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

Levi Brown
1 of 100 Mark Weiss

Candy Canes as Cupcake Decorations

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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2 of 100 Photo: Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran

Playing Card as Gift Tag

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 Photo: Erica McCartney; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Doily as Candle Holder

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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4 of 100 Photo: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Ribbon as Utensil Holder

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

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5 of 100 Photo: Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran

Bobby Pin as Gift-Card Clip

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

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6 of 100 Erica McCartney; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Wrapping Paper as Napkin Ring

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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7 of 100 Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Wrapping Paper as Tray Liner

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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8 of 100 Photo, Erica McCartney; Styling, Kristine Trevino

Toilet Paper Tube as Wrapping Paper Holder

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

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9 of 100 Erica McCartney; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Washi Tape as Cocktail Flag

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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10 of 100 Photo: Levi Brown; Styling: Blake Ramsey

Birthday Candles as Valentine’s Day Card

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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11 of 100 Photo: Erica McCartney; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Ribbon as Cake Stand Embellishment

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

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12 of 100 Photo: Levi Brown; Styling: Blake Ramsey

Matchbook as Valentine’s Day Card

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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13 of 100 Photo: Levi Brown; Styling: Blake Ramsey

Playing Card as Valentine’s Day Card

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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14 of 100 Photo: Levi Brown; Styling: Blake Ramsey

Puzzle Pieces as Valentine’s Day Card

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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15 of 100 Levi Brown

Holiday Lights as Night Light

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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16 of 100 James Wojcik

Candy Wrapper as DIY Gift Wrap

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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17 of 100 Photo: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Party Hat as Candy Dish

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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18 of 100 Photo: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Tinsel as Ornament Filler

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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19 of 100 Photo: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Tissue Paper as Cupcake Wrapper

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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20 of 100 Photo: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Holiday Tags as Drink Labels

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

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21 of 100 Photo: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Ribbon as Shoelace

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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22 of 100 Photo: Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran

Cereal Box as Sweets Carrier

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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23 of 100 Photo: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Shoelace as Ribbon

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

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24 of 100 Photo: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Ribbon as Place Card Embellishment

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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25 of 100 Photo: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Post-It Notes as Garland

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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26 of 100 Photo: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Paper Towel Tube as Linen Organizer

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

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27 of 100 Photo: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Kid Art as Holiday Wrap

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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28 of 100 Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran

Buttons as Appetizer Stand

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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29 of 100 Photo: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Pumpkin as Place Card

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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30 of 100 Photo: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Tree Bow Ornament as Napkin Ring

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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31 of 100 Photo: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Pine Cone as Place Card

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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32 of 100 Photo: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Sticker Dots as Party Cups

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

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33 of 100 Photo: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Kazoo as Place Card

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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34 of 100 Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Clothespin as Napkin Holder

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

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35 of 100 Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Gift Tags as File Label

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…).

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36 of 100 Photo: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Hanger as Ribbon Organizer

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

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37 of 100 Photo: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Gift Box as Sugar Holder

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

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38 of 100 Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Cupcake Liner as Mason Jar Lining

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.

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39 of 100 Photo: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Cupcake Liners as Garland

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

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40 of 100 Photo: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Binder Clip as Ribbon Organizer

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

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41 of 100 Photo: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Candy Canes as Place Card Holder

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

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42 of 100 Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Corkboard as DIY Coasters

Keep tables safe from water rings. Cut up corkboard to make coasters and place mats.

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43 of 100 Levi Brown

Turkey Baster as Pancake Shaper

Use a baster full of batter to squeeze custom pancakes onto the griddle. Start with easy letters and shapes, then work up to more complicated designs, like these leaves. (The trick is to draw the outlines and veins first, let them brown, then fill in the gaps with more batter.)

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44 of 100 Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Aluminum Foil as Party Garland

Twist foil into links to make a sparkly garland for an almost-instant party decoration (or a rainy-day distraction for the kids).

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45 of 100 Photo: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Cupcake Liner as Halloween Decoration

Show what a creative Halloween party “ghost-ess” you are. Turn white liners upside down, attach spooky googly eyes, and display them by a boo-fet of seasonally inspired treats.

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46 of 100 Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Olive Oil as Sap Remover

If dragging and decking out fresh spruce leaves you with sticky digits, pour a tablespoon of oil onto a cloth, then rub until clean. Bonus: The oil is a great moisturizer for dry winter skin.

