Cheap way to start seeds indoors by repurposing household items

What a cool idea. Dh bought me a little greenhouse for my birthday, and I am using egg cartons to start my seeds. Then I am cutting plastic water bottles in half for the second stage planting. Although I like the toilet paper roll idea. I may use that as well.

This is a great idea will have to try this one.

We always use the string and inverted bottle method. 32 oz Powerade bottles (like go on the 15 for $10 all the time are our favorite but any plastic drink bottle works. Cut the bottle at the "waist". Invert the top so that the top/hole points down and set in the bottom of bottle. Cut a small hole in a coffee filter. Put an old shoelace or piece of cotton/rope through the hole in the filter. I usually make mine about 6 to 8 inches. Put filter in bottle so string goes sits in bottom of bottom bottle and there is enough to wind through soil. Fill the coffee filter with potting material/soil. Plant seeds in the soil. For the first watering, get the soil moist but for subsequent waterings you can just lift the top and fill the bottom reservoir. Your string will wick the moisture up an through the soil. Set the bottles in a sunny window sill and keep reservoir filled. When it comes time to plant lift coffee filter and all out of bottle and plant filter and all into the ground unless you have more than one seedling then separate. The coffee filter will disintegrate in the soil. You may find your string later or it may disappear into a birds nest. Great for kids as they can't over water and if they forget to water a day, the plants are still ok.

oh and depending how tall your plants are when you transfer them, you may be able to just put the bottle top over them--Other wise cutting the bottom off a milk jug or two liter bottle and putting the top over the plants is a great way to keep the rabbits off and keep the plants warm as when first transferred. THe hole at the top allows for watering and venting but the cover keeps warm. 

I got mine started in a container.  I am desperate for fresh basil!

Never started my own greenhouse before I need some tips because I am interested in starting one.

Another idea is to actually do the starter seeds in half an egg shell.  Then once it has started growing, you set the whole thing in to plant!