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  1. Real Simple
  2. New Uses for Old Things
  3. New Uses for Old Things: Kids Edition

New Uses for Old Things: Kids Edition

Real Simple Author
By Real Simple Editors Updated January 27, 2014
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Cereal Box as Sweets Carrier
Credit: Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran
These double-duty ideas are made for more than just the children.
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Cereal Box as Sweets Carrier

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.

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Scratched CD as Paint Palette

Scratched CD as Paint Palette
Credit: Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran

When you're working on an art project, dab the colors you need onto a CD. (Place one finger in the hole to keep the CD stable.)

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Chopsticks as Glue Stick

Chopsticks as Glue Stick
Credit: Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran

To get a tiny sequin in just the right spot during your next craft project, use the tip of a chopstick to nudge it into place without gumming up your fingers.

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Electrical Tape as Chair Decorator

Electrical tape used to decorate a chair
Credit: Alexandra Rowley

Liven up a child’s chair with colorful stripes. (Use lead-free or plastic tape.)

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Cotton Balls as Teddy-Bear Stuffing

Teddy bear opened up with cotton ball stuffing showing
Credit: Grant Cornett

Has Paddington ripped and lost his padding? To add fluff, cram cotton balls behind the torn seam, then stitch him back up.

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Button as Necklace Pendant

Button as Necklace Pendant
Credit: Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran

Have one special button? Thread it onto a thin chain or a delicate piece of ribbon for a standout necklace.

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To-Go Container as Paint Palette

New use: to-go container as paint palette
Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Even a starving artist eats takeout sometimes. Use the plastic top from a to-go container as a palette for mixing colors; when you’re finished, just toss.

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Cereal Box as Photo Saver

Cereal Box as Photo Saver
Credit: Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran. Photo in box: Renee Keith/Getty Images

Sending Grandpa a shot of the all-star soccer team but don't want the postal journey to bend it (like Beckham)? Sandwich the picture between the large panels of a flattened box.

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Shower Curtain Liner as Child’s Smock

Shower Curtain Liner as Child’s Smock
Credit: Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran

Finger-painting on the day’s agenda? Cut a new shower curtain liner in half or in fourths, and then cut a hole in the center for your little one’s head to pop through.

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Birthday Candles as Valentine’s Day Card

DIY Valentine, birthday candles
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.

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Matchbook as Valentine’s Day Card

DIY Valentine, matchbook
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.

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Playing Card as Valentine’s Day Card

DIY Valentine, king of hearts playing 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.

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Puzzle Pieces as Valentine’s Day Card

DIY Valentine, puzzle pieces
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.

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Glass Jar as Arts and Crafts Organizer

Mason jar with crayons
Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Kids can see inside the glass jars to find what they’re looking for, from crayons to pompoms. Leave off the lids for extra long supplies, like pipe cleaners or colored pencils.

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Wrapping Paper as Placemat

New use: giftwrap 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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Turkey Baster as Pancake Shaper

Leaf shaped pancakes
Credit: Levi Brown

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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Stickers as Book Labels

New use: stickers as book labels
Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Hey, math can be colorful! Wrap textbooks in simple paper and use alphabet stickers to label the spines.

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Colander as Toy Scoop

Colander as Toy Scoop
Credit: Erica McCartney; Styling: Kristine Trevino

One of the most popular kitchen tools also happens to double as a clean-up aid. Before draining the tub, use a colander to make scooping up small toys fun and easy.

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Kazoo as Place Card

Kazoo use as a 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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Shoelace as Ribbon

New use: shoelace as ribbon
Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

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

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Sticker Dots as Party Cups

New use:office dots as party cup decoration
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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Ribbon as Photo Matte

New use: 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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Kid Art as Holiday Wrap

New use: kid's 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.)

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Dice as Vegetable Counter

Dice with peas at dinner
Credit: Aimee Herring

Decide how many more bites of dinner your child has to eat before being excused. Let your child roll so he’s the one controlling his fate. You'll end up with a more peas-ful family meal.

