Reusing something, instead of throwing it away, serves three purposes:

1.  It's a solution to something I needed.

2.  It keeps something out of a landfill.  (Save the Earth!)

3.  It saves money. (Woo hoo!)

Here are some ideas for repurposing/reusing things:  Get inspired!



Project 1:  Tissue box pencil holder

Last year, I had strep throat, and in retrospect, I wish I had invested in tissue stock the month prior, as I certainly went through many of them.  I like pretty things, so when I bought tissues, I got the ones in pretty boxes (I know, not the most economically practical but hey, a girl's gotta do what she can to feel better sometimes!).

Then, I had a new dilemma...when I used all of the tissues, I didn't have the heart to discard the box!  At the same time, I didn't want to clutter up my closet with empty tissue boxes, so what's a girl to do?

Voila:


A pencil holder!


Here you can see the tissue brand at the bottom right.


When I first put my pencils in the holder, they tilted this way and that, some falling under the lip of the top, making it really hard to see what I had and access them easily.  So, I rigged up this solution:



Tape with holes! (genius right? ha!)

How to:

1.  Use clear packing tape.  Tear off one piece with it's length equal to the width of the top of the tissue box.  Lay this on a flat surface, sticky side up. 

2.  Tear another piece of tape that is about 2/3 the length of the first.  Now (and this is the hard part) lay that piece on top of the other, CENTERED, sticky side to sticky side.  Careful-you have to get this right the first time or start over.

What you should have now is a double layer of tape with a little bit of sticky side still exposed on each end from the first piece. 

3.  Turn the double tape over, in your hand (not on the table) so that the sticky side ends face down.  Using a single-hole puncher, punch random holes in the double layers-as many as you need.

4.  Stick the tape to the top of the tissue box.  Trim overhanging edges.

It's not glamorous or perfect, but I bet your friends will be impressed!

Project 2:  The tissue box, um...stuff holder

OK, not quite as impressive as the first, but super easy. 

I bet if I hadn't told you, you would've never guessed...the black and white box?  It's an old tissue box!


No really, look:


I cut a little extra space to accommodate my PC manuals that wouldn't fit.


Currently, the box holds my extra computer stuff.  That stuff doesn't really belong in my sewing and crafts center (that's the organizer in me talking) but it offends me less since it's hiding in a pretty box.

The key here is to turn the open side away and put it on a higher shelf (look at the first picture again) so that a viewer doesn't see the part where the tissues come out.

Could this be any easier?

Project 3:  The Dog Food Container Redux

See these pretty containers?



The one in the middle is before, the others are after.

I simply "borrowed" two sheets each of pink and green copy paper from work (Sorry boss!), taped them on with scotch tape (I didn't even have to cut them as they were the right width), and wrote right on them.  (By the way, I think you could use an oatmeal container the same way).

If I get bored with the color, or change my mind as to the contents, I can simply replace the paper and start over.  These containers could be used in any part of the house, but I love how they blend in with my other sewing & crafts center items:



**2/19/08 Update:

I found this picture of an old stove turned potting bench...a great new use for an old item!