Three New Uses for Old Things
It’s been a little while since I shared some new uses for old things with you. It’s a new year and the perfect time to share Three New Uses for Old Things. Don’t you just love when something makes life easier and it’s been there in front of you all along? I even have a pinterest board dedicated to new uses for old things. You can also see more of my new uses for old things HERE. I saw an advertisement in a magazine recently and it was advertising my produce bags! Well, let me clarify, they are not my bags. But, I did share mine with you several years ago. There is something suspiciously similar to theirs. Do you remember this?
theirs
I’m starting with a simple metal pencil holder from our local Target store. I was looking at the pencil holder on my desk one day, you know the one from Target, and it struck me like a lightning bolt. It’s silly, but I had this big Eureka moment over a pencil holder, I did! I emptied it and headed to our shower. I use my Olay Pro X face washing brush every morning. But, it is not balanced and I am very clumsy and unfortunately it rested precariously on the little shelf in the shower and had hit the tiled shower floor a time or two. I took that pencil holder and put it in the shower and I’ve been using it as a holder for my must have grooming tool and exfoliant scrub ( I use it twice a week, its awesome) for over a year now.
Izzy was a bit confused as to why I was standing in the shower fully dressed. 
I have serving trays, do you? I have them in a variety of forms and functions. A very pretty wood one is on our dining table, its a lovely way to display my fresh blooms. I have a bed tray for sick days ( always hoping it doesn’t get used to often). I have a tray for mail and miscellaneous bits and bobs. I also had one on our back patio, where it helped to corral barbecuing tools. Truth is, it went from a barbecue catchall, to a never used tray in a short time. Sadly it wasn’t fulfilling its intended destiny. What do I use it for then? Well holding wet wellies and garden shoes of course ( wink). You can rinse it off easily in the sink and the one inch lip of the tray is enough to catch dirt and water too. Just wipe it out every week or so. Hubby also keeps his garden crocs in it too. Yes hubby has garden crocs. He protested very loudly over the years when I had mentioned that the croc fairy had been known to leave a pair in unsuspecting households across the globe. So when he saw his black size 14 crocs in the tray he became a believer. Now when it’s time to come out of hibernation from the cold winter months his crocs are right at home in this cute tray. Oh and I need to mention that I actually hear myself saying, and I can’t believe I’m telling you now, but ..”honey please put some different shoes on before we go out”. His crocs are his main main foot wear throughout the spring and summer ( and even into the autumn).
You know I love tea towels. I may write an ode to tea towels one day ( stay tuned). Our lovely niece made this beautiful tea towel for me and I have always had it prominently displayed in the kitchen. I proudly share my lovely gift and how my talented niece may be the best crochet, seamstress, all around sewing wizard in the world and that she made it for me. I use it on occasion but it is so lovely with it’s pretty crocheted edges that I hate to use it to often. Unless you’ve been living off of the grid, you know that Instant pot and similar pressure cookers have all but replaced the slow cooking crock pot. We sent ours packing when I received my Power Cooker XL. I use it so often! I’m still trying to figure out why it took me so long to jump on the Instant pot train. Well I love it, but it is a monstrosity! I mentioned to hubby that I might create a pattern and make a cover for the beautiful beast. When out of the corner of my eye I spied my lovely tea towel with the sunlight shining like a spotlight. I swooped it up and lay it gently in it’s new and even more prominent place. Where it distracts from the beast and can be grabbed in an uh oh I spilled emergency.
I don’t know how I missed this article but I love it! I love how you repurposed all the items. I am so in need of the shower caddy idea. My husband bought the shower holder and the holes run horizontal and are huge! I am constantly fishing my littler items off the shower floor. This will solve that problem. Thanks so much! Love them!
You have 3 lovely ideas to use something old into something new. I really love your Pretty Tea Towel your niece made you. You found a nice place to keep it on display!! I don’t think I would ever use it myself..I would just keep it on display. It truly is a Lovely Piece.. Hugs~
Hi Cathy, thank you, I know it is truly a lovely gift. Ever since I draped it across my kitchen beast I haven’t used it. I want to keep it nice for as long as possible. Hugs!
