers or magazines. Add a bow and you have a perfect-sized gift box.

Picture 10 - Closed box

I promised you some ideas to do with all those left-over Easter eggs. Thai eggs, Scotch eggs, egg curry, deviled sggs, and egg salad... we do all of these, and even put them in the center of our meatloaf to use them up!

Here is a recipe for Hard Boiled Egg cookies from "Joy of Cooking" (1946 edition). It uses hard-boiled eggs and is very good. I use my food processor to help make this a quick and easy recipe.

Hard-boiled-egg cookies

¼ cup lemon juice

1 tsp lemon extract

1 cup butter

3/4 cup sugar

4 hard boiled eggs, peeled and riced unless using the food processor

1 egg

3 cups flour

Coating

1 egg white, lightly beaten

1/2 cup sugar

Picture 11 - Ingredients

Preheat oven to 350.

Cream together lemon juice, lemon extract, sugar, and butter in a food processor.

Add hard-boiled eggs and process until fully incorporated.

Mix in egg.

Add flour and pulse until dough just comes together.

At this point you can chill the dough for a bit if your kitchen is very hot, otherwise roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface until it is 1/4 inch thick and cut into rounds with a 2-inch cookie or biscuit cutter.

Picture 12 - Rolled dough

I use a cup as a rolling pin when I am lazy and it is also my round cookie cutter. Just dip the cup in flour first so it does not stick.

Picture 13 - Cut dough

I place the cookies on a cookie sheet with a small space in between, as the cookies will not spread. I take one egg white, brush it over the cookie, and add a bit of sugar.

Picture 14 - Sugar-dusted dough

Now, bake until just beginning to brown at the edges, about 12 minutes. Makes about 3 dozen cookies that are soft and sweet with a hint of lemon.

Picture 15 - Finished cookies

Yum!