How to Build a Box Out of Soda Straws

Turn discarded drinking straws into a colorful box.

The ubiquitous plastic drinking straw is one of the most often discarded items in the United States. According to Dr. Bruce Rinker, billions of straws are thrown away each year. Instead of throwing those straws away, repurpose them by creating useful, attractive objects such as a small box. A drinking straw box can hold small items such as beads or stickers, and helps limit plastic waste.

Things You'll Need

• Thin cardboard, such as posterboard or cereal box
• Pencil
• Hot glue or craft glue
• Discarded drinking straws
• Embellishments
• Clear packing tape

Instructions

1. Sanitize old straws by soaking them in hot, soapy water for two minutes. After washing, rinse and air dry. Allow the straws to dry completely before beginning box construction.

2. Cut a box frame out of thin cardboard to support the box of straws. The frame will be cut in pairs of rectangles. Determine how wide the box will be and measure that length. Mark with a pencil. Determine the height of the box, measure and mark. Cut two rectangles on the marked lines to form the front and the back of the box. Use a pencil to write "front" and "back" on the two pieces.

3. Measure the desired length of the box sides and mark on the cardboard. Measure the height, which is identical to the height of the front and back. Cut two pieces of cardboard of identical size to form the sides of the box. Mark the pieces as box sides.

4. Cut the top and bottom of the box. Make the length of these two pieces the length of the front and back of the box plus 1/2 inch. Make the height equal to the length of the sides plus 1/2 inch. If the front and back of the box are 8 inches long and the sides of the box are 6 inches long, the top and bottom will be 81/2 inches by 6 1/2 inches.

5. Trim dried straws to the length of one of the rectangles. Starting at the bottom of the rectangle, glue the straws to the cardboard, putting them very close together and trimming the ends even with the sides of the cardboard. Repeat this step for each of the six pieces of cardboard.

6. Construct the straw box by using packing tape on the inside of the box to tape the sides, bottom and top into place.

7. Finish the box with embellishments or decorations.

Tips & Warnings

• To make a box entirely out of straws, eliminate the cardboard frame and instead make three rectangles out of straws for each side of the box. Glue the three rectangles together, then repeat for the next side of the box. This creates triple-thick walls for a strong box.

• Hot glue has a quick drying time and a strong bond. However, craft glue is more flexible than hot glue once it is dried. If a box will be used often, consider using craft glue.

References

• The Roanoke Star-Sentinel: The Last Straw!