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 Recycling "game" What would you do with Styrofoam blocks...? March 12, 2005 9:43 AM

Would you like something typical, or not. Many, many uses, or  a few? ...I'm thinking about those big packaging styrofoam block, or ...

Well honesty, there is no where here that takes them. Once a year you can take them to the landfill...I'm not sure what they do with them from there. Send them somewhere else, I supose..

I would LOVE to see what you might do with these!

So start time is now we will do the three day time limit...Say times up @ 1:00 PM(EST) Tuesday!

Wishes of inspiration & LUCK!

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 March 12, 2005 10:27 AM

We use them as the base for many art projects - they are easy to carve and can then be covered in a concrete ,stucco or paper mache mixture We have a large fountain at the entry to the front door that was originally 3  big pieces of marine grade styrafoam  my husband found on the side of the road .These are really big ; 3 feet wide and several feet in diameter .The pieces we found were nearly about 6 feet  in circumference   We cut it to fit the wall stacked it as desired carved out the centers . then used a  concrete  mix on the whole thing to make it one piece .We then stuccoed the exterior areas and embedded dozens of lovely seashells  sea glass pieces  and coarse sand into the stucoo . The bowls were covered in deep blue glass and ceramic tile mosiac  made from tiles that we salvage from a local tile manufacturer ( he gives us his 'trash" to use its TREASURE ) . Oh, BTW  of couse we had set up our large neptune scultpure fountain head ( that my husband scultpted and then cast ) on the wall above and we cut the needed water line hole BEFORE we applied concrete to the styrofoam !  It looks awesome and we get many many compliments on it ! Sorry ,I am such a fossil in some ways ; i dont have a digital camera to sghare pics with you !  [ send green star]  [ accepted] 		 
 March 13, 2005 6:35 AM

It's called 'polystyrene' in the UK. I thought I'd do a quick Google to check we were talking about the same thing, and spent the next hour going through the links! Dow, who make the stuff, have their own craft page at http://www.dow.com/craft/index.htm - including this delightful memo board: and home-made "Faberge" eggs and these adorable penguins! Other ideas: Draw a simple motif on a small block, and carve around it to make a craft stamp. Make model boats; they should float beautifully, and you can paint them bright colours. For children over 3 years: a toy hammer, a block of polystyrene and some golf pegs. Hours of fun! Paint a muted green or brown, and stick artificial or dried flowers into it. Add feathers (discarded, of course) and spear some curly ribbon to the block to add pzzazz. Carve a head shape into the block, and use as a mould for felt hats. Similarly, a Styrofoam "foot" can be inserted into shoes for storage, to help them keep their shape. Small blocks can be used to keep earrings, hat pins and other small pointed items safe. You could even paint or cover the block and decorate it, to display your jewellery in style! More Internet finds: This - I kid you not - is a therapeutic horseshoe: And my favourite just has to be this robot: Its name is Ork Stompa, and its instructions can be found at http://www.terragenesis.co.uk/bits/stompaFP.html Hee hee! Now, where did I stash that Styrofoam?  [ send green star]  [ accepted] 		 
- March 13, 2005 6:34 PM

I like using packing foam, but not the styrofoam variety.  The stuff I'm talking about is a stiffer type of foam used for packing large electronic measurement equipment.  I cut it up into kitchen-sponge size and use it as a cleaning sponge--by far more extensively re-usable (durable) than that soft stuff that is sold AS kitchen cleaning sponges.

There's a still stiffer type of foam, also used for packing large electronics measurement equipment, but is not sponge-like.  It's more carvable than styrofoam and I use it for all kinds of things from pincusions to space fillers to--gosh--whatever.

Only when I have an insulation job or a gap-filler job do I use styrofoam.  When winterizing around those holes under the sink where the plumbing passes thru, it's a good thing to stuff into those holes, caulk up remaining gaps, and re-install the hole flashing.  It sure does a good job of stopping household drafts!

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Peanuts March 15, 2005 7:47 AM

I use the peanuts they pack things with and also the smaller packing stuff (I break it in peices) and use it to put in the bottom of my house plants in the pots. It is lighter than rocks and lets the water drain the same.  [ send green star]  [ accepted] 		 
- March 15, 2005 7:45 PM

Actually, I do that with peanuts, too.  And when I planted new trees a couple years ago after an ice storm decimated the ones I had, I put a bunch of those at the bottom of the planting hole to provide good drainage (some fruit trees are picky that way).

AND I use 'em for stuffing up holes prior to caulking, too, like I do other foam scraps.

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You all came up with great ideas!!! March 16, 2005 9:34 AM

I'm glad to see new faces!!!

This is tough for me, to crown the new winner...

SarahJane (I think...; forfit, saying she did an online check?!)Great info. Very informative!!! Thank you!!!! What a wealth of information!

Teresa! I know that for stage effect often they will use strofoam as base...I never knew how they went about covering it! Thank you for the in depth info!!! 

