3 Creative Uses for a Bucket

Footstool or Child’s Seat

These buckets are also great little footstools or seats for a child. Glue a cheerful fabric around the outside of the bucket. Cut several layers of quilt batting to fit the top of the lid, or use a mound of fiberfill stuffing. Cut a circle of your fabric several inches larger than the lid and glue neatly over the padding, folding the excess fabric to the inside of the lid. You can store yarn or needlework projects inside, toys, or magazines.

 Gift Baskets

The idea of themed "gift baskets" seems to be gaining in popularity. Choose a theme, such as bath products, coffee or tea items, movie night, office supplies, "care package" to a college student, etc. Decorate the bucket as above, and use it as your gift "basket" - stick a removable bow on the lid, or tie it to the handle -- the recipient gets not only a gift but a useable container.

Gardening Aid by Pat, Niantic, CT

My husband saves all those 5-gallon buckets and even brings them home from the dump--they are great when weeding the garden and just throw all the weeds, etc., in them. They hold top soil, peat moss, sand, compost for gardening. Our friend uses them for his farm--gathering cow manure, apple drops, and holding veggies. You can even use to use as table legs (just add plywood top to four upturned buckets). Just use your imagination!