Collette Mather
Teaneck, New Jersey

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Baby Food Jar as Easter Egg Decorating Aid

Baby Food Jar as Easter Egg Decorating Aid
Credit: Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

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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Locked Cosmetic Bag as Childproof Storage

Locked cosmetic bag as childproof storage
Credit: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Put medications in a locked cosmetic case for an easy way to keep curious kids away from poking around the medicine cabinet.

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Paper Sack as Halloween Treat Bag

New use: paper sack as Halloween treat bag
Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Don’t pay a premium for Halloween-themed treat bags. Turn any paper sack into a jack-o-lantern with a few precise snips.

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Parchment Paper as Musical Instrument

Parchment Paper as Musical Instrument
Credit: Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Make a kazoo by folding a piece of parchment or wax paper over a comb’s teeth (the paper should hang over about an inch).

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Stretchy Bracelets as Wine Charms

Stretchy bracelets as drink labels
Credit: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

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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Rubber Bands as Sandwich Labels

Rubber band used as sandwich ID
Credit: Levi Brown

Distinguishing chicken salad from tuna is no picnic. Next time you’re packing sandwiches, stretch a thick rubber band around each one and label it with a permanent marker. Divvying up lunch will be a snap.

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Metal Magazine Rack as Towel Holder

Metal magazine rack as towel holder
Credit: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Roll pool towels and store them vertically, so your kids can grab one before taking a swim.

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Book as Word Scramble

Book as word scramble
Credit: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

For the kids' table: Cut out 30 or so words from old children's books (the fonts are larger) and challenge them to form sentences with the pieces.

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Plastic Easter Eggs as DIY Maracas

Plastic easter eggs as maracas
Credit: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

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

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Paper Doily as Candy Cone

Paper doily as candy cone
Credit: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Form a cone with a small (5-inch) doily, secure with tape, and fill with candy and treats. The lacy server is a sweet upgrade for the next time you gather the ladies (think bridal shower) or girls (birthday party, sleepover, extra-special playdate).

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Cupcake Liner as Decorative Snowflakes

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.

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Baby Wipe Container as Yarn Holder

Baby wipe container as yarn holder
Credit: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Don’t let your yarn get crossed. Use an empty baby wipes container to keep yarn clean and tangle-free.

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Ankle Weight as Stroller Counterbalance

Ankle weight on a stroller wheel
Credit: Aimee Herring

Ground the wheels of a stroller that has a jam-packed diaper bag hanging on the handles by attaching the weights just above the front wheels. You'll no longer be saying “Whoopsie daisy!” when you lift your child out of the seat.

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Zippered Bed-Linen Bag as Art Supply Carrier

Bed linen bag for art supplies
Credit: Aya Brackett

Stash supplies for scrapbooking, knitting, or sewing in one of these sturdy, transparent pouches so all of your materials and tools are in one place.

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Zippered Plastic Bag as Pencil Case

Plastic bag as pencil case
Credit: James Wojcik

Always have your pencils and PTA notes (or toddler’s crayons and doodle paper) in the same spot: Just punch holes along the nonzippered edge of a sandwich bag, then click it into a three-ring binder.

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Chip Clips as Clothes Hangers

Chip clips holding a kid's jacket on a large hanger
Credit: Aimee Herring

Hold small coats in place on adult-size hangers. Use clips with rubberized grips to help items stay put. Not only will you have an organized coat closet, but you'll save money by not having to buy special kids' hangers.

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Swap Conversation Hearts for Chalk

Conversation hearts as chalk
Credit: Charles Masters

If you can’t find the real deal for your message center or that game of tic-tac-toe, these candies will do the sweet talking for you. (Hang on to them until summer, when the driveway is just begging for a masterpiece by your TOO CUTE toddler.)

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Corn Flakes as Bread Crumb Substitute

Bowl of mac-and-cheese with corn flakes
Credit: Aimee Herring

For a new twist on a serial dinner favorite, add a layer of crunch to plain old mac-and-cheese. Top your child’s bowl with a sprinkling of flakes (even the bits at the bottom of the bag work). It’s easier and more kid-friendly than toasted bread crumbs.