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47 of 100 Rick Lew

Paint Chips as Valentines

Create a homemade Valentine with rose-colored swatches cut and arranged in a sweet way on craft paper.

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48 of 100 Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Sponge as Envelope Sealer

Safeguard your taste buds during holiday card season. Replace a dried out ink pad with a damp sponge and use it to seal envelopes and attach stamps—no licking required.

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49 of 100 Photo: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Easter Grass as Packing Material

Don't trash that plastic Easter grass (but do keep it away from your pets; it can be dangerous if consumed). Use it as packing materials for delicate items—so you won’t need to worry whether Uncle Bob's favorite Chianti will make it to his wine cellar unscathed.

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50 of 100 Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Baby Food Jar as Easter Egg Decorating Aid

Design Rothkoesque Easter eggs. Fill a jar with dye, then dip half the egg in and let dry. Dip again, but only one-third of the egg. Repeat with both ends of the egg until you have stripes in varying shades.

Need a quick refresher on how to dye Easter eggs? Watch this quick video to learn how to hard-boil an egg, then check out these homemade Easter egg dye recipes.

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51 of 100 Photo: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Cupcake Liner as Decorative Snowflakes

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.

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52 of 100 Photo: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Paper Clips as Wrapping Paper Holder

Use paper clips to keep wrapping paper from unraveling.

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53 of 100 Photo: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Book as Misleading Gift Box

To foil present-guessers, hide the real gift in a hollowed-out book. Using a box cutter carve a space just large enough to hold the small item.

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54 of 100 Photo: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Toothbrush Holder as Vase

Don’t have a vase small enough to display those pretty buds you picked? A seldom used toothbrush holder fits a small arrangement perfectly.

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55 of 100 John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Confetti as Packing Material

Don't ditch excess confetti or shredded paper. Use it to cushion breakable items so they arrive in one piece.

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56 of 100 Photo: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Cake Stand as Soap Dish

Glam up a bathroom or vanity. Stock soaps and washcloths on top, or showcase your prettiest perfume bottles.

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57 of 100 John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Stretchy Bracelets as Wine Charms

Snag a couple of your child's stretchy bracelets to identify guests' glasses at your next party. Bonus points if the shapes match your party's theme. Submitted by: Abby123 

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58 of 100 John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Plastic Easter Eggs as DIY Maracas

Fill emptied plastic eggs with puffed rice cereal and silver-ball cake decorations to make impromptu maracas for kids.

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59 of 100 Photo: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Branch as Gift Wrap

Spruce up a wrapped gift. Tuck pretty sprigs into the ribbon in place of a bow.

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60 of 100 Photo: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

CD Case as Photo Place Card

Assign seating at a holiday dinner. Slide festive photos of various family members into a case and prop it in front of a place setting.

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61 of 100 Photo: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Dental Floss as DIY Popcorn Garland

String a popcorn garland for the holidays (after a pit-stop in the medicine cabinet).

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62 of 100 Photo: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Greeting Card as Bookmark

You'll never spend a penny on a bookmark, plus you'll get a special surprise each time you pick up your book.

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63 of 100 James Wojcik

Beer Can as Noise Maker

Cut down on drinking? You can still start 2012 off with a bang—or at least a rattle. Drop a dozen coins into a clean, empty beer can and seal the opening with tape. When the clock strikes 12, shake some noise.

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64 of 100  John Lawton

Apple Container as Ornament Storage

Store delicate tree decor where the fruit once went to protect items from bumps and bruises. (You can also use wine boxes or egg cartons.)

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65 of 100 Lucas Allen

Cupcake Liners as Light Embellishments

For a string of minilights that takes the (cup)cake, poke the pointy bulbs through foil cupcake liners. Use them for the tree or around your little girl’s bedroom mirror to make her feel like a holiday star.

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66 of 100 Kate Sears

Candy Corn as Cookie Mix-In

Chop leftover chocolate candy or candy corn and use in place of chocolate chips for cookie recipes.
 

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67 of 100 Kate Sears

Coat Rack as Art and Photo Display

Display a collection of photos, treasured items, or seasonal ornaments over the mantel or in a hallway. Use ribbons or strings of different lengths to hang the arrangement from the pegs.

