New Uses For Old Things 3-
Time for some more new uses for old things! At our home we upcycle, recycle and reuse whenever possible. One of the fun things about being good to Mother Earth is that there are a lot of other people just like us who are finding new uses for old things too. I am sharing a couple of the things that we do and a few others that I am sure will inspire you.
I buy the large container of dish washing liquid. I don’t want a big jug on the sink and a much as I like the pretty glass bottles, I am just to clumsy to have them on the kitchen sink. I use a picnic style condiment squeeze bottle.
Sometimes the simplest things make the most sense. Now on to some more new uses for old things . I like to call these discoveries “light bulb” moments.
( images belong to their respects blog/websites and can be found on my pinterest board HERE.)
Make ice packs from sponges. Just wet, put in zip top bags and freeze .I found this at Grace Brook. com
This is such a cute idea. Using cupcake liners to make a bouquet! Perfect for a party centerpiece too. I found this at Project Nursery.com
I really like this idea from Real Simple magazine. When you have a get together you can keep your ice from melting into a giant clump by putting it in a colander over a bowl. brilliant!
This reminded me of another one of my new uses for old things. I use wash basins for parties and picnics. I fill them with ice and cover the ice with plastic wrap then I lay sandwich meats and cheeses on the top. I also fill them with ice and put condiments in the ice filled buckets to stay cold. I found this photo from my Mothers visit.
Last but far from least in the “light bulb moments” I think this is terrific new use for old thing. A sugar dispenser to hold twine. I found this at Clover and Violet. Perfect for the twine I sell at my shop Craft Supply Things ( wink).
I invite you to leave a comment about ways that you find new uses for old things too. I will add them to the New Uses For Old Things page ♥
Enjoy the weekend sweet bloggy friends.
Janine Huldie says
August 15, 2014 at 05:20I love this and I think my favorite are the sponge ice packs – definitely clever and unique, too! Have a great weekend, Katie 🙂 xoxo!!
Katherines Corner says
August 15, 2014 at 14:13I love the sponge ice packs too. I used to freeze wet facecloths in a bag and use them for the kids when they get over heated or have a headache. xo
Pam@over50feeling40 says
August 15, 2014 at 06:06I love this series, Katie! Tell us more!
Katherines Corner says
August 15, 2014 at 14:13Thank you my friend. I try and add to the New Uses for Old Things page regularly. xo
KizzyDoll says
August 15, 2014 at 06:25The cupcake papers flower idea is so sweet, I like that a lot. I think my girls would love to do that 🙂 Happy weekend doll xx
Katherines Corner says
August 15, 2014 at 14:14So cute aren’t they. What a wonderful centerpiece for a party. xo
thegreatamericanweddingexpo says
August 15, 2014 at 07:49Wash basins? Are those from the hospital? Or is this something I have missed in my travels? Where do you find these? Lots of great ideas! Thanks for sharing!
Katherines Corner says
August 15, 2014 at 14:12I bought the wash bins ( washing tubs) from our local dollar store. I have used this “new uses for old things” trick for years. Its inexpensive, reusable and they stack together nicely when not in use. Hugs!
Anna Popescu says
August 15, 2014 at 09:01Katie, I love all of these, but my favorite is your very first one, pouring your dishwashing liquid into the condiment jar — because I have been doing the exact same thing for several years! I don’t want to keep a glass container around my sink because of my clumsiness so the plastic condiment jar works perfectly! Have a blessed day!
Katherines Corner says
August 15, 2014 at 14:14Sweet Anna we are two peas in a pod! xo
Janette@culinaryginger says
August 15, 2014 at 09:27Some great tips and ideas, thank you for sharing.
Katherines Corner says
August 18, 2014 at 21:20Thank you I am always trying to find new ways to use old things. Hugs!
tumbleweedcontessa says
August 15, 2014 at 10:39Such simple, yet clever ideas. Thanks for sharing.
Linda
Katherines Corner says
August 18, 2014 at 21:21sometimes the simplest things make the most sense my friend.Big Hugs!
Melissa Hopper says
August 15, 2014 at 11:37The cupcake flowers are to cute!
Mary @Sweetwater Style says
August 15, 2014 at 11:52I am going to do the frozen sponge trick….brilliant! I fill my condiment squeezer with olive oil to put on the grill pans when we grill ahi tuna. It is another great use….I still use the pretty glass bottle for my dishwashing soap…just stubborn!
Karen says
August 15, 2014 at 15:10I fill up old liquid soap bottles, small ones that hang up, from out of a gallon jug, then rinse the jug cut a piece off to make a scoop so the children can use it in the sandbox to make sandcastles. I love the twine idea at the moment I use a shoebox! Your idea sounds better and takes up less space:) Also good bits of old worn towels can be cut up and used as facecloths!:) Just a couple of ideas!
Shelley says
August 16, 2014 at 10:39I use a coffee can to contain my yarn when knitting. I recently saw an idea that had the yarn feeding out of a hole rather than the top, so you can put the lid on the can.
BruCrew Life says
August 17, 2014 at 01:10Such awesome tips!! My favorite is putting ice into the washbasins to hold the condiments, etc! So genus! 😉
Heather Smith {Woods of Bell Trees} says
August 17, 2014 at 01:25Ooooh the colander idea is PERFECT!
Su says
August 17, 2014 at 08:58Great ideas! I use one of those squeeze bottles for the Wisk I use to pre-treat the neck of Lorin’s dress shirts. And the bottle is actually 29 years old!! It’s from the hospital when MaKenzie was born; they used it to give her a bath. LOL!! (Never have found another one, there are four little holes in the top and the plastic is extra ‘soft’)
I also use those plastic shoe boxes in my kitchen to ‘file’ my gravy packets. I stand the pkts up, so the lid won’t work though.
A new idea I came up with this summer while trying to organize my office/craft room: I used a metal shoe rack, made with just flat shelves, in my closet where the double bar section is. I put a lot of my scrapping supplies on it. It cleared out a ton on clutter in my ‘work’ space!
Tina says
August 17, 2014 at 17:20Great stuff here! I adore those cupcake liner flowers…lovely! T.
Simple Nature Decor says
August 18, 2014 at 20:31WOW! What a great idea for the sponge ice packs. Great for the cooler when traveling.. thanks for sharing this on Fabulous Friday Hugs Maria
grammygoodwill says
August 19, 2014 at 16:32Great ideas. My favorites are the sponges and the wash tubs and the colander for ice.
Rosey says
August 20, 2014 at 06:26What a smart idea for the picnic bottle for the soap!! I keep the big jug up there and every once in awhile it slips off into my sink when I’m doing up a small round of dishes, lol. That little bottle would fix that!! 🙂
Sandra Garth says
August 21, 2014 at 16:07There are so many, “duh” why didn’t I think of that ideas here and I love them! I’m sure this one is floating around somewhere but I use old toothbrushes to clean the light switch plates. We still have lots of the old kind with the ridges. Old toothbrushes are also great for cleaning around the base of faucets.