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Designer vases from used coffee cupsby makendo on November 25, 2010

Table of Contents

Designer vases from used coffee cups ..............................................................................................

Intro: Designer vases from used coffee cups ......................................................................................

Step 1: Materials and equipment ...............................................................................................

Step 2: What and how .......................................................................................................

Step 3: Sculpt a vase .......................................................................................................

Step 4: Add flowers .........................................................................................................

Related Instructables ........................................................................................................

Comments ................................................................................................................

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Intro: Designer vases from used coffee cupsStyrofoam cups are light, cheap, and insulating, but flimsy and rarely recycled. Here's a way of transforming a used styrofoam cup into a similarly-sized vase of your owndesign. It costs nothing, only takes a few minutes, is ridiculously easy to do, and every vase/pot will be unique. It's an interesting gift if you add flowers or a small plant.

Step 1: Materials and equipmentThis simple project uses equipment that will be found in nearly all kitchens. I used a slow cooker , but a pot with a lid would work fine too, I imagine. You also need asmall bowl and a rubber band . And a used styrofoam cup (a new one would work, of course, but it's much better to recycle/repurpose one).

Image Notes

Image Notes1. Slow cooker and bowl

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1. Used styrofoam coffee cup2. Small strong rubber band

Step 2: What and howStyrofoam is a brand name for expanded polystyrene (a hydrocarbon polymer blown full of gas). Put a styrofoam cup under high pressure and/or heat and it will shrinkdramatically as the gas is driven out. You can do this by putting the cup in a submersible ROV and sending it 1400 m underwater , or much more easily, by popping one ina pressure cooker for half an hour - you'll get a neat miniature coffee cup. It's cute, but not much good for anything (espressos?). The photo below shows how when youheat the coffee cup, it first expands, then shrinks smaller and smaller the longer you leave it. It also gets somewhat distorted, because the plastic gets quite soft. I didthese in the slow cooker, but you get a more perfect little cup in a pressure-cooker (see the second photo - it's also faster).Whether you're making tiny cups or making funky vases of your own design, get the cooker up to heat first (on high). It's also important to cook the cup bain marie styli.e. inside a bowl that is immersed in water. Otherwise, you'll just melt the cup and make a stinky mess of your cookware.

Image Notes1. Regular cup2. After cooking for a minute or two3. After half an hour4. After 1 hour. Aww... isn't it adorable?

Image Notes1. This cup was treated in a pressure cooker. Note how the proportions are nearlyperfect, despite the diminutive size

Image Notes1. Put coffee cup inside bowl that is floating on water (hard to see here, Iknow).

Image Notes1. Put lid on. You should have preheated the slow cooker, or it will take AGES.

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Image Notes1. Something odd has happened to my cup...

Image Notes1. After cooking for an hour or so, you have a mini-cup

Step 3: Sculpt a vaseWe're going to take advantage of the fact that in the first few minutes in the slow cooker, the cup both softens and expands. This behavior can be manipulated byapplying a constant force to some parts of the cup, making it collapse inwards instead.Take a coffee cup, and put a rubber band around it near the top. Put it in the bowl, replace the lid, and boil for a couple of minutes (watch it, don't time it!). Remove once

suitably shape-changed, and take off the rubber band. Done!Try putting two bands on, or put an odd-shaped object inside to act as a mold (I ran out of used coffee cups, so haven't actually tried the latter). This project is great forexperimentation to see what effects you can achieve.Tip: get the rubber band as tight as possible. Strong, tight bands will create the most interesting effects.

Feedback

COASTER19 advises that if you have a pressure cooker, you get best results from looser bands, with the cup upside down, and a 7-minute cooking time.Valaynetine reports that some sorts of polystyrene cup don't change shape at all. The ones I tried - all the same sort - were a soft, relatively bendy type of cup, so that's probably the style to use.calischs from InstructablesTV made a short video based on this instructable, and cut the rim off then immersed the cup in boiling water with the help of a metal weight. It seemed to work well. Check it out, it's only 46 seconds long!

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Image Notes1. I didn't make the band nice and even - I'm guessing the effect would be moreregular if you did.

Image Notes1. After a few minutes in the slow cooker. I watched the process rather thantimed it.2. I used tweezers to help remove the rubber band.

