apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

spices

I use them to store tiny things in my office/bathroom, like thumbtacks, hairpins, paperclips, etc. I also use them in my purse to hold M&Ms, Skittles, breathmints, anything that came in a large bag, but I don't want to bring the whole bag with me!

I cover over the bottle with contact paper (like for shelves in the kitchen), or construction paper, so that I don't confuse these bottles with my actual prescriptions.

Hope that helps!

Bottle cap pin cushions out of the tops, finger puppets out of the bottle itself. I'm guessing your crafty since you said arts and craft supplies. Try Swap-bot for more creative crafts like these and to swap what you make or see if any crafty artists wants to share.

Sorry, I remembered one more! I also use them for traveling, and put my jewelry in them, with a tissue or cotton ball, so the necklaces don't get knotted up. They are also good for taking dog or cat treats with you, to the park or on vacation (if you have pets).

I'm really excited to hear the answer to this question. I have the same issue and saved up my bottles for a few years until I had a giant box of them... but when I moved, I finally put them in the garbage. Couldn't think of a thing to do with them! Instead, I've been thinking about organizing a petition to the pharmaceutical companies to make them recyclable. One more thing for my to-do list ;-)

I'll be waiting to see if anyone has ideas...

I'd say, put them on Craigslist or Freecycle, they will find a good home with an Etsy crafter or someone starting with their first kitchen.

I don't know where I first saw this, but first I make sure
the bottle is watertight (most of my lids have to be turned upside down & screwed in). Next I get some rocks, small
pebbles, and epoxy together. I cover the inverted lid
with this melange, then put a spare house key inside and
bury it in the ground or a plant pot with just the rocks, etc.
showing!! No one will know what to look for, and the key
won't rust or decay! Woo Hoo!!

Here are my three uses for the bottles (this excludes Target's bottles): (1) great holders for quarters at laundromat; (2) great holders for quarters and dimes for meter parking and (3) great holder for iPod headphones so they don't get smashed or pressed against something while traveling. (1) and (2) work best with the child proof caps because while (3) works best with adult caps. Good luck!

I used to use these (and film canisters) to store spare flies - if the bottle is air tight it will keep the feathers protected but also float if you drop it. I have friends who will put a serving or two of loose leaf tea in them but you have to be okay with the fact that people might think you're storing some other herbal substance. I also have a friend who stores an emergency kit of needles and buttons in one - could also work for band-aids too.

A google search suggests that some vets, animal shelters and free clinics may take donations of pill bottles. If you have a great volume, it might be worth checking into this.

I tear the labels off and use them as travel carriers for pet medications, thumb tacks, glitter etc.

Some vets will take them for reuse but many won't. I've noticed that my prescription bottles are #5 plastic so I return them to eh GImme5 recycling bins at my local Whole Foods. Check out http://www.preserveproducts.com/gimme5/ to see if there is a place near you that collects #5 plastics for recycling.

I put my custom spice mixes and barbecue rubs in them.

Check the number on the bottom. You may be able to recycle them through Preserve Products' "Gimme 5" program, if they're #5 plastic. Even if there isn't a Whole Foods or other store that accepts them near you, you can mail them in to Preserve Products, which uses them to make toothbrushes, razors, etc. Here's a link: http://www.preserveproducts.com/gimme5

I can't remember where I saw this but someone suggested to me once to put a couple cotton balls soaked in nail polish remover in there with a nail file (you can cut the regular ones in half to make it fit) to have a mini manicure-emergency kit.