I love these ideas. I have several serving trays that have seen better day and everyone here has at least 2 pairs of shoes and boots they wear every day. I think all 3 of us can have our own tray and stop piling wet boots on top of wet boots. and I have a lovely collection of vintage hand embroidered tea towels and runners that have small holes or stains that can be patchworked to make lovely, really lovely covers for my Instant pot and Belini Thermal cooker. Thank you for the ides!
Melissa, I’m so happy to know my new uses have encouraged you. I think a tray for each person is a brilliant idea! hugs
What great ideas, I am forever trying to arrange my shower and trying to find more room in there and also for my face wash and body wash, I will try this
Hi Crystal, I hope you were able to use my shower cup idea. Hugs!
I am the queen of reusing old things. I just love repurposing things and extending their lives. I love the use of the tea towels. I too have a towel collection and look for cute ways to use.
Hail to the queen, I love that you re-purpose things too. Hugs!
Those are great ideas! I love repurposing things–it saves money and uses creative thinking!
Thank you Christina, so happy to know you like re-purposing things too. Hugs!
I love it when people find new uses for old things. Makes me feel there may be hope for me yet.
giggle, yes of course, there’s hope. look around your home I bet you are already using something in a new way. Hugs
I love the tray idea! I”m not very creative so not sure I use anything again in a different way.
Barrie, never underestimate your creativity, I bet if you look around a bit you may discover you are already using something in a new way. Happy to know you like the tray idea, give it a try. Hugs!
Great ideas!! I would worry about that metal pencil holder rusting over time though!! I try to reuse old items for new things because I hate to see things end up in landfills!! Im not very crafty though lol!!
Hi Amber, I’ve had it in the shower for about a year and no rust. It’s powder coated painted metal so if it does rust I think it may take a while. Thank you for keeping your eco footprint small too. Big Hugs!
Katherine, I love all of these ideas! As I was reading the bit about the pencil holder in the shower, I kept thinking about how they probably have similar items in the bath section at Target…and they probably cost 4 times as much as a pencil holder! So brilliant idea in so many ways! And the tray as a boot/shoe resting place. I love it! Thanks for sharing.
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Hi Shelbee! I think you may be right, and certainly cost way more money than my 2.99 pencil holder. thank you for your lovely comment. Hugs
What a wonderful post! The tray idea for shoes is wonderful and exactly what I need to do. I’m off to find a pretty one for inside my back door. And the tea towel cover up is great, too! I got an Instant Pot a month ago and it’s fantastic. So, I guess I’ll buy one of my own tea towels and use it to hide the beast. Yes, it is a big appliance but I cleared almost everything from my counter so that I had more space.
Hi Jean, happy you liked the new uses. The tray really does work well. Your tea towels are lovely and the perfect little bit of camouflage for your favorite beast. xo
Those first two are really clever. (Last one is also clever but I don’t even know what a tea towel is.) Might have to find an old tray and set one up for our shoes by the back door.
okay Alex, that made me smile. I hope you try the tray it works really well. Hugs
I love how you repurposed these every day household items. Seriously awesome and now wishing you a wonderful Wednesday, Katie xoxo <3
Thank you sweet friend xo
That tray is a very good idea!
thank you Nancy, I hope this finds you feeling better, Hugs!
A few years ago I was surprised to win a giveaway giving me a gift certificate for $5,000 for The Brick!
5000! oh my gosh that is an amazing giveaway, congratulations!!
I love the rain boots, those would be perfect for me, the real life Cupid! And great to see Izzy!
hello bright light, the wellies are from Walmart, I bought them a couple of years ago. They may still carry them. You know how they hang onto stock and bring it out again every season. xo
The tea towel is so pretty. My mom loves linens like that and vintage printed handkerchiefs. We are always on the lookout for vintage linens at estate sales for her. I like the 40’s and 50’s style tablecloths. I am always afraid that my kids will get pretty things like that stained.
Great ideas,
Thank you Christine , hugs