How about naming something in your home that you use in a different way? Figure we have enough "newbies" coming in that we're all gonna get some new ideas!

I'll go first: I use an old metal typewriter stand with a drawer in it to hold my printer. The drawer holds photopaper and extra ink cartridges. I use an old 50's wooden cabinet that held a tv to store towels in my bathroom. DH's Grandpa's wooden checker board is wall decoration in our computer room.

I'll think of others later! LOL

Next?

I know I have more uses for them, but I have to do a house search first to remind myself of what other uses I find for them.
I am amazed that such a simple invention works so well in so many ways.
Great idea for a thread.

I use old mixing bowls in my craft room to hold assorted small pieces and supplies. I also use old biscuit jars in the same way. Use two large Lance jars with the red tin lids in my kitchen to hold kids snacks and tea towels.

Picnic baskets make great storage, and stack different sizes to maximize space.

An old computer table:

Decoupaged the top with vintage calendar pics...it is now in the kitchen holding the microwave and toaster:

I live in an apartment where space is at a premium, so I took these wineboxes and "created" a bookcase:

Linda

Next?

As I had trouble with grain moths, used a small yogurt cup in the top to keep the bug-gers out. Worked, too.

It works for small candies, as well, but most of them aren't of interest to the moths, so don't need the yogurt containers as lids.

Processed breakfast cereal isn't of interest to the bugs, either - I guess they're smarter than we are.

Store small electrical cords in old cores of paper towels.

I used to put leftovers into old margarine containers for storage in frost-free fridge; to avoid dry-out, slide into empty bread bags. As I wonder whether some of the chemicals in the plastic containers may leach into the food if I put them into the microwave, now I plan to buy some soup bowls at Value Village, Good Will, etc. so I can put them directly into microwave after pulling them from fridge and letting them warm up on counter.

Store receipts for purchases in used (preferably non-window) envelopes, labelled by the month, with "December" now at the front of small box that sits on or near my desk. As of Jan. 1 will move that envelope filled with December's receipts to the back of the small box, so "January" will show, filled with last January's receipts, that I'll staple and put into another empty envelope, labelling it, "January 2004", then store in a similar box elsewhere, leaving the "January" envelope empty, ready for this January's receipts.

My receipts for the whole past year are available to hand whenever I want to look at them.

And it's easy to file any receipts that have been lost, around the house, car, etc.

Cut down the side of 2 empty 1 litre milk boxes, about 2-1/2" wide and deep, about 7" high, then slide them together and staple down the sides to hold the receipts that I mentioned above, also for regular mail, mail from family, Christmas mail, recipes, etc.

As receipts come in from church offerings, gifts to charity, etc., stick them in another such box, they're ready when income tax time comes.

The 2 litre boxes are about 3-1/2" wide and deep, about same height, they work well with larger or more bulky materials, or where more stability is needed.

Milk crates hold 16 of the 1-litre size, 9 of the 2-litre size.

When mail arrives in large envelopes, slit it down long side rather than across short flap. From about half way up flap cut a narrow strip toward slit side, repeat at the other end of envelope, fold pasted side of envelope down inside to form a file folder.

To strengthen the side of the file folder that shows when filed, instead of slitting the envelope down the side at the fold, slit it about 1" to one side of the fold, so that the top edge of the folder is double for about 1" down after you've folded the short side down inside.

Some lovely slippers that daughter gave me for Christmas a year ago appear to have been lost when I moved last spring, and I find that waltzing around on the cold wood, tile or linoleum floors cause my feet to do some complaining now that winter days have come. As I have some old thick work socks with high tops whose feet are rather (read "much") the worse for wear, I propose to cut across the foot part, straight down from the leg, then sew across the top of the leg. Then I can slip my stockinged foot into the new slipper going from what was the middle of the foot toward what was the top of the leg when the socks were intact.

Can't think of any more at the moment - but I'm sure that there are some.

See you all later - and I hope that you have a glorious New Year: the best yet.

ole joyful

We use a large concrete cowboy boot planter to hold woodstove tools.

