Have you ever discovered something a bit unbelievable that you just have to try? I did! I saw a post on Instructables a few years ago and was curious to see if it really worked. It was about transforming Styrofoam coffee cups into uniquely shaped vases. How cool would this be if it really worked? Imagine the possibilities! And the best part is you only need Styrofoam cups, a crock pot or large pot w/lid, rubber bands, water and probably weights to keep the foam cups down. For a complete tutorial see: http://plumperfectandme.blogspot.com/2015/07/wonky-foam-cup-vases-how-to.html

1. Start by filling a crock pot or large pot 3/4 full with water and set heat on high to boil. 2. Put a rubber band or bands around a Styrofoam cup. The tighter the bands the greater a unique design will develop.

3. Add a small weight - I used a small glass votive) to keep the cup partially down and put in hot water. Tip: Use pot holder gloves and tongs - the water is extremely hot!

4. Watch the cup transform - it could take just a few minutes or much longer depending on the crock pot. It only took a few minutes using a large pot w/lid, but nearly one hour using a generic brand crockpot. A more sophisticated crock pot with many features also changed the cup in a few minutes. 5. Carefully remove cup with tongs and remove rubber bands. The cup is cool but the water is hot, hot, hot!

Here's the group of banded cups I submersed. One, I cut the top off and tighten two bands around the foam. It is bending slightly and I didn't do such a good job of cutting the foam. I like the ones where I just used one rubber band the best.