Real Simple
New Uses for Old Things
New Uses for Old Things: Holiday Edition

New Uses for Old Things: Holiday Edition

By Real Simple

Updated February 03, 2014

Skip gallery slides

Mark Weiss

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

Start Slideshow

1 of 100

Candy Canes as Cupcake Decorations

Credit: 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.

2 of 100

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.)

3 of 100

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.

4 of 100

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.

5 of 100

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.

6 of 100

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.

7 of 100

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.

8 of 100

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.

9 of 100

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!

10 of 100

Birthday Candles as Valentine’s Day Card

Credit: 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.

11 of 100

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.

12 of 100

Matchbook as Valentine’s Day Card

Credit: 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.

13 of 100

Playing Card as Valentine’s Day Card

Credit: 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.

14 of 100

Puzzle Pieces as Valentine’s Day Card

Credit: 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.

15 of 100

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.

16 of 100

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.

17 of 100

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.

18 of 100

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.

19 of 100

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.

20 of 100

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.

21 of 100

Ribbon as Shoelace

Credit: 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.

22 of 100

Cereal Box as Sweets Carrier

Credit: 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.

23 of 100

Shoelace as Ribbon

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

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

24 of 100

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.

25 of 100

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.

26 of 100

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.

27 of 100

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.)

28 of 100

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.

29 of 100

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.

30 of 100

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.

31 of 100

Pine Cone as Place Card

Credit: 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.

Account

More

New Uses for Old Things: Holiday Edition

1 of 100

Candy Canes as Cupcake Decorations

1 of 100

2 of 100

Playing Card as Gift Tag

2 of 100

3 of 100

Doily as Candle Holder

3 of 100

4 of 100

Ribbon as Utensil Holder

4 of 100

5 of 100

Bobby Pin as Gift-Card Clip

5 of 100

6 of 100

Wrapping Paper as Napkin Ring

6 of 100

7 of 100

Wrapping Paper as Tray Liner

7 of 100

8 of 100

Toilet Paper Tube as Wrapping Paper Holder

8 of 100

9 of 100

Washi Tape as Cocktail Flag

9 of 100

10 of 100

Birthday Candles as Valentine’s Day Card

10 of 100

11 of 100

Ribbon as Cake Stand Embellishment

11 of 100

12 of 100

Matchbook as Valentine’s Day Card

12 of 100

13 of 100

Playing Card as Valentine’s Day Card

13 of 100

14 of 100

Puzzle Pieces as Valentine’s Day Card

14 of 100

15 of 100

Holiday Lights as Night Light

15 of 100

16 of 100

Candy Wrapper as DIY Gift Wrap

16 of 100

17 of 100

Party Hat as Candy Dish

17 of 100

18 of 100

Tinsel as Ornament Filler

18 of 100

19 of 100

Tissue Paper as Cupcake Wrapper

19 of 100

20 of 100

Holiday Tags as Drink Labels

20 of 100

21 of 100

Ribbon as Shoelace

21 of 100

22 of 100

Cereal Box as Sweets Carrier

22 of 100

23 of 100

Shoelace as Ribbon

23 of 100

24 of 100

Ribbon as Place Card Embellishment

24 of 100

25 of 100

Post-It Notes as Garland

25 of 100

26 of 100

Paper Towel Tube as Linen Organizer