Ways to Reuse Old Tea Boxes

Did you know that Numi Organic Tea boxes are fully recyclable? Once you’re done with your container, you could throw it in your recycle bin, but it’s way more fun to envision other uses for your boxes.

They also make great kitchen counter organizers for little packets or odd ends. Tea boxes can even serve as a container for miscellaneous items on your desk like scissors, coins, paper clips, charging cords, etc.

The boxes also make great little gift boxes or recipe cards!

My husband and I have a habit of storing boxes away for our pet rodents, but I’m such a tea fanatic, our rats can’t use them fast enough. I sat down for a crafternoon and thought up two simple ways to repurpose my favorite Numi Holistic Herbal Teasan boxes – they have beautiful watercolor designs that make great decor.

Custom Note Cards

What You’ll Need

• Numi Organic Holistic Teasan boxes (4)
• Scissors
• Watercolor palette
• Jar with water
• Paint brushes
• 1 Sheet of Watercolor paper
• Paper cutter
• School glue (like Elmer’s)

To Make

• Carefully cut out the artwork on the front of your Holistic Tea boxes with a pair of sharp scissors. Set aside.
• Use a paper cutter to cut a sheet of sturdy water color into 4, notecard-sized pieces.
• Using your watercolor palette, select complementary paint colors and paint abstract backgrounds onto your notecards. Let dry for 15-30 minutes.
• Use a paint brush to “paint” glue onto the back of your tea art and affix them to your notecards.
• You may want to use a book to keep the tea art from warping as the glue dries.
• Write a special note on the back of your cards and give them to loved ones!

 

Jute Wrapped Tea Caddy

What You’ll Need

• One Numi Tea box
• Matte acrylic paint in the color of your choice (I used black)
• Paint brush
• One roll of Jute Cording
• Hot glue gun and glue

To Make

• Carefully un-tape the side of your box and cut off the lid and side folds.
• Paint the exterior and interior of the box using the paint of your choice (you can leave the base unpainted to aid in drying). Set aside for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Starting at a top corner of your box, apply a bead of hot glue and begin to wrap the jute.
• Continue adding small beads of hot glue to each corner until you’ve wrapped around the box once.
• Continue wrapping without adding additional glue for 3 full rotations. Add glue to each corner on the next rotation, and continue the process – glue 1 rotation, no glue 3 rotations – until you’re near the base of the box.
• Add extra hot glue as you make your last rotation to ensure that the jute stays in place. Cut the jute to lie flush with a corner and carefully glue in place.

If you enjoyed this craf’tea project, you might also want to try DIY Gift Idea: Tub Tea and Rooibos Tea-Dyed Yarn.