Ideas for Used Oatmeal Containers?

[QueeTheBean]

I have a bunch of used Quaker Oats containers--you know, the carboard cylinder kind??? Breadcrumbs come like that, too. I just can't make myself throw them away because I know there is a great re-use idea just waiting for them!!

Any ideas??

[ChildoftheMoon]

They make great "drums" for the kids. Use them to sort and store all those little toys. Have your four year old decorate the outside. Keep crayons in them. Cut them down to size, use the bottom with four inch sides for starting a garden, you can plant the container and all when it is time to transplant. Put legos in them and let your one year old, shake it up and roll it around. Use them to mail art work (roll up the paper instead of folding). Keep craft supplies for your four year old in them. (yarn scraps, macaroni, etc.) Thats all I can come up with for now!
Brandi

[LaLa]

They can be turned into hats by glueing or taping on brims, drums, rainsticks by filling them with something that sound spretty, taping the lid shut and decorating the outside.

Puppets by glueing eyes and such onto them

telescopes for an adventure!

A cave for a family of felt bears (just cut the bears out of felt...no sewing needed)

hmm...that is all I can think of off hand!

[Colorful~Mama]

hey

we use those, and empty raisin containers (they're the same only shorter) for making banks. LOL.
we glue construction paper around them, decorate with crayons, markers and stickers. then i cut a slit in the plastic top for pennies. we've given them to all our friends/grandparents etc. lol.
also they are really great containers for all those broken crayons too.

[Chanley]

They are great for storing stuff in the the garage. Just make a big label and put your stuff in it.

keep one in the car with an extra set of clothes in it. I put rain coats in containers like that too cause it is a pain to try to fold them up. this makes them stackable.

[Jillby]

let's see... if you cut off the bottom you could use them for guinea pig or hamster tunnels.
or make a castle out of a box and use them for the turrets with constuction paper in a cone shape on the top.
a cool barbie car...