How to Reuse Household Items
Americans have developed a love of all things green, and recycling is one of the most popular. Most people are aware of recycling their bottles and cans, but they may not know how to recycle or repurpose other households items.
- Make homemade gift wrap. Keep the brown paper bags from the grocery store or head to the local newspaper and ask for leftover newspaper. The paper usually sells these for a minimal amount. You can also purchase rolls of brown craft paper at any hobby store. Decorate the paper as you choose. Use stickers, markers, crayons, stencils, glitter and more to decorate.
- Use old baby food jars for storage in the garage. The clear jars are perfect for screws, nuts and bolts, as well as other small fasteners that need homes. Jars are also useful for craft supplies and scrapbooking accessories.
- Fashion clothing that can be donated because of damage into cleaning rags, throw pillows, gift bags, doll clothes or small table runners. Remove lace and repurpose it on scrapbooking projects or as trim on doll clothes or gift bags.
- Repurpose leftover coffegrounds as fertilizer in your garden. Compost food scraps to this end as well.
- Recycle old Christmas cards into ornaments for the tree or to donate to a shelter. You can also cut out the pictures and decoupage onto the bottom of a clear plate for unique Christmas dinnerwear.
- Use metal pie plates to create musical instruments. You can place beans in between the plates. The plates should be facing one another. Glue the edges together and let dry.