Skip to content

Top Navigation

Real Simple Logo Real Simple Logo
  • Food
  • Home
  • Life
  • Health
  • Money
  • Style and Beauty
  • Holidays & Entertaining
  • News
  • Shop

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • My Account
  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Free Organizing App this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Real Simple

Real Simple Logo Real Simple Logo
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 12 Good Books to Read in Winter

      As the days get chillier and snow starts falling, curl up with one of these good books to read in winter. Read More Next
    • 10 Virtual Games to Play When You Can't Be Together

      Close the distance with fun games you can play from the comfort of separate homes. Read More Next
    • A Guide for How to Measure Your Ring Size at Home

      There are three common ways you can measure your ring size right at home so you can finally get your ring measurement right, for good. Read More Next
  • Food

    Food

    See All Food

    13 Air Fryer Recipes That Are *Almost* Too Good to Be True

    • Recipes
    • Real Simple Cooking School
    • Cooking Tips & Techniques
    • Shopping and Storing
    • Kitchen Tools and Products
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home

    Easy Homemade Carpet Cleaners to Tackle Every Stain

    Made with products you probably have on hand
    • Organizing
    • Cleaning
    • Decorating
    • Gardening
    • Home Improvement
    • Quick Fix
    • Real Simple Home
  • Life

    Life

    See All Life

    10 Creative Ways to Have Fun in the Snow

    Bundle up and head outside (or stay toasty inside)—either way, everyone in the family will love these snow day ideas.
    • Family
    • Entertainment
    • Technology
    • Wedding Planning
    • Travel Ideas
    • Adulting
    • Get It Done
    • Waste Less, Live Better
  • Health

    Health

    See All Health

    30 Healthiest Foods to Eat Every Day

    • Preventive Health
    • Mental Health
    • Health Coach
    • Crisis Coping
    • Fitness & Exercise
    • Sleep
    • Healthy Eating
  • Money

    Money

    See All Money

    The Ultimate Guide to Tipping Etiquette in Every Situation, From Restaurants to Hair Salons

    How much should you tip your hairdresser? What about your food-delivery person? Here's when to tip, when to skip, and how much to tip in any situation (even the confusing ones).
    • Saving Money
    • Money Made Simple
    • Spending
    • Money Etiquette
  • Style and Beauty

    Style and Beauty

    See All Style and Beauty

    9 Hair Color Trends Experts Predict for 2021

    • Clothing
    • Skincare
    • Shoes
    • Hair
    • Clothing Care
    • Makeup
  • Holidays & Entertaining

    Holidays & Entertaining

    See All Holidays & Entertaining

    PowerPoint Parties Are the Socially Distant Party Trend You Have to Try: Here’s How to Host One

    Presenting a new way to party together—virtually.
    • All Holidays
    • Entertaining
    • Christmas
    • Home for the Holidays
    • Gifts
    • Hanukkah
    • Come Together
    • Thanksgiving
    • Easter
    • Father’s Day
    • Mother’s Day
    • Halloween
  • News
  • Shop

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • My Account
  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Free Organizing App this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Real Simple
  2. New Uses for Old Things
  3. New Uses for Christmas Things

New Uses for Christmas Things

By Real Simple
Updated January 31, 2014
Skip gallery slides
Save FB Tweet
Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Surprising tricks for holiday-inspired items.
Start Slideshow

1 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Tinsel as Wreath Garland

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Ropes of tinsel, wrapped around a foam circle, make a fun, modern wreath that you can use year after year.

1 of 70

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Holiday Tags as Drink Labels

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Merlot gone missing? A small, adhesive gift tag keeps each drink in the right hand.

2 of 70

3 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Bobby Pin as Gift-Card Clip

Credit: Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran

More than just a hair accessory: Attach a note to a ribbon with a colorful or bedazzled bobby pin.

3 of 70

Advertisement

4 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Wrapping Paper as Confetti

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

You could toss old giftwrap in the garbage or… in the air. Use a hold punch to turn gently used paper (or last year’s stock) into confetti.

4 of 70

5 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Gift Tags as File Label

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Use leftover, adhesive gift tags to label file folders. Holly leaves = medical records, Santa = bills (obviously—you owe him for the bike, the LEGOS, the dollhouse…).

5 of 70

6 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Playing Card as Gift Tag

Credit: Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran

A playing card is a winning stand-in for a gift tag. Numbers 2 to 10 are fun for kids' birthdays; the king and queen of hearts are perfectly suited as valentines. (Use a permanent marker to write your message.)

6 of 70

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Toilet Paper Tube as Wrapping Paper Holder

Credit: Photo, Erica McCartney; Styling, Kristine Trevino

Slide empty toilet paper tubes over wrapping paper to keep it from unraveling.

