With the ease of heating water in a microwave or Keurig, you rarely hear the whistle of a tea kettle used to brew tea these days (even though Teapots became a household necessity around the world at a time). But that doesn’t mean you should pass on that unique or vintage teapot you see at a thrift store or garage sale. There are many ways to use these quirky utensils around the house, viz Transforming a thrifty vintage teapot into a DIY centerpiece. Or, better yet, follow an Instagram user’s lead hunnie_bunnie_bee and turn it into a tissue dispenser. The spout is the perfect outlet for individual tissues.
Whether you choose a rectangular or square tissue box, design choices are limited. Sure, you might get a stylish, patterned exterior, but it’s still a distinctly bland cardboard box. Using a sturdy container to hold the tissue – such as teapots – protects the paper, disguises the tissue and makes a beautiful display piece. As one commenter said, “The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life!”
If you don’t have any old teapots lying around the house, scour thrift stores, estate sales, and garage sales until you find the perfect design. Perhaps an odd shape or pattern catches your eye, or you may choose something that complements the theme of the room. For example, the tomato pot used in the original project would look great in Honey_Bunny_Bee’s kitchen.
Fill your decorative teapot with tissue
You want to start with clean tea. Scrub it well, especially the inside where the tissues will sit. Wait until the kettle is completely dry before proceeding. If you like the look of the pot, leave it as is and load it with tissues. Otherwise, you can decorate the pot with a fresh coat of paint or other decorations. Wrap the handle in ribbon or twine for a cozy touch. Or, paint a cork trivet to place under the kettle, so it won’t scratch the surface where you put it.
To load the tissues, remove the lid from the container. Remove the tissues from the package, keep them stacked and folded, and set the box aside for later — you can Reuse empty tissue boxes in your laundry room. Next, place a pile of tissue with the folded end inside the pot towards the spout. Pull the end tissue out by sewing it, so you can grab it when you need it. The paper looks like a bit of steam coming out of the fork.
Place a teapot tissue holder in the bathroom, kitchen or living room for a creative way to display tissues. And if you want to add whimsy, consider adding small organizers or teacups as catch-all containers nearby.