At work I've used a lot of old goodies...I painted an old cedar planter box and I use it in my office to hold files.
A 30's artdeco ashtray holds potpourri on my desk. And an old, vintage metal picnic basket/lunchbox holds napkins, dishes, silverware, etc for my lunches. I also use vintage napkin holders for business card and scratch paper holders.

I've got a TV from the 50's that we're thinking of turning into a bar. Going to remove the picture tube and put shelves in it's place. I wish we could figure out how to use the front of the tube as a door...maybe I'll have to paint some masonite to look like the screen.

Well, I pulled one out of someone's trash...the head is entirely three dimensional, and it detaches from the body.
I am going to remove the lights, paint the frame black, stuff with spagnum moss and put little ivy or maybe Hen's and Chicks or small bromileads or other small plants in it. I will have to line with chicken wire and may put potting soil inside, then moss all along the outside. Will mount it on a wall or someplace. I'd take a pic but can't find my
camera battery charger. Anyway...that's my latest idea on converting a piece of junk.

Give me a lemon and i'll make a cake!

patty_cakes

1) Use plastic pop bottles for mailers. Screw the top on tightly. Cut a "v" shaped slit in the middle of the bottle's body and then fill with whatever (I like to do care packages to daughter in college or maybe small gifts to a shut-in). You would be surprised at how much you can squeeze into a bottle but if your stuff isn't filling the space well enough add some plastic Easter basket grass or some shredded paper to fill. Tape the "v" shut and then put a piece of paper cut to encircle the bottle's middle (and hide the opening). Put the mailing info on this paper wrapper, cover with clear tape to protect, and take it to the post office for postage. Viola! A really cool mailer!

2)I have a pretty cheese keeper (wooden base and clear domed top) that I hardly ever use. Plan to recycle it for the winter into a little plant keeper for maybe a pretty potted African violet.

I also have a large martini glass filled with colored sand, and a candle in it. My best is a Singer treadle sewing machine cabinet like the one my mom inherited from my grandma (no machine in it, however) for a night stand in the guest room. The 2 little drawers on each side of the cabinet are filled with small samples of toothpaste, lotion, shampoo, floss, etc. which a guest might need, and a small sewing kit.

In my kitchen I have a floor to ceiling shelf unit that holds my kitchen "toys" et all, next to my wrought iron plant stand w/ my milk glass lamp sits on beside a round patio table doubling as kitchen table,& last but notleast, a night stand for plants, & underneath my potaotes/onions are kept in a water bath canner. I put my prize violet on a square pedestal cake plate on the right side of my sink under the south window. I like to use all sizes of clear stemmed glasses for rooting plants & as vases on the window ledge over my sink. 2 plastic mushroom containers are now graced w/ my newly rooted rose cuttings on the window ledge. I too use a heavey clear glass vase on my stove for utensils & a quare basket for table napkins.

Clothes pins are great for all kinds of celophane packages, cereal/cracker/chips, washed plastic bags on the spice rack next to the stove,& holing my tiny Christmas lights to the curtain rods in the ktchen.

In living room I use a wrought iron sewing machine base as a side table, the board is covered w/ an old embroidered table cloth for my Rex begonia, a few frogs, and a wig holder for my straw hat. A lace curtain becomes a cover for my side board w/ plastic over it, so my cat can look out the window behind it.
I put a 4 shelf metal unit on my coffee table for plants in south window, and beside it a brass bench (that was headed for the dump)is adorned w/ my 2 annual hibiscus plants. One in an apple crate. Two large suitcases contain videos.

An end table beside my bed for phone & CD player keeps the cat out of the window. I covered a glass gallon jar w/ an ivy print, tied 1/4" ribbons around neck & I use for pennies, flags, a duster, &... A 4 drawer stack unit for recycling for a file cabinet & storage.

Misc..... 4 or 5 gallon buckets w/ holes drilled near bottom makes good planters for ornamental grasses, small trees, giant aliums, and more......
Canning jars for storage in frig and cabinets. Plastic hangers for wet laundry, I hang 90% of my laundry.