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Dryer Lint as Modeling Dough

Dryer Lint Elephant
Credit: Aimee Herring

Since you most likely have it in abundance, use it to make homemade modeling dough. Simply mix the lint with water and flour (and, if you prefer, food coloring), as directed below for an ear-resistible sculpture of Dumbo.

To make the modeling dough:

  1. Place 3 cups (shredded) dryer lint into a pot.
  2. Pour in 2 cups water.
  3. Stir in 1 cup flour.
  4. Add ½ teaspoon vegetable oil.
  5. Stir continuously over low heat until the mixture binds together and is of a smooth consistency.
  6. Pour onto a sheet of wax paper to cool.

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Dustpan as Toy Herder

Toys gathered in a dustpan
Credit: France Ruffenach

Scoop up small toys―Lego blocks, jacks, Barbie shoes, plastic soldiers—with your dustpan and brush, so you can reclaim your living room for grown-ups.

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Plastic Easter Eggs as Snack Containers

Snacks stored in plastic Easter eggs
Credit: James Baigrie

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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Kids' Floaties as Wine Bottle Protectors

Kids' floaties around a wine bottle
Credit: Thayer Allyson Gowdy

Buffer breakables in a suitcase by placing delicate items, such as wine bottles and precious trinkets, inside an inflated arm floaty, and it will shield against bumps, bruises, and breaks.

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Glow-in-the-Dark Stars as Nightlights

Glow in the dark stars in a hallway
Credit: Aimee Herring

Create a well-lit path he can follow from his room to the bathroom. Line up stars near the baseboard and make sure they get plenty of light during the day. You'll get fewer bumps (or cries for Mom) in the night.

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Baby Powder as Dry Shampoo

Baby powder used to refresh hair
Credit: Beth Galton

Fake freshly washed hair by sprinkling powder on, then comb through down to the roots.

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Baby Spoons as Condiment Servers

Baby spoon used to serve dips
Credit: Formula Z/S

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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Baby Food Jar as Paint Bucket

Baby food jar used to hold paint
Credit: James Wojick

Simplify paint touch-ups by pouring a few ounces of each new wall paint into a jar for when those times it’s needed to cover the inevitable nail holes and scuffs.

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Beach Towel as Shower Curtain

Beach towel used as shower curtain
Credit: David Prince

Make a summery shower curtain by hanging two boldly patterned towels using clip-on drapery rings.

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Binder Clip as Cord Holder

Binder clip used to secure windowblind cord
Credit: Jim Franco

Keep a windowblind cord out of reach of little hands (or paws). Just gather the cord up at a safe level and clasp.

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Button as Board Game Piece

Button as boardgame piece
Credit: James Wojcik

Is your Monopoly game missing its top hat? Replace wayward board-game pieces without missing a beat (or a turn).

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Changing Table as Potting Bench

Changing table used as potting station
Credit: Annie Schlechter

Once the little ones are potty-trained, give your changing table new life as a potting bench. A coat of semi-gloss or high-gloss paint will protect it from the elements. Stack pots on shelves and stash seeds in drawers. Fill an easy access hanging nylon or canvas diaper bag with shears and gloves.

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Coffee Filter as Snack Server

Coffee filter used as snack server
Credit: James Baigrie

Serve chips, popcorn, or cookies in filters for consistent, portable (reasonably-sized!) portions.

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Cupcake Liner as Ice Cream Bowl

Cupcake liner used to serve icecream
Credit: Mark Lund

Serve ice cream at parties without the drips. Freeze individual scoops in liners the night before.

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Cupcake Liner as Snack Bowl

Cupcake liner used to serve snacks
Credit: Lucas Allen

Fill sturdy foil cupcake holders with mixed nuts, mints, hard candy, or candy corn and scatter them around a party. Or, to make kids swoon at a birthday, place an individual cupcake holder at each setting.