Image Notes1. Two bands for twice the shape changing effect

Image Notes1. Two bands make the shape more interesting

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Image Notes1. The cup becomes quite textured as the individual beads swell in the heat

Step 4: Add flowersWith flowers or a small plant, you have a nice inexpensive gift with a unique twist. I think the plain white vase is interesting enough on its own, but it is also a blank canvasfor your own creativity. It would be great to see variations on the theme, so if you make one, please post a picture in the comments section.

Image Notes1. This vase is exactly the same height as the original cup2. This one is a little shorter, no doubt due to the extra band

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Image Notes1. I don't know why this one buckled so much. It almost looks like a spout

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Image Notes1. These are glass beads, which made the flower stand up

Related Instructables

Designer Vasesfrom StyrofoamCups (video) bycalischs the many uses

of an everydaycoffee cup bydelta1998

styrofoam cup(polystyreneinsulated foamcontainer) beersafe bythematthatter

?omposite PETVases bybara1962

Carleyys BlogRound Up -September 20thby Carleyy

Pretty VaseFrom PlasticBottle by coolcat

Comments

50 comments Add Comment view all 66 comments

WhyHello says: Mar 7, 2011. 7:56 PM REPI'm curious how did u get this idea :)

makendo says: Mar 7, 2011. 10:14 PM REPI knew that you could get a miniature polystyrene cup by pressure-cooking it. I wondered what would happen if I used a slow cooker instead, and the restwas just messing around...

WhyHello says: Mar 7, 2011. 7:55 PM REPI wonder if you can use a microwave

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makendo says: Mar 7, 2011. 10:12 PM REPProbably not. Microwave ovens work their magic on water, and a styrofoam cup doesn't contain much. However, if you added water, put bands on theoutside, and cooked it for a minute or two, who knows? You should try it :)

ellequoi says: Feb 5, 2011. 12:45 PM REPNeat! I wonder how these would work as little planters if you poked holes in the bottom. I'm kind of concerned about the chemicals that would wear off on thepot as well... maybe this would be something I'd try with a reject pot, or a crockpot with a liner added.

Also, would dye in the water stain the cup for you?

makendo says: Feb 6, 2011. 12:30 PM REPThanks. They work just fine as planters, but they're kind of an awkward shape.Any leaching of blowing gas, assuming there is any left in there, will be minuscule - you'd expose yourself to far more toxic chemicals by eating anyblackened piece of food. Or a peanut. Or an apple seed. Or lighting a candle. Or painting something. Fortunately, we have all sorts of clever mechanismsfor scavenging small amounts of toxins out of our system - just as well, or smokers would have to worry about a quick death from cyanide poisoning aswell as a slow one from cancer. The gas used to foam polystyrene is volatile, so if you want to be super-cautious, just do it outside. It won't stick to thepot.Any dye that dissolved in the water would not stick to the cup, unfortunately.

Bunchland says: Feb 4, 2011. 7:12 AM REPWe loved this idea so much we thought we would share it with our readers as well.

http://www.bunchfamily.ca/valentines-day-craft-styrofoam-vases-paper-flowers

makendo says: Feb 4, 2011. 8:53 AM REPThanks for letting me know - good idea to include the video.

Suzanne in Orting says: Jan 6, 2011. 11:03 PM REPI was wondering if you could manipulate the shape even more by putting the cup on a turntable/lazy Susan and using a heat gun. Then, you could heat thecup in specific places. I have one for heat embossing when I rubber stamp.

If I get hold of any styro cups, I'll let you know what happens.

Suzanne in Orting, WA

valleycrosser says: Feb 1, 2011. 2:07 PM REPI know that styrofoam melts almost instantly against the tip of a hot glue gun (personal experience) so it might just create holes in the cup.

Suzanne in Orting says: Feb 1, 2011. 9:07 PM REPI'm sure it would melt the styrofoam if it was held too closely, especially if it was a industrial strength type gun, but the one In have i s a basic rubberstamping type and I think if enough attention in paid to the distance, it will be do-able. In fact, I never thought about using the the heat gun to meltholes in the foam. It could be an interesting addition to the textures.

Since I have sheets of foam, I was thinking about cutting them in circles and using the gun to raise the edge of the blanks to create "plates".

Thanks for the additional ideas!

