Recycle Empty Glue Containers with Elmer’s Glue Crew #bagitforward

I recently accepted a creative challenge. Normally creativity and I are friends, but this project had me feeling very nervous at first. The goal was to create a container using an Elmer’s trifold display. This container has a noble purpose – to hold empty glue sticks to be recycled for Elmer’s Glue Crew Recycling Program.  This program is recycling empty glue bottles and glue sticks and is perfect for preschool and school aged children.  There are classrooms in all 50 states participating in this program.  This year’s goal is to exceed collecting 3 million bottles and glue sticks.

As someone new to the program you may be worried about shipping hundreds of empty glue containers.  Don’t worry!  There are two great options to return them.  You can drop them off at Walmart on Earth Day (in the spring) or you can request a prepaid mailing label to stick to your box of 250 or more empties.  Easy, right???  There is NO COST INVOLVED in this perfect-for-kids recycling program!

All that is needed is a container…..which brings me back to my craft.

After shopping at walmart for the Elmer’s 18″ x 24″ trifold I was even more nervous. How was I going to turn the trifold in to a box? I knew I had to cut it……so I started there and that’s when the inspiration came. To visually show the kindergartener’s that the objective was to recycle glue sticks I would create a giant glue stick container. All I had to do was cut the trifold once and tape it together and I was golden. I have a problem thinking things all the way through. Had I really been thinking I would have cut the opposite side of the trifold and only needed to tape one side, alas, I cut the board in half and taped both sides. No biggie though. In true recycling fashion I checked our recycle bin and found some cardboard to use as the bottom of my glue stick container.

 

Creating this craft instantly became fun once I knew what I was going to do.  Lucky for me, the shapes on the Elmer’s glue stick are very rectangular, so all I really needed was my paper cutter.  It’s true, I have a paper cutter (or two) in my closet.  Doesn’t everyone?  😉  The trifold (now a box) paired with Rubber Cement and an occasional dab of White Glue made completing this project a dream.

 

 

 

 

I dropped off the box at the school this afternoon and my daughter’s teacher loved it.  She couldn’t wait to start using it!

We love how Elmer’s is focused on kids!  We were so happy to be part of Bag It Forward – my girls each took in a bunch of school supplies to a nearby elementary school.  Just because school has started doesn’t mean children across America have all their school supplies.  There are shortages everywhere.  See how you can donate school supplies FOR FREE without leaving the comfort of your computer through Bag It Forward.

Did you know that you can save money when you purchase Elmer’s or Krazy Glue products with your registered drug store or grocery store card that is registered through UPromise.  Fantastic!

If you have a child in preschool or school, get the wheel started.  There is a chance your child’s student has heard about Elmer’s Glue Crew and would love to participate.  All it takes is one person, and that person could be YOU!  

Disclaimer: This project has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Elmer’s #BagItForward #collectivebias.  All opinions are my own.  I am passionate about helping those in need and I would love for you to help too!