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Cutting Board as Placemat

Cutting board used as place mat
Credit: James Wojick

Use a non-skid chopping board as child's placemat or deskside placemat.

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Dish Rack as Art Supply Organizer

Dishrack used to organize coloring books
Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Organize coloring books in the main basket and corral crayons, pencils, and markers in the silverware holder.

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Egg Carton as Paint Palette

Egg carton used as paint palette
Credit: FRANCES JANISCH

Create a custom paint palette for an afternoon art session.

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Garlic Press as Modeling Dough Tool

Garlic press used to make Play-Doh hair
Credit: Mark Lund

Make Play-Doh "hair" by filling the chamber and squeezing.

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High Chair as Mail Holder

High chair used to hold personal items
Credit: William Abranowicz

Free up some counter space by using a clip-on high chair as mail catchall. Great solution for rounding up keys and stashing mail and permission slips.

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Jewelry Box as Game Piece Storage

Jewelry box used to organize a drawer
Credit: Kathryn Barnard

Store game pieces, play money, or other priceless rainy-afternoon distractions.

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Puzzle Pieces as Refrigerator Magnets

Jigsaw puzzle used as party favor
Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Send party guests home with one-of-a-kind favors. Parcel out groups of pieces from an incomplete puzzle and glue a magnet to the back of each. A single box will yield enough decorative sets for dozens of refrigerators.

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Lint Roller as Glitter Pick-Up

Lint roller used to clean glitter
Credit: James Wojick

Clean up glitter (and tiny pieces of construction paper) after craft time.

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Martini Shaker as Glitter Dispenser

Martini shaker used to dispense glitter
Credit: Yunhee Kim

Add a twist to craft time by using a shaker to dispense glitter.

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Pillowcase as Art Smock

Pillowcase used to create a kid's smock
Credit: David Prince

Hold the pillowcase up to your little Picasso, measure, and cut out holes for the budding artist's head and arms. Gather the fabric between the neck hole and each armhole and tie with a ribbon for a better fit.

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Bean Bag Animals as Ice Packs

Toy animal used as child's ice pack
Credit: Mark Lund

Console an injured kid with a comforting ice pack. Chill a beanbag animal in the freezer and apply it to a little one’s wounds.

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Velcro as Toy Storage

Velcro used to secure stuffed animals
Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Inspire housekeeping habits that will stick. Affix the rough sides of a few strips to the wall, and the soft sides to the backs of stuffed animals. The act of putting away toys will gain all-ages appeal.

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Baking Soda as Crayon Eraser

Baking soda used to scrub walls
Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Sprinkle it on a damp sponge to erase crayon, pencil, and ink from painted surfaces.

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Child's Skirt as Art Smock

Children's skirt used as a smock
Credit: Annie Schlechter

Make a smock for a budding artist. Fashion shoulder straps from rickrack or ribbon and stitch the ends to the front and back of the skirt’s waist.

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Coupon as Grocery Store Game

Coupons used to distract children
Credit: James Baigrie

Ward off temper tantrums in the supermarket by handing out unneeded coupons and have your kids go on a scavenger hunt. First one to spot five items gets a big prize (okay, a pack of bubble gum) at checkout.

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Ice Cream Cones as Cupcake Holders

Cupcakes baked in ice cream cones
Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Bake your cupcakes directly in the ice cream cones. Fill 24 flat-bottom cones two-thirds full with cake batter. Place the cones in a high-sided 9-by-13-inch baking pan and bake in two batches at 325° F for 30 minutes. Let cool, then frost with two 16-ounce cans of frosting. You can have your cake and eat its holder, too.

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Jump Rope as Ribbon Replacement

Gift with a jump row bow
Credit: Alexandra Rowley

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

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Kazoo as Bubble Machine

Kazoo as bubble machine
Credit: Levi Brown

Blow your little one’s mind with this two-in-one toy. Just dip the big end into soapy water and huff and puff away for a sudsy symphony.

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