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68 of 100 Lucas Allen

Cookie Cutter as Candle Stencil

Repurpose mini alphabet cookie cutters as monogramming tools for pillar candles. Hold the candle steady, position the letter, and tap it lightly with a hammer. Do just an initial or go wild and spell out JOYEUX NOEL or HAPPY HANUKKAH.

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69 of 100 Lucas Allen

Cookie Cutters as Ornaments

When you just can’t bake another batch of holiday cookies, turn the tin cutters―angels, bells, stars―into sun catchers or tree ornaments. Mix shapes and sizes, string them with various lengths and colors of ribbon, and tack the ribbons to the window casing.

Find more easy holiday decorating ideas here.

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70 of 100 James Baigrie

Dish Towel as Wine Bag

Place the bottle along one side of the fabric so that the bottle’s top meets the top of the fabric. Fold the excess material at the bottom over the bottle, forming a pocket of sorts. Then roll the dish towel evenly and secure at the neck with ribbon.

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71 of 100 Ryan Cooley

Easter Baskets as May Day Gifts

Maximize your green quotient by recycling that Easter basket for a May Day treat. Simply fill the basket with treats—a batch of fresh-baked cookies, candies, flowers and candles, or something more elaborate—for a surprise on your best friend or relative's doorstep.

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72 of 100 James Baigrie

Plastic Easter Eggs as Snack Containers

Give Easter eggs a year-round use (and save on resealable bags) by filling them with snacks like crackers or Cheerios.

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73 of 100 Yunhee Kim

Eggshells as Bottle and Vase Cleaners

Here’s an idea for all those eggs you hard-boiled: Use their broken eggshells to clean the hard-to-reach places in bottles and vases. Drop some crushed shells in the bottle, add warm water and a drop of dishwashing liquid, and give it a good swirl. The shells will scrape off the gunk you can’t get to, so you can save your elbow grease for the dinner dishes.

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74 of 100 Beatriz da Costa

Flat Iron as Ribbon Smoother

Get the kinks out of wrinkled wrapping ribbons that were tied around your birthday presents for recycled bows without the telltale creases from the previous gift box.

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75 of 100 Beatriz da Costa

Garden Hose Holder as Holiday Light Organizer

Coil strings of holiday lights round and round for knot-free hall decking. Your reward: You won’t blow a fuse trying to hang next year’s light show.

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76 of 100  John Lawton

Gift Box as Cupcake Carrier

If the forecast calls for iced roadways, stabilize your sweet cargo by cutting X’s into the tops of gift boxes and inserting the cupcakes. (A shirt box will hold about eight.)

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77 of 100  Quentin Bacon

Greeting Cards as Gift Tags

Create a gift tag by cutting a greeting card down to size, then punch a hole in the corner and slide a ribbon through it.

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78 of 100 Francesco Lagnese

Last Year's Holiday Cards as This Year's Table Runner

Rescue last year’s heartfelt wishes by turning them into a festive table runner of winter wonderlands. Place the cards facedown on a color copy machine (they should cover most of the glass). Next, put a piece of colored fabric or paper on top of the cards to serve as a border. Print out multiple copies (enough to cover the length of your table) on 11-by-17-inch paper. With double-stick tape, join the copies along the top and the bottom.

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79 of 100 Francesco Lagnese

Holiday Lights as Wreath

Ring in the season with a brilliant mantelpiece. Start with a wire wreath frame (this one is 18 inches in diameter, but you can use any size). Then wrap a string of lights around the frame, making sure to leave enough slack to reach the plug; otherwise use an extension cord.

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80 of 100 Formula Z/S

Baby Spoons as Condiment Servers

Dish out dips or condiments at a party. Reuse those old shower gifts to spoon the sauce from a teacup or a candy dish for a presentation a tad more elegant than the squeeze bottle.

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81 of 100 Ellen Silverman

Clothespin as Holiday Card Display

Adhere a wide grosgrain ribbon to the wall with double-sided mounting tape, then attach holiday cards up and down it for a jolly–and changeable—seasonal exhibit. Both regular-size and mini clothespins will work.

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82 of 100 Rick Lew

Dictionary as Art

Send a message that speaks volumes. Make a blow-up copy of an entry that relates to the occasion (for Valentine’s Day, try kiss or love) and use a highlighter to mark your most heartfelt sentiments.