Vangy likes to do more than play in the dirt.

patty_cakes

About 20 years ago I was visiting with a clergyman who'd been a colleague as missionaries in Korea after the Korean War (about 30 years before that) when we were helping some refugees get their lives back into some kind of order after that horrible war.

While we were going to his small church in the country, when I noticed a spring clothes pin fastened over his car keys, I, being a curious cuss, just had to ask him the reason for its being there.

He, a droll fellow, replied that it was his avante-garde, futuristic gimcrack telling him that his headlights were on.

A big help, too - as he'd had to get a boost due to a flat battery on occasion before he discovered the idea.

Pesky 1,

Would you consider donating the baby blankets, stuffed toys, etc. to a local women's shelter or other agency dealing with underprivileged/forgotten children?

There's a real need among such folks.

It is hard to part with such mementoes of earlier times with our loved ones.

Have a happy, healthy weekend - with prosperity enough to meet your needs, everyone.

ole joyful

We used to get people giving us blankets and towels for my husbands old business (to use as packing materials). I'd sort out the better ones and donate them to the Mission. When my kids were small we used to take their outgrown coats and toys to the Womens shelter. I'd much rather it go to someone who can use it than to the land fill!

I made my son a hover disc with an old CD, plastic bottle cap, and balloon. Then we played air hockey with it.

I have made shelving from old pallets.

Made a mini-pond from a Rubbermaid plastic container.

In the spring I am going to make a larger pond from a rigid kid's pool.

And I have a plastic barrel, about 29g, from which I will breed daphnia to feed my indoor tropical fish. Some fish only eat live food, not flakes.

I also made an oil lamp from a hot fudge jar. And a candle from another hot fudge jar. Hot fudge jars are made to be heated in the microwave so they should withstand the heat just fine. Plus they have metal caps for the oil lamp.

I also made a solar heater to heat one room out of scrap 2x4s, metal sheeting, black paint, and clear acrylic. It only works on real sunny days though.

My electric sewing machine is housed in an old oak and cast iron sewing machine cabinet.

A kitchen carousel utensil holder holds my good sewing scissors.

Those old country store paper dispenser of wood and cast iron holds rolls of bias tape I use in my sewing.

I buy old cotton fabrics, sheets, table cloths, etc. at thrift shops to use to make braided rugs.

Old wood thread spindles hold my cotton strips for my rug braiding projects.

I made a plastic bag holder/organizer from 3 pretty place mats I bought at the thrift shop.

A unique tiny padded footstool with a lovely hand embrodiered top I found at a thrift shop, now holds my clamp on crank cloth cutter and my braiding clamp. I can leave it on a table, or sit it on my lap for easy use.

Enormous old wicker baskets with lids hold my braiding fabric and keeps it out of sight.

Small wicker plant pot baskets [found in a thrift shop 10/$1.00] lined with plastic grocery sacks are my wastebaskets.

A vintage wicker baby changing table, now on casters, is my rolling kitchen island.

A wicker mirror frame without the mirror now frames a bulletin board.

As I think of other things I recycle, I will post them.

A yard stick with an old paint brush duct taped to the end works well for catching cobwebs off the ceiling and as a mini broom for the corners.

My sewing scraps go to make rice bags which are great to keep buns warm in a basket... plus many other uses, as you know!

Old mattress pads or bedspreads make great fill for sewing projects. I have used them for placements, potholders, anything that needed batting. I was tired of all the little junk on my nightstand and made a runner with pockets on the one end to put all that "stuff" in. I like to keep a pencil, paper, calculator etc on my nightstand.

On another site I found a new use for old phone books. WHen I refinish furniture or do faux finishing and need to dab my paint brush off or clean off my scraper, I use the pages from the phone book like a paper towel. It works great!

My Chihuahuas love the baby sized stuffed toys and can be found for less than $1 at Wally World. (Take off the hard button eyes and nose if need be.) When they get torn apart I sew up holes with fishing line. Fishing line is great to sew up upholstery etc.

