Egg cartons and candy boxes as paint palettes

Many of you are about to have plenty of empty egg cartons cluttering your kitchens, and possibly some divided candy boxes. Parenthacker Liz wrote in to suggest using either item as a paint palette. The compartments keep the paint colors separated, and the whole thing can be tossed or recycled when the project is finished!

Other ideas for makeshift palettes: ice cube trays, muffin tins, and Dixie cups.

Comments

[Cathy]

We also use egg cartons to hold markers. We flip the carton over and poke holes in the "eggs". They hold the markers upright and keep them from rolling all over the table during projects and coloring time.

[me]

I don't want to be a spoilsport, but our child care facilities are not allowed to re-use egg cartons because of the risk of Salmonella poisoning.

[Alex]

We use egg cartons to save and sort ribbons from presents for later craft use. If you roll/wad them up into one space each you don't end up with a big crazy tangle.

[Carly]

We just started some seeds in a cardboard egg carton! One pea or pumpkin in each cup.

[Melanie]

Regarding the threat of Salmonella: it is theoretically possible for it to be spread via egg cartons, but there has never been a single case of that according to the CDC. If you're worried, spray with lysol first, wait a minute, then rinse before using the carton for a craft.

[Anna Alfafara]

I agree with Melanie, we can use lysol to disinfect the egg carton trays, and any other stuff for the kids for that matter.

We can also have it air dried for a bit to let out the moist since bacteria love to stay in them.

As for the egg trays as marker and paint holders, this is simply an innovative and economical idea.

Thanks!

Anna