Double-Duty Reuse For 7 Common Household Items

It’s quite possible that almost everything is reusable. Just ask Michelle Macdonell, owner of Funk Off and self-proclaimed model reuser.

By adding a wick and oil from a craft store, a used wine bottle can have new life as an oil lamp. (Stock Photo)

“I swear every time I go to throw something away, I stop at the trash can and go through a quick mental check of what I might be able to use it for,” she says. “I sometimes have to just recycle things so that I don’t end up with piles and piles of reusable items…like a hoarder or something.”

She gave us a few ideas for reusing some of the most common household items.

Wine Bottle becomes Oil Lamp

Buy oil lamp supplies at any craft store and turn that old wine bottle into a beautiful oil lamp. You can even get different colored oil to match almost any décor.

Toilet Paper Tube becomes Wall Art

Who knew toilet paper tubes could be so elegant? This simple art project can make any wall into a masterpiece.

Egg Carton becomes Painter’s Palette

Since you’re already being extra crafty, use an old egg carton to house paint, glue and other materials needed in your reuse projects. If you’re still itching for more ideas, we found six more “eggcellent” uses for egg cartons.

Cereal Box becomes Shipping Box

The holiday season is almost upon us, and soon you’ll be shipping presents to friends and family around the country. Save those old cereal boxes and reuse them for shipping. Macdonell says she reuses food boxes all the time to ship her products worldwide.

“Those boxes come in handy for shipping and paper bags make the perfect wrap for shipping in boxes with print on them,” she says. “I also sometimes cut out pieces of newspaper to use for writing notes to stick in the orders. I cut them with fancy scissors and use a black marker so the note shows up well.”

Candle Glass Jar becomes Storage Container

When you’re finished with an old candle, clean out the wax. The lid is usually airtight so it makes the perfect storage container for everything from cotton balls to rice. You can even melt the extra wax, pour it into old tea light tins and add wicks to make new candles.

Glass Jar becomes Iced Tea to Go

Use glass jars to make individual iced teas. Since the jars already have their own lids, the containers are portable and resealable to store in the refrigerator when you’ve had enough.

Cell Phone becomes Robot Brain?

Yes! This guy built a robot brain from an old cell phone. We just had to throw it in the mix.

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