Put a old nylon stocking over the washer hose to catch all the lint etc and other gunk. You would not believe how much comes out of the washer! This was recommended by the guy who cleans drains. My washer water drains into a big tub then into the drain. I am going to try to use the rinse water on my yard this summer. Wonder if i can put a hose on it and just drain it outside?

I use old nylons in place of wire tie, as to tie my excess computer cables up to hide them behind furniture. They work well to hold the garden hoses for storage. When I store my area rugs I roll them up and tie them with nylons.

Get in the habit of wearing an apron can save you steps and protect your clothing when cleaning, painting etc.

Use a n 15- 18’ length of fleece fabric as a shawl or wrap. You can blanket stitch or crochet around it to make it pretty or use it as is. (This is the width of the bolt,usually about 60") I have also sewn a partial "tube" on each end for "sleeves", like the shrugs that are popular now.

I use the inexpensive metal shelving units in my sewing room closet to store all my fabric. The shelves I have fit a bolt of fabric perfectly, or folded fabric.

My old aunt left me a triple mirrored vanity from about the 30's. It is on legs, has 3 small drawers on each side and a small shelf between the drawers. The side mirrors are hinged and the middle mirror separates the drawers area. It was moved into my diningroom and did not get any farther. I use it to store my candles, napkins, keys,etc. I have a candle lamps on each side, a carafe and wine glasses on the lower middle level shelf. The mirror is nearly full lenght and comes in very handy as I am going out the door.

I grate Irish Spring soap and sprinkle it around my flower beds to keep the rabbits away. I love the smell of it, but can not use it to bathe!

I have used an old jewelry box that has lots of drawers in the bathroom for my makeup.

One of the standing jewelry cabinets make a good TV stand for the bedroom. It is just the right height to see the TV over the foot of the bed.

Ok... I have said enough! Hope someone can use a few of these ideas.

In my earlier home, the dryer vent had a flapper that allowed one to direct the heat outside, or into the house.

It might add too much humidity of one directed the heat from too many dryer loads into the house frequently, but the occasional one is fine. I hung a pantyhose over the end of the plastic flex-tube to keep excess lint from flyig around the basement, adding one type of pollution.

Kathi MDGD,

Should you be the servant of a cat (that allows you to live with it) ...

... perhaps you might glue some carpeting around your yardstick holder as a sharpening post.

Hope you all have a great recycling weekend.

ole joyful

I use my old stained kithcen towels--by folding them and sewing across each end to make them fit onto my swiffer or redimop. I just wet before I slip them onto the head of the sweeper. They can then go into the laundry after each use and I always have a clean mop head. Much cheaper and more efficient than the disposable ones.

o j

i used an old hanging wall cabinet without doors for a bookshelf, an old sewing table for my kids mac. and old wood and very heavy rolling microwave cart is now my phone book and recipe book holder. plan on refinishing it too.

a stereo cabinet without the door holds my printer, scanner and computer supplies.

I use old sheets for pattern making. old drawers I use under beds. old metal shower caddy is in my kitchen over the sink holds rag, sponge and scrubbies. old mayo,jelly jars etc i use to freeze foods, store dry ingredients premeasured also old coffee cans for cannisters.

had a futon it's metal frame fell apart so i used the mattress on top of my mattress for extra comfort and it doesn't bounce around as much, i sleep real good now. the frame got broken down and used for curtain rods, potrack, garden bed border etc...

Lucy

I've also found that those scented candles by Glade(?) in the little glass jars fit perfectly in the hanging wire planter baskets (the kind you get from Walmart), I hung it in my entryway with a candle in and it looks nice & makes my house smell pleasant as well.

My Grandma, God Bless Her, she loved that darn contact paper. She used it to edge-line the tops & bottoms of her lampshades in her family room. (the faux black & white marble looking kind). Looked pretty good. She died a few years ago. One day while visiting my Grandpa I noticed that on his screendoor (it's the kind with real thin plastic (?) flanking either side of the screen) well having so many grandkids the plastic had gotten weak and was cracking so he used some of Grandma's left over contact paper on either side to reinforce it. It looks great, is functioning wonderfully & I'm sure it brought a twinkle to Grandma's eyes as she looked down from heaven.

