New Uses for Old Things: Holiday Edition

Mark Weiss

Surprising new uses for ribbon, cookie cutters, wrapping paper, and more.

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Candy Canes as Cupcake Decorations

Mark Weiss

Remove the cellophane wrapping from the canes and form hearts by placing them hook to hook and tail to tail on a nonstick baking sheet or one lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350°F for 2 to 4 minutes (depending on the canes’ size) or until they stick together when you pinch the ends lightly. Cool thoroughly and remove with a spatula. If you want to make flat hearts with psychedelic stripes, bake for 8 to 10 minutes.

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Playing Card as Gift Tag

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.)

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Doily as Candle Holder

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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Ribbon as Utensil Holder

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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Bobby Pin as Gift-Card Clip

Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran

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

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Wrapping Paper as Napkin Ring

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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Wrapping Paper as Tray Liner

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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Toilet Paper Tube as Wrapping Paper Holder

Photo, Erica McCartney; Styling, Kristine Trevino

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

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Washi Tape as Cocktail Flag

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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Birthday Candles as Valentine’s Day Card

Levi Brown; Styling: Blake Ramsey

Turn a birthday party prop into a loved one's bright spot on February 14. All you'll need to make this card is a blank note card, glue, and a felt tip marker.

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Ribbon as Cake Stand Embellishment

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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Matchbook as Valentine’s Day Card

Levi Brown; Styling: Blake Ramsey

Once you've found your perfect match, it's easy to turn sentiments into handmade crafts. Start with a blank note card, glue, and a felt tip marker.

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Playing Card as Valentine’s Day Card

Levi Brown; Styling: Blake Ramsey

When the stakes are high, you'd bet your money (and your heart) on this guy. Start with a blank note card, glue, and a felt tip marker.

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Puzzle Pieces as Valentine’s Day Card

Levi Brown; Styling: Blake Ramsey

For the one who lights up your life, create a card that'll be for keeps. Start with a blank note card, glue, and a felt tip marker.

See more homemade valentines.

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Holiday Lights as Night Light

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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Candy Wrapper as DIY Gift Wrap

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.

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Party Hat as Candy Dish

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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Tinsel as Ornament Filler

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.

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Tissue Paper as Cupcake Wrapper

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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Holiday Tags as Drink Labels

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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Ribbon as Shoelace

Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Let everyone know you march to the beat of your own drum; use colorful ribbon in place of shoelaces. Change when the mood strikes.

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Cereal Box as Sweets Carrier

Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran

Attention, PTA members: Here’s a practical Transport Alternative for the bake sale. Tape a cereal box closed, then cut away the front or back panel to create a tray for those top-selling brownies. Best of all, you can just "donate" the box.

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Shoelace as Ribbon

Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

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

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Ribbon as Place Card Embellishment

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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Post-It Notes as Garland

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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Paper Towel Tube as Linen Organizer

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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Kid Art as Holiday Wrap

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.)

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Buttons as Appetizer Stand

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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Pumpkin as Place Card

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

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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Pine Cone as Place Card

Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Dust off pinecones from the yard to make rustic (and free) place card holders for a fall dinner party. You can also paint them for a more modern look.

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Sticker Dots as Party Cups

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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Kazoo as Place Card

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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New Uses for Old Things: Holiday Edition

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Candy Canes as Cupcake Decorations

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Playing Card as Gift Tag

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Doily as Candle Holder

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Ribbon as Utensil Holder

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Bobby Pin as Gift-Card Clip

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Wrapping Paper as Napkin Ring

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Wrapping Paper as Tray Liner

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Toilet Paper Tube as Wrapping Paper Holder

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Washi Tape as Cocktail Flag

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Birthday Candles as Valentine’s Day Card

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Ribbon as Cake Stand Embellishment

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Matchbook as Valentine’s Day Card

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Playing Card as Valentine’s Day Card

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Puzzle Pieces as Valentine’s Day Card

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Holiday Lights as Night Light

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Candy Wrapper as DIY Gift Wrap

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Party Hat as Candy Dish

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Tinsel as Ornament Filler

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Tissue Paper as Cupcake Wrapper

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Holiday Tags as Drink Labels

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Ribbon as Shoelace

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Cereal Box as Sweets Carrier

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Shoelace as Ribbon

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Ribbon as Place Card Embellishment

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Post-It Notes as Garland

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Paper Towel Tube as Linen Organizer