Uses for Old Muffin Tins

Put old bake ware to good use.

An old, well-used muffin tin eventually shows its age in rust and scratches. If you are loath to toss an otherwise good baking pan, then don't. You might be surprised to learn how many alternative uses there are for them aside from whipping up cupcakes and tasty muffins.

Custom Crayons

Give new life to old crayons.

Make fun multicolor crayons using old broken pieces for a truly recycled project. Gather old broken crayon pieces and spray the cups of the tin with nonstick spray or place paper liners in them. Fill each cup with small pieces of broken crayons. You can use like colors or a rainbow of hues. Preheat the oven to 275 F, turn it off and then place the tin in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until the wax is melted. Allow the crayons to cool and harden before use.

Organize

Collect buttons and baubles in a muffin tin.

With built-in dividers, old cupcake pans are ideal for storing jewelry sets such as matching earrings and necklaces or for sorting like-colored baubles for easy outfit coordination. The metal cups work nicely for cuff links, buttons or even supplies you might need for minor clothing repair, such as needles, thread and safety pins. If you find the tin unflattering in your bath or boudoir, consider covering it in adhesive shelf liner or spray-painting it in a complementary color.

Ice Cubes

Float icy disks in a punch bowl.

Fill the tin with water or juice and pop it in the freezer whenever you need larger-than-average ice. Add frozen disks of juice or water with small pieces of fruit to a bowl of punch for a decorative and functional addition. The circular blocks of ice are also convenient to use for first aid purposes. Keep a few on hand in zip-close freezer baggies and use to ice scrapes, bumps and bruises.

Education

Fill muffin tins with finger paints.

Young children enjoy educational games using little more than a muffin tin and items around your home. Give a child several buttons or beads in various sizes or colors and ask him to sort like items into the cups. This activity builds fine motor skills and can teach colors, shapes and sizes. You might also use the tin to contain supplies for art projects. Fill each cup with a different color finger paint, or place glitter, pompoms, googly eyes and glue in the cups for an instant craft station.

References

• Plano Independent School District; Muff-N-Tin Crayons; Kathryn Rulien-Bareis; 2004
• Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired; Creating Educational Toys And Activities For Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired; Jenniver Urosevic, et al.; February 2010