Suzanne in Orting, WA

makendo says: Jan 7, 2011. 3:28 PM REPInteresting idea; don't be surprised if your cup goes all Salvador Dali on you! Good luck, I look forward to hearing about the results.

annab135 says: Dec 28, 2010. 7:36 AM REPCould several be combined in such a way that a larger vase could be made?

makendo says: Dec 28, 2010. 9:27 AM REPHmm, interesting, I'd never considered it. Are you imagining, say, a triangle of three or a stack of cups? For the triangle, you might get some unusualeffects, but I doubt they'd hold together well unless you left the band(s) in place or glued them. The stack could look really crazy - I hope you try it!

sitzikbs says: Dec 21, 2010. 1:10 PM REPtotally awsome idea! its even great for recyceling!

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Valaynetine says: Dec 17, 2010. 10:48 AM REPI attempted this, but all I had on hand was those stretchy, rubberband like hair ties, the "no knot" kind, not sure if you're familiar- but nothing happened withthe styrofoam cup. Does the type of band I used affect that? I don't see how it would, but after trying about five times, using various levels of boiling water, acrock pot, rice cooker, and a stainless steel stock pot.

makendo says: Dec 17, 2010. 3:50 PM REPI really can't see why the band would matter - anything tight ought to do it. I wonder if it is the type of polystyrene cup, though - some may be more heatresistant or stronger than others. When you say nothing happened, did the cup at least shrink (even if it didn't change shape)?The only other thing I can think of is the temperature - this trick works best if everything is really hot before you start (i.e. the pot should be boiling).Otherwise, it will take a long time.All the cups I tried were the same sort - quite a soft polystyrene, bendy and not brittle. Maybe the more rigid style of cup doesn't work so well. If you couldpossibly post a picture of the type of cup that doesn't work, that would be really helpful. Thanks!

Valaynetine says: Dec 18, 2010. 10:45 AM REPIt could be the type of foam then. The water was boiling pretty heavily, but the cup neither shrank nor expanded, even when left in there with there lidon for about ten minutes. I'll try with a different type of styrofoam, thanks again!

xKari says: Dec 15, 2010. 4:12 PM REPThis looks really awesome! when i told mum about it, she ot concerned about the chemicals from the cups thou h =X

makendo says: Dec 15, 2010. 5:52 PM REPThanks!Promise her that you won't eat the cup.

xKari says: Dec 16, 2010. 5:08 PM REPlol i was referring to when you heat the cups =P

makendo says: Dec 16, 2010. 7:42 PM REPYeah, I know, but I won't try and convince your mum it's safe (even thou h it is). Next time, ask for for iveness rather than permission :)

xKari says: Dec 17, 2010. 4:47 AM REPand equipment

xKari says: Dec 17, 2010. 4:47 AM REPlol but i have to because it's her kitchen XP

makendo says: Dec 17, 2010. 3:50 PM REPFair enough :)

COASTER19 says: Dec 11, 2010. 7:17 PM REPI love this idea. When I tried it, I found that it worked better with a less tight rubber band, the cup upside-down, and in the preassure cooker for 7 minutes. Idont know if it was my cups, but when I put them in the preassure cooker with a fairly tight rubber band they were crushed.

makendo says: Dec 11, 2010. 9:35 PM REPGlad to hear you tried it, & many thanks for the tips, that is really useful to know - I'll add your advice to step 3. A pressure cooker gets a lot hotter than aslow cooker, so your results make sense. Post pictures if you can!

ricerock says: Dec 7, 2010. 1:27 AM REPDo you like place the cup upside down in the bowl and is there no water in the bowl please answer me I am very excited to make one!!!!!-rice rock

makendo says: Dec 7, 2010. 7:24 AM REPWater in the slow cooker. Bowl is empty. Put cup in right way up (see 3rd photo in step 2 for what it should look like before you put the lid on). Make sureeverythin is hot before you start and the rubber band you use is ti ht. Good luck!

jen7714 says: Dec 6, 2010. 12:36 PM REPGreat instructable! I do have a question though. Can you substitute a rice cooker for the slow/pressure cooker?

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makendo says: Dec 6, 2010. 3:27 PM REPThanks. I suspect that anything with a lid that can boil water would work, so give it a try (I've never used a rice cooker to cook rice, much less polystyrenecups). Just make sure everything is up to heat before you put in the cup.(and congratulations on the eclairs!)

jen7714 says: Dec 6, 2010. 5:54 PM REPAhh okay. :) Thanks I'll definitely try it out. These cups look pretty impressive so I was thinking of making some for a centerpiece. Can't wait to try it!

