A few ideas..

1.When storing little breakables,like little Christmas doodads,or even crafting,they have thier own little holder,use egg cartons.You can cover with material.They're great for snaps,buttons,safety pins,etc.
2.Instead of using coffee to dye material,how about scented coffee,interesting twist.
3.Cheap crackle is acrylic paint and white glue,1 to 1 mixture.Paint a bottom color,then the crackle over it.
4.Mailing tubes-save those cardboard tubes from papertowels,even toilet paper rolls for little things.
5.Pineapple can,Fill with water,freeze,take out and punch designs,melt ice,stick a little tealight in it.


"Colonial Sugar Cones"

3 Cups of brown sugar
1 Tbsp. each of nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger
3 Tbsp water

Equipment:
Candy thermometer,Wood spoon,Deep Non-Stick Pan,rubber Spatula, pam cooking spray and molds
Directions:
Boil the sugar carefully over high heat stirring until sugar is dissolved. Boil til the sugar reaches 220 degrees on the thermometer. Be real careful the temperature can get too hot real quick and real fast when it's almost done.Don't let the pan boil over, if it cooks too long it can scorch. Remove from heat, and let cool for 5 minutes. Stir in the nutmeg,cinnamon and ginger.don't let it sit too long,it will get hard.Pour the sugar into molds that have been sprayed with a little cooking spray.Then when it's completely cooled,you can remove from the molds.You can turn them upside down or tap just a little.