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83 of 100 Annie Schlechter

Oranges as Mini Snowman

Build snowmen without bundling up. For a holiday party, give each child three oranges, some toothpicks, a sturdy plate, and store-bought frosting. Stick the large orange to the center of the plate with a dollop of frosting. Poke a few toothpicks halfway into the top of the fruit and spear a smaller orange on top. Repeat with the third orange, and layer on frosting, a vanilla wafer, and peppermints to make a hat. Use candy-cane pieces for arms and a nose, cloves for the eyes, and red licorice for a scarf.

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84 of 100 Mark Lund

Paper Shredder as Gift Wrap Maker

Dress up presents by running tissue through a shredder instead of scrunching it inside boxes and gift bags.

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85 of 100 Antonis Achilleos

Paper Shredder as Confetti Maker

Feed colorful gift-wrapping tissue through your shredder to produce instant Easter-basket grass.

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86 of 100 Antonis Achilleos

Paper Towel Holder as Ribbon Organizer

For easy access when you're wrapping, slide spools of ribbon with at least a one-inch diameter opening onto the towel stand's post. Stack the spools from largest to smallest, bottom to top, and tape the ribbon ends to their spools when you're not using them.

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87 of 100 James Baigrie

Salt as Wreath Duster

Place a wreath of pinecones or faux evergreen in a paper bag with a 1/4 cup of salt. Fold the top of the bag over and gently shake.

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88 of 100 James Baigrie

Shoe Box as Holiday Light Storage

Trim off the edges of a shoe box lid and wrap string lights around the flat cardboard. Then slide the whole thing inside the box. This will keep lights untangled and tidy during the off-season.

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89 of 100 Photo: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Luggage Tag as Gift Label

Slip a gift label inside a tag.

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90 of 100 James Baigrie

Shoe Organizer as Gift Wrap Storage

Arrange gift wrapping supplies so you can easily locate bows, ribbons, scissors, and tape.

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91 of 100 FORMULA Z/S

Sugar as Lip Scrub

Perfect your pucker. Make a paste of sugar and petroleum jelly and gently brush on dry, peeling lips with a toothbrush until they are smooth.

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92 of 100 Christopher Baker

Sugar Bowl as Homemade Candle Holder

Fill mismatched sugar bowls and tea cups with melted wax and a wick for beautiful handmade gifts.

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93 of 100 James Wojick

Wire Hanger as Ribbon Dispenser

Dispense ribbon for wrapping gifts. Untwist the hanger—or pop out the cardboard-tube bottom of a hybrid hanger from the dry cleaner—and slide on spools for easy storage.

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94 of 100 Lucas Allen

Farfalle as a Gift Bow

All out of premade bows? Tie up wrapped gift boxes with cooking twine and farfalle pasta.

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95 of 100 Francesco Lagnese

Artificial Holly as Centerpiece

Plastic greenery tends to look, well, plastic. But place boughs of holly, evergreens, or mistletoe in clear glass jars or vases and they make for a glossy yet understated table decoration. Group various sizes and shapes together for a stronger statement.

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96 of 100 Beatriz da Costa

Jelly-Roll Pan as Turkey-Carving Station

Carve your bird without covering the counter with drippings. Set a plastic cutting board inside the pan so you don't fowl it up. Less time cleaning means more time for tryptophan-induced, post-dinner napping.

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97 of 100 Alexandra Rowley

Jump Rope as Ribbon Replacement

Jump-start a trend with this fun, colorful decoration that doubles as a bonus gift.

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98 of 100 Lucas Allen

Key Chain as Gift Tag

Add a fun touch to a gift box by using a bright key chain as a tag, attached with big rubber bands in place of ribbon. The recipient will love it, even if it doesn’t go with a bow-wrapped Lexus in the driveway.

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99 of 100 Annie Schlechter

Lazy Susan as Egg Decorating Helper

Use a lazy Susan to simplify egg dying―you don't have to precariously pass those cups of green, red, and purple dye. And you won't end up with a "tie-dye" finish on your kitchen tabletop.

Need a quick refresher? Learn how to hard-boil an egg.

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100 of 100  Tara Donne

Lightbulb as Ribbon Smoother

To smooth a wrinkled ribbon, hold it taut, run it over the surface of a clean, warm (but not too hot) lightbulb. (Caution: To avoid singeing the fabric, don't use a bulb that has been on for more than five minutes or so.) You'll have a beautiful bow all without hauling out the iron.
 

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