New Uses for Office Supplies

By Real Simple
Updated January 27, 2014
James Wojcik
Packing tape, paper clips, and more creative uses for desk accessories.
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Clipboard as Place-Mat Holder

Credit: James Wojcik

Hang a clipboard on the wall (or inside a cabinet) to clamp down on place mats—and that old “I can’t find them!” excuse from the person setting the table.

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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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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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Gift Tags as File Label

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

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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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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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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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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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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Rubber Band as Jar Opener

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Get a grip on a tricky top; wrap a rubber band around a slippery or sticky lid to give yourself some extra oomph.

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Cupcake Liner as Mason Jar Lining

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

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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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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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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Binder Clip as Ribbon Organizer

Credit: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

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

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Rubber Bands as Sandwich Labels

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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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.)

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Newspaper as Packing Material

Credit: Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Pack delicate items. Wrap frames and figurines with several pieces of newspaper, and then crumple the remaining sections to fill extra space in the box.

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Binder Clip as Sponge Stand

Credit: Levi Brown

To prevent a smelly, waterlogged sponge, air-dry it in a binder clip away from the sink.

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Corkboard as DIY Coasters

Credit: Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

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

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CD as Ice Scraper

Credit: Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Too cold to hunt down the real deal? Use a jewel case to clear the frost from your windshield.

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Sponge as Envelope Sealer

Credit: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

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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CD as Invitation

Credit: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Make jazzy (or rockin’) invitations. Jot down party details on the shiny side and mail the CD out in a cushioned envelope (postage: about a dollar).

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Binder Clip as a Wallet

Credit: Charles Maraia

Make a clip-on key chain/money holder that's ideal for your morning walk. Take a 1¼-inch binder clip and pinch one of the wire arms toward the center to release it from its hinge. Slide on your key and refasten. Clamp to your waistband with a few bucks for coffee and a paper. No more wondering where to stash your key and cash.

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Poker Caddy as Pencil Organizer

Credit: James Wojcik

Dialed back on late nights? Corral some clutter with that poker caddy. Glue a poker chip to the bottom of each slot, then close the gaps on the sides with playing cards to create compartments for stray pens and pencils.

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Greeting Card as Bookmark

Credit: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

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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Paper Clip as Zipper Pull

Credit: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Temporarily replace a broken zipper tab by threading a paper clip through the hole. A safety pin also works. Submitted by: Katie12

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Magazine Files as Kitchen Storage

Credit: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Corral boxes of waxed paper, aluminum foil and plastic wrap in a magazine file. Submitted by chels926

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Binder Clip as Chip Clip

Credit: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Secure half-eaten bags of potato chips with a binder clip for an easy way to keep your favorite snack fresh and crunchy.

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Paper Clips as Wrapping Paper Holder

Credit: John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Use paper clips to keep wrapping paper from unraveling.

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Rubber Band as Earring Backing

Credit: Jim Cooper

When you’ve lost (another) backing to the Bermuda Triangle of jewelry, mosey on over to the junk drawer and cut out a small square from a thick rubber band.

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Binder Clip as Linens Organizer

Credit: Monica Buck

Store sets of napkins clipped together and they’ll always be ready to set the scene at dinnertime. You'll restore order to your linen closet and save minutes searching for elusive matching colors.

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Cereal Box as Drawer Organizer

Credit: Levi Brown

If you're the flaky type, cereal boxes (including the single-serving minis) can corral desk-drawer chaos. Slice off the tops and the bottoms and fill them with loose odds and ends.

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