Takeout containers are both wonderfully water-resistant and stylish. This makes them ideal for putting plants in and leaving them on a windowsill.

I'm hoping that the recycled takeout container planter, in conjunction with the Venus flytrap, will both liven up my living situation and rid me of those pesky mosquitoes that eat me alive when I sleep.

Feel free to plant something flowery and more welcoming in the one you make.

Step 1: Go Get Stuff.

You will need:

- 2 takeout containers
- 5 beaded pins
- Some potting soil
- A plant
- A screwdriver or awl
- A ruler
- A razor

Step 2: The Planter Carton.

Preparing the first carton is easy. First wash it out and next fold in the flaps so that the top of the carton looks nice and clean.

Step 3: The Tray Carton.

Wash the carton out and then open it up so that it lays flat.

Find the creases of the inner square and then cut a 1.75" border around that square. Note that if done properly, the border you create won't be exactly square. That is okay.

Trim the new shape so that you cut a diagonal from the top of one outward crease to the top of the crease that is approximately 90 degrees away (see secondary picture).

All the creases should naturally fold outwards. That is fine, but you want them to fold inwards. So, fold them all inwards. It should now look like the one in the picture.

Step 4: Elevate the Carton.

Insert the beaded pins into the bottom of the carton. Place them so that there is one in every corner and one in the center.

Step 5: Poke the Carton. Poke It Good.

Poke some holes in the bottom of the carton using your screwdriver or awl. I found it nice to put these holes halfway between each corner pin and the center pin. This looks nice and symmetrical.