And thank you so much! You too on your runner up finish :)

deladybex says: Dec 5, 2010. 10:36 PM REPHi Ilove thisw idea but have to ask if the plastic gases that are leaving the pressure cooker are haealthy to bearthe in? Ihave to be extra careful with plasticsand heat in any form.thanks

makendo says: Dec 6, 2010. 12:02 AM REPWell, because you're just putting the cup in the bain marie for only a few minutes, the vast majority of the gas remains in the foam (that's why the cupexpands). Of all the experiments you might do with plastic, this must be one of the safest! Also, the gas they use to foam the polystyrene beads is prettybeni n anyway - you'd undoubtedly be exposed to worse when fillin your car or li htin a fire, neither of which are particularly risky activities.

sparkleponytx says: Dec 5, 2010. 9:22 PM REPThanks. This is a beautiful Instructable. The photos are lovely and the idea is original. I'm always looking for more ways to upcycle foam cups that come intomy house. Where I live the city does not recycle this type of plastic. It's up to the individual citizen to locate (and deliver to) a private company for recycling.

makendo says: Dec 5, 2010. 11:54 PM REPThanks. They don't collect expanded polystyrene here either - too bad, because it's relatively easily recycled, just hard to transport because of its bulk.Good luck with the upcycling!

poppet2 says: Dec 5, 2010. 12:40 PM REPThanks for clarifying. My eyes (as well as my brain and body) are old. I don't trust them entirely.I'd like to try this. Sounds creative once you ot the han of it.

makendo says: Dec 5, 2010. 11:51 PM REPGood luck; let us know how you et on.

CrLz says: Dec 5, 2010. 10:47 AM REPElegant, both your designs and your Instructable. Great post!

Duckism says: Dec 5, 2010. 10:02 AM REPI think it's great to make these into just sculturs or soemthing, instead of a vase because it will just leak every where. have you ever left a cup of coffee or teaover night in these kind of cups? the next morning you'd see beads of coffee on the side of the cup. so it can't really be a functional. poeple are greenwashing this project a little too much. espeically if they want to coat the cup with different kind of spray and stuff making this easily recyclable polystyrenecup into soemthing that can't be recycle any more.... how is that green? it would just be much better for the environment if you simply put the cut in arecycling bin.

makendo says: Dec 5, 2010. 10:11 AM REPThere is no need to paint it to make it waterproof - it's every bit as watertight as it ever was. These vases have had water in them for a week or so andare as dry as a bone on the outside. While the expanded polystyrene is mostly air, it's watertight by virtue of its hydrophobicity - the polar watermolecules aren't in the least interested in interacting with the polymer, so they don't penetrate the cup in the slightest. I only suggested painting it fordecoration; it is completely functional without.

poppet2 says: Dec 5, 2010. 8:55 AM REPAnother question. If the cup doesn't have water in it, how does it remain upright? I can't tell what has water in i t and what doesn't.

rat3 says: Dec 5, 2010. 9:18 AM REPI believe he is saying to put water in your slow cooker pot; float a dry metal bowl in the water; Then put the coffee cup (no water in it) in the dry metalbowl. Similar to a double boiler when melting chocolate. Very cool. Great for Xmas gifts. Thanks!

makendo says: Dec 5, 2010. 9:52 AM REPExactly correct!

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nejo0017 says: Dec 5, 2010. 9:48 AM REPreally nice reuse!!!

lotusduck says: Dec 5, 2010. 8:47 AM REPTo me these seem like super tiny lampshades.

makendo says: Dec 5, 2010. 9:48 AM REPThey do, don't they? :)

weibbed says: Dec 5, 2010. 8:40 AM REPThis is very clever and will be fun to try.

Just a note though: foam cups are NOT Styrofoam. Styrofoam is a trade name for a different product and it is not used in foam cups or meat trays or any ofthe numerous other food related containers that people call Styrofoam. Mostly it is used for insulating house and occasionally in craft products.

makendo says: Dec 5, 2010. 9:46 AM REPThanks, and yes, you're quite right. However... it's tricky whenever a brand name becomes the default name for something, so I tried to both call thematerial by its common name and explain that the material used is actually expanded polystyrene.

poppet2 says: Dec 5, 2010. 8:54 AM REPDoes the styrofoam cup contain water? Is the bowl in water as well as filled with water?

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