I think even though I'm late. I should exstend this one more day...I want to be fair...If anyone can come up with two things they would use strofoam BLOCKS,or  polystyrene BLOCKS for .

If ANYONE does not agree. I would love for YOU ALL to vote on the winner of this round!!!

Luck, inspiration, & love,

 Crystal  

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Hmmmm.... seems there's a bit of a question??? March 16, 2005 8:23 PM

Now, Given that SaraJane came up with all kinds of neat things to do with styrofoam or (ah, dang it!  whatever England calls it!)!!  [wishing I could see the original post while I type this!!!]   Seems to me that the original quest or request was what to do with the BLOCKS.  

IMHO    I would say that the real winner is the other person [once again my memory isn't what it used to be... wish I could see the other posts from here!!!] who came up with some things she actually used the blocks for??? 

So, SaraJane???  Do you agree??? 

Hey!  This is just a game!  So ALL ideas are welcome.  It's a win-win thing when we can all share how to do new and better things with items we might otherwise throw away.  In other words, the things you posted, SaraJane, are much appreciated!!!!

AGREED????

I think we'll all agree to keep this kinda fun!

Love ya all!

Jan B

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WAIT a minute! March 16, 2005 8:26 PM

Looks like SaraJane had a lot of "block" ideas....  [Now that I looked BACK on the postings!]

So...  Winner?  

Is anybody else out there? 

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Hiding in nearby bushes... March 16, 2005 8:32 PM

I'm sorry to say that I'm deeply humbled by my short sightedness....

Perhaps you would find it in your heart to ignore me tonight? Me & Mr. White Russian are celebrating St. Paddy's day a wee bit early?

Ok, then.... back to your regularly scheduled program.

OH!!!  By The Way!

I have actually used styrofoam blocks for other things!

AS a fake-flower base in a neat basket!

OR... to pack away my scanner when I moved it - along with some styro egg crates...  worked really well!

{EXEMPTING MYSELF FROM THE WINNERS LIST THIS TIME!}

The silly girl from Texas....

Jan B  

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 March 17, 2005 12:09 AM

Jan beat me to it.  I was going to suggest that styrofoam blocks are great for flower arrangement bases.

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 March 17, 2005 1:46 AM

I must admit, I wasn't really playing the game; I can't remember when I've used styrofoam / polystyrene for anything except cushioning material (when moving house, or posting delicate items). So my contribution was just a bit of fun I vote for Teresa, for her wonderful artistic creations! It takes real talent to turn a discarded lump into an object of beauty.  [ send green star]  [ accepted] 		 
YOu Ladies are making this tuff! March 17, 2005 11:31 AM

I loved ALL of your ideas!

I like to use the peanuts in my planters , and kids can do art projects with them!!  The blocks...well, I know to to fill in spaces...(Idon't often do it.for shame on me 

(reading, & re reading...This is what i did)

Okay. This is what I did, when I went back through the thread.

Clara -1

Teresa -1

Jan -2

BA T -1

SarahJane -1

So...DA,DA,DA,DAH

Jan has 2 ideas. So I now crown her queen of recycle!!(*said in booming voice*)

.......................

                     

I hope I did make it clear I was extending the cut off ...

Me always wishing you,

Luck and inspiration!!!

Happy St. Patties Day!

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Oh No! I forgot to say... March 17, 2005 11:35 AM

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU ALL!!! For adding your ideas!

Jan did you remember to put a drop of green food coloring in your drinks!

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Free toys March 17, 2005 7:38 PM

I did remember when my kids were small (back in the dark ages) that the stryofom blocks kept them entertained for hours. I let them have non sharp knives and let them cut and build before I trashed them. They kind of made a mess but it kept them busy.

You could cut them into big and small blocks and paint them (or let the kids paint them) and use them for light weight building blocks for the kids???

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WOW I =am= humbled March 17, 2005 8:20 PM

Me?  The Winner???   How'd that happen?   I'd say Mr. White Russian did it, but then, that's hard to prove *biggest grin*.  Nope, no Green in MY WR's...  but I used to cook my kids Green Eggs n Ham when they were little!  They thought it was really neat!  And!  They ARE really half Irish.  Their dad is full blooded Irish - from both of his familys' sides, So they can claim it.  I can't, however.    my background is English, Dutch & German, with a smattering of French. I wore the green today anyways! 

     

 HA HA HA HA!!

Ok, I have to come up with a new item to challenge all of you with, do I?   Give me a day.  I'll post it tomorrow night.

Thanks for playing this "game"    It =is= kinda fun to see what others can figure out to do with "trash to treasure" type items!

Jan

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Go float ! March 29, 2005 10:14 PM

I have an acquaintance that was saving bottle corks for a raft !    So maybe you could save your LARGE foam pieces  for a self-engineered  BARGE !  (Afterall, I think the older styles were made from that anyway)  [ send green star]  [ accepted] 		 
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