I like to collect discarded tissue paper from gifts and tear it up in small pieces then decopage it to my planters.

I also save all my gift bags. Some I'll cut out the picture and frame it. The plain ones I cut out coloring book pages or old wrapping paper and glue on for a personalized theme bag, works especially well for kids' parties.

There are wonderful rug braiders who will help you learn. That is what I did!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/braided_rugs/

My old nightstand makes a good printer stand. The spare toner cartridge goes on one shelf, paper on the next, and extra cables go in the drawer.

I use spring clothespins to reclose bags of frozen vegetables -- just twist and clamp. I use a small ceramic bowl to hold the extra clothespins.

My large glazed ceramic planter with matching drip pan or whatever it's called underneath became an end table by inverting it and putting the drip tray on top.

I have read about a company that shreds old car tires and sells the shreds for mulch. They claim it lasts for five years. I've also seen the tires laid down flat and V-shapes cut into one side. The V's are then pulled out and down, making a kind of bowl shape, which is then filled with soil and planted. They can be painted as well.

I'm thinking about finding a painted wooden CD-type cabinet with doors, which I plan to hang on the wall and use to hold prescription bottles.

Old blankets, comforters and pillows can be donated to the local animal shelter or rescue group for the animals to sleep on.

The wooden base that used to hold my large fishtank became a counter for my stereo components and I put the large, unsightly speakers behind the doors on each end, which I can open outwards when using the speakers. I plan to cover the openings behind the doors with fabric.

You know those industrial size sppols of rope--really large? We use an empty on, on its side of course, as round wooden table on the deck.

I also use large old straw purses as magazine holders or for holding dired flowers. A straw hat is nice for dried flowers too.

I am forever losing one sock to the washing machine so use the remaining one for a dust cloth. Not that I dust very often.

Chipped glass anything gets used for totems.

Chipped plates get added to my mosaic stash.

My Corian samples have become coasters.

Cookie tins hold my threads.

Snip the corners off wire hangers and use them to keep the plastic weed mat down.

What a cute and clever idea!

I just love the idea of the various uses
for clothespins. Uglyoodie: Love the the idea
for Rx bottles. I have been saving a few, until
I could come up with an idea! I use to give
them to my old Vet who would recycle them, but he retired.

Ok, here are my ideas!

I use/buy old Velveeta cheese boxes, apply
wood appliques in rose motifs, paint and use
to store stationary supplies. I have one in
my b/room with a crystal knob, and I use that for
Q-tips and hair tyes.

I save all plastic produce bags, plastic bags
that cotton balls come in, bags left over from tortiallas,
and use them to dump my coffee grinds in, before tossing in the
garbage. Nothing worse than coffee grinds sinking past the trash
liner and making a mess!

I use old crib sheets as main covers for my dogs' beds. It
makes them last much, much longer. If you get a solid
color one, and have bucket seats, and if you are finicky
about your vehicle, as I am, they make perfect temporary
seat covers. The elastic top and bottom fit your bucket
seat perfectly well, and know one will know it is a crib
sheet unless you tell them so!!!

Like sudiepav, I have a vintage 2-drawer cabinet from an old
treadle machine.
It holds cards, sticky notes, business cards, stamps, etc.

Large Tupperware canisters in old 70's colors. I have one
for storing dry cereal, two more hold my small dogs' dog food,
as I have 4 dogs, 2 are on senior diet, and the other two are younger,
so they are on a different formula, so I use 2 Tupperware containers.
I then SAVE all dog food bags, as they are very sturdy, and handy
around the yard for collecting, weeds, dog poop, etc. I never
throw them away!

Oh please tell me my mother was not the only one that was "cheap" when
it came to Holidays, Birthdays. She would salavage any decent
size of wrapping paper, tissue paper, and especially the ribbons. I
started doing the same, and still do to this day!