7 of 70

8 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Holiday Lights as Night Light

Credit: Levi Brown

Fill a large Mason jar with a strand or two of battery-powered lights to add whimsy to a walkway or a nightstand.

8 of 70

9 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Ribbon as Place Card Embellishment

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Punch four holes around a piece of cardstock, then tie two pieces of ribbon along the top and bottom to make a striped place card.

9 of 70

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Wristband as Wine Protector

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Toting more than one bottle to a party? Slip a wristband over one to prevent banging or breaking.

10 of 70

11 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Wrapping Paper as Placemat

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Turn rectangles of giftwrap into placemats you don’t mind getting dirty. You can even write guests’ names on the edges to designate seats.

11 of 70

12 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Party Hat as Candy Dish

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Use extra paper party hats to corral candy on a display table—or fill them with popcorn to hand out to kids.

12 of 70

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Use a Wineglass as a Candleholder

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Give some height to a candle display by perching a pillar on an upside-down wineglass.

13 of 70

14 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Ribbon as Photo Matte

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Glue ribbon around an existing matte to turn a basic frame into one-of-a-kind art.

14 of 70

15 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Shoelace as Ribbon

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Happy birthday, sport! Use a (clean) shoelace for a simple, reusable gift tie.

15 of 70

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Sticker Dots as Party Cups

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Turn plain white cups into custom-designed party wear with simple dot stickers, available at any office supply store.

16 of 70

17 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Tinsel as Ornament Filler

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

If you have extra tinsel but aren’t feeling a fuzzy tree this year, stuff a handful into clear glass ornament balls. You’ll get tinsel in small, sparkly doses.

17 of 70

18 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Wrapping Paper as Tray Liner

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Turn an old tray into a special serving piece with a single scrap of pretty paper. Use double-sided tape to keep it secure.

18 of 70

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Tree Bow Ornament as Napkin Ring

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Use tree bows (with built-in loops on the back) to hold napkins for Christmas dinner—or turn any ornament into a decorative tie by threading a ribbon through the wire loop on top.

19 of 70

20 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Cupcake Liner as Mason Jar Lining

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Secure a cupcake liner over the top of a jar with a rubber band. It can be a temporary fix if you’ve lost the lid, a pretty solution to keep flies out of the lemonade, or a cute topper for a gift-in-a-jar.

20 of 70

21 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Paper Towel Tube as Linen Organizer

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Keep linen placemats and runners crease-free; roll them around a paper towel holder instead of folding.

21 of 70

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Buttons as Appetizer Stand

Credit: Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran

Here's a fanciful and fun way to serve cubed cheese, cherry tomatoes, and more: Place large buttons on a tray, spear the hors d'oeuvres with toothpicks, then anchor the toothpick ends in the buttons' holes.

22 of 70

23 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Hanger as Ribbon Organizer

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Turn a tangle of ribbons into a neat presentation. Hang coordinating colors over the prongs of a tie hanger.

23 of 70

24 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Kid Art as Holiday Wrap

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Oh, that’s grandma dressed as an alligator? Perfect for wrapping her birthday gift. (And the fridge door is full anyway.)

24 of 70

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Gift Box as Sugar Holder

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

More lovely to look at than the branded box from the store, but it still slides easily into the pantry for storage.

25 of 70

26 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Cupcake Liners as Garland

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Using a large sewing needle, thread a string through the alternating colorful cupcake liners to make a ruffled garland.

26 of 70

27 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Binder Clip as Ribbon Organizer

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Clip one end of the spool to keep the ribbon from unfurling in your giftwrap drawer.

27 of 70

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Candy Canes as Place Card Holder

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

What nice curves… for holding a place card. Tie together three canes with a ribbon to make a sturdy stand.

28 of 70

29 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Candy Wrapper as DIY Gift Wrap

Credit: James Wojcik

Sworn off candy? Use the leftover wrappers to sugarcoat small-scale presents: Cut a wrapper into a flat sheet, then fold and tape as usual.

29 of 70

30 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Cupcake Liner as Decorative Snowflakes

Credit: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Create a winter wonderland in the entryway. Flatten white paper liners (foil ones will work, too), fold into halves or quarters, then snip out shapes along the folds. When you open them back up, voilà: snowflakes you can string from the ceiling.

30 of 70

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

31 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Cocktail Shaker as Egg Scrambler

Credit: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Whip up fluffy omelets by adding eggs, milk, and seasonings together in a cocktail mixer. Give it a few shakes and it's ready for the skillet. Submitted by: suziegirl

31 of 70

32 of 70

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email