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New Uses for Old Things
Entertaining New Uses

Entertaining New Uses

By Real Simple

Updated November 06, 2017

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Victor Prado

Fun new ideas for paper plates, cakestands, name tags, and more.

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Wine Glass as Dip Server

Credit: Victor Prado

Scoop guacamole or salsa into a wineglass, then stand it in the center of a bowl of chips for an impromptu chip-and-dip platter.

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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.

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Washi Tape as Cocktail Flag

Credit: Erica McCartney; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Skip drink umbrellas in favor of this low-effort DIY option. Attach decorative tape to coffee stirrers and drop into signature cocktails. Guests will, well, drink to that!

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Gift Tag as Glass Marker

Credit: Erica McCartney; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Personalize key tags and attach to glass stems with a decorative ribbon. This way, each guest can fill their own glass with whatever tastes right!

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Ribbon as Cake Stand Embellishment

Credit: Erica McCartney; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Take your cake stand to new heights by wrapping a plain glass vase with a ribbon in your signature shade.

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Wrapping Paper as Napkin Ring

Credit: Erica McCartney; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Cut even strips of leftover wrapping paper, wrap around a napkin, and affix with tape. There’s no easier—or cheaper—way to dress up place settings.

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Ashtray as Condiment Holder

Credit: Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran

Fill that (clean!) old ashtray with soy sauce instead. The notches make a handy resting spot for chopsticks between bites of spicy tuna.

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Tulle as Votive Embellishment

Credit: Erica McCartney; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Add a feminine and romantic touch to the reception by illuminating tables with an array of small glass votives wrapped in delicate white tulle.

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Frame as Table Numbers

Credit: Erica McCartney; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Grab your bridesmaids and settle in for a night of crafting. With this easy DIY project, it’s a breeze to create table numbers that are beautiful and budget-friendly. Purchase cheap frames (or use ones you already have on hand), attach numbered stickers to a background in your signature color, and frame.

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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.

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Party Hat as Confetti Holder

Credit: Erica McCartney; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Hang party hats upside down and fill with colorful ready-to-be-thrown confetti.

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CD Sleeve as Confetti Holder

Credit: Erica McCartney; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Has your iPod player rendered that stack of CDs useless? Collect the spare sleeves, fill with confetti, and pass out to guests so they’re prepared to send off the happy couple.

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Clothespin as Napkin Holder

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Use a clothespin to keep napkins neatly stacked at a cocktail party—or from blowing away at a picnic.

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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.

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Doily as Candle Holder

Credit: Erica McCartney; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Looking for an easy and inexpensive way to dress up tables? Give pillar candles delicate, lacey embellishments by folding doilies in half, wrapping them around candles, and securing with tape.

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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.

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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.

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Kazoo as Place Card

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Ready to blow it out at your next dinner party? Use a permanent marker to write guests’ names on kazoos to designate seats—perfect for New Year’s Eve.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Ribbon as Utensil Holder

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

When utensils are wrapped together, guests can grab what they need in one go—great for a buffet table.

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Tissue Paper as Cupcake Wrapper

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

This frilly tissue paper wrap makes a birthday treat even sweeter. Cut a circle and gently gather it around the bottom of the cupcake, securing with a rubber band.

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Post-It Notes as Garland

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Admit it: You’ve always wanted to unfurl an entire stack of Post-its. Here’s your chance. Gently attach one end to a wall and spread the stack across without pulling too tight (you don’t want the sheets to come un-stuck) to make a quick, graphic garland.

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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.

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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.

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Pumpkin as Place Card

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Spell out guests’ names with adhesive letters (or write them with a permanent marker); send the mini gourds home as party favors.

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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.

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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.

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Entertaining New Uses

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Wine Glass as Dip Server

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Ribbon as Photo Matte

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Washi Tape as Cocktail Flag

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Gift Tag as Glass Marker

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Ribbon as Cake Stand Embellishment

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Wrapping Paper as Napkin Ring

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Ashtray as Condiment Holder

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Tulle as Votive Embellishment

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Frame as Table Numbers

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Buttons as Appetizer Stand

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Party Hat as Confetti Holder

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CD Sleeve as Confetti Holder

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Clothespin as Napkin Holder

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Wristband as Wine Protector

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Doily as Candle Holder

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Sticker Dots as Party Cups

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Holiday Tags as Drink Labels

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Kazoo as Place Card

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Wrapping Paper as Placemat

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Use a Wineglass as a Candleholder

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Holiday Lights as Night Light

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Party Hat as Candy Dish

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Wrapping Paper as Confetti

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Ribbon as Utensil Holder

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Tissue Paper as Cupcake Wrapper

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Post-It Notes as Garland