You can make anything from a DIY sandbox for little ones to planters and mirror frames! Planting season is rapidly approaching, and if you have a sunny window, you can get some of your veggies started indoors right now. We've featured DIY wood gasifiers before, but this how-to video-created by survival and outdoors expert Paul Osborn of BCoutdoorsurvival-for building a miniature stove for backpacking purposes is about as good as DIY make-our-own videos get. And check out BCoutdoorsurvival's YouTube channel and website (The Outdoor Adventure) for more DIY projects for the outdoors enthusiasts ranging from making your own snow shoes to planning a survival trip. As you will have noticed, these projects increase in difficulty. The added labor costs may be worth the time, effort and stress of attempting projects beyond your skill set. There are two different methods of making pots from these paper tubes, one of which is to just leave the bottom open and fit the tubes tightly together in a tray (easiest), and the other is to cut several vertical slits in the bottoms of the tubes and to fold the resulting flaps to form the bottom of the pots (takes more time, but the soil won't come spilling out the bottom if you pick these up).

Most garden centers sell plastic trays and pots, soil blocks, or peat pots to use for starting seeds indoors, but if you'd like to start your seeds without having to go purchase a bunch of new stuff, there are a bunch of inventive DIY seed pots that can be made from items you probably have in your recycle bin right now. Even if Edward's legendary trebuchet only launched rocks, there simply was no siege weapon that was as terrifying to the enemy and as entertaining to the troops. We alternated hues in a random pattern to add even more interest. The larger yogurt containers will work as well, but take up much more room, so in this case, the smaller yogurt cups offer more versatility. Not everyone uses paper towels, but pretty much everybody buys toilet paper, and the paperboard tubes in the center of both of these items can be cut to form small seedling pots. The entire pot can be planted in the ground once the soil is warm and the seedling is mature enough to be put in the ground.

The addition of a pot stand, also made from an old can, allows you to place a pot of water (or whatever) on top, and according to the video you can boil a few cups of water in 8 minutes or so. Small seedling pots can be made by rolling doubled-up sheets of newspaper around a small jar, then gluing the bottom together with wheat paste, or by folding the paper into a square pot and stapling the edges together. If you've got egg cartons, you probably have egg shells as well, and while they can be crushed to make a great soil or compost pile additive, egg shell halves can be used as seedling pots as well, and naturally, they fit perfectly inside an egg carton tray. Your recycling bin can be a great source of materials for making your own seed starting pots. As an added bonus, if you coordinate with mom-to-be, you can use colors that coordinate with the nursery and this DIY Lighting Fixes could live on as the cutest wall art! And I love how they added the bright colors. Pretty darned neat. I'd love to hear from anyone who has tried this.

I LOVE your creative idea and I’m copying it for my garden shed. Cardboard egg cartons can be used to start a dozen seedlings, and then cut apart to plant each one when it's time to plant them in the garden. If you're going to indulge in single-serving packaged foods such as yogurt cups, at the very least you can give them a second life by making the plastic containers into small seedling pots. Making your own homemade seedling pots is a great way to repurpose common household items and get a headstart on gardening season, without having to go out and spend a bunch of money at the garden center for new pots and trays. You'll get some definite ohs and ahs over this DIY Christmas gift. How can I personalize a DIY gift? Old plastic Tupperware-type containers can often be found at thrift stores and garage sales, and also make great seedling trays. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into a gallon or larger plastic jug. Cases of soda or canned goods come in conveniently sized trays for holding seedling pots, which can also be lined with a used plastic shopping bag to keep counters and windows tidy.