Here is a great idea for the kids that love to color. You can get the "end rolls" of newspapers, from your newspaper processing plant. They are usually free for the asking. This is free of ink/dyes, and it is perfect for laying out and letting children color on it. Also perfect for lining your kitchen drawers. Use as a temporary table cloth cover on a picnic table. I usually go and get 2 rolls. If you are raising puppies or kittens, you can also cut and use the inkless sheets of news paper rolls, in place of regular newspaper.

I too, use milk crates for cans, recycling, etc. When they are full, I carry them to the recycling container before taking it to the curb.

I think I better get used to wearing an apron. I have ruined so many house clothes. Grin!!

Marie

An old small spice rack, painted, distressed, mosaic, serves as a shelf wall rack, for those tiny little picture frames.

You can see what I did with my old sewing machine drawers, mentioned in my original post.

And my make over (who-da guessed it was a Velveeta cheese box)!

I love vintage fabrics, and I bought a rare unopened feedsack, opened it, and made curtains for my office window!

Marie

Tackle boxes are great for storing small craft items and beads.

Made lovely curtains from vintage pillowcases (the kind with crocheted ends), throw rugs and pillows from placemats sown together.

An aluminum arrow fit perfectly into my cars broken antenna hole. Works like a charm. L.O.L.. (Remove fletching if you don't want people to think you're a redneck.)

old thick glass light shades turned upside down in a metal rack(those made recently for glass bowls & often found at thrift stores when the bowls have broken) to hold a large candle, also have used one outside in the top of what used to be a brass shelf unit that had glass shelves as a bird feeder(the brass finish is now gone, replaced with a nice coat of rust)

Giant colander for a magazine holder

Silver toast rack makes a great sticky notepad holder on the desk

Old coke crates to hold various office supplies above the desk

Dh's grandma's old spice shelf that has 8 compartments with ceramic "drawers" in the craft room to hold small bits. I'm gonna label underneath each so that I'll know what's in there

Vintage pottery biscuit jar with no lid to hold my wooden kitchen utensils

Metal stands that used to have clear glass candle holders in them, now have various rock balls that I got at the dollar store(like granite, marble, etc) for a cool decorative element

Future project: to make a bulletin board out of the wooden frame of an old dresser mirror(mirror missing) moving the old celluloid mirror holders over to use as jewelry hangers and putting cork where the mirror was

Last Halloween, I used the damaged footboard from an old bed from the barn, had dh help me add picket fence pieces across the front of it, braces at the bottom, and a shelf on top to display five pumpkins carved to match the words to the song, "Five Little Pumpkins"

All I can think of for now.

Jill T.

As for the pumpkins, the first one I carved with a mouth in the shape of an "O"-"Oh, my it's getting late", the 2nd one with a silly smile, for "but we don't care", the 3rd with eyes carved looking up-"there are witches in the air", the 4th with a grimace(think that was it)-let's run & run" and the 5th one with a big grin-"I'm ready for some fun". It was funny people would come up and stand there for a minute and then they would "get it". At least those who sang the song in school every year at Halloween like we did. Of course, I used to sing it to my girls, too. The pumpkins were all varying shapes of smaller sizes.

Jill

I just love everyone's ideas!!
Alicia

-I use an old steel over-the-tub soap holder at the kitchen sink for my sponge.
-I use the old built-in propane grill on my back porch as a plant holder for my large philodendron.
-I use an old cattle trough for my koi pond.
-I use an old rake head to hold belts in my closet.
-I use a handmade desk found on my neighbor's trash pile as a bar/buffet in my dining room, and an old pie safe as my china hutch.
-I use a discarded 1950's enamel top kitchen table as my laundry folding table-perfect height.
-I store my coffee beans in an old saltines can.
-My husband uses the base of his old waterbed (with drawers) as a storage unit in his office, and a vintage metal teacart as a printer stand.

Is it trash day yet?

My electrician did think I was a little nutty when I asked him to install electric outlets and a phone jack inside my cupboard. :-)

--Jenn
http://web.mac.com/thriftshopromantic/iWeb/

Different (typewriter!) strokes for different folks! LOL