Creative Uses for Boxes

Before throwing out your old boxes, explore ways to reuse them.

Boxes are great for moving and holding smaller objects together for storage, but they are quite versatile and have many uses. From crafts and decor to useful everyday items, there are many ways to reuse your old boxes rather than tossing them out.

Desktop Organizers

If your work pile could use some organization, consider using boxes.

Use old boxes to create stylish desktop organization. Cut the tabs off two cereal boxes, and lay them flat on a table with the open sides facing you. Wrap masking tape around them to hold them together, and cover them with contact paper (colored or printed) to cover the cereal logo and tape. The result is a stylish "in/out" box for mail, paperwork, bills or homework. To create a matching set, use smaller boxes to cover with the same contact paper to make pencil cups, small paperclip boxes or sticky-note holders. Your imagination really is the limit for this craft.

Building Blocks

Homemade buildong blocks are eco-friendly and really fun.

Save your old boxes in all shapes and sizes so that you can create a building block set for your children. Close each box so that it keeps its shape, and tape it shut. Paint the boxes, or cover them with wrapping paper. Place all of the building blocks into a lager box, and allow your children to build a clubhouse, castle or anything they want during playtime.

Grocery Bag Dispenser

Use an empty box of tissues as a dispenser for your grocery bags. Stuff all of your plastic grocery bags through the hole at the top of the tissue box, and take them out one by one as you need them to line trash cans or clean up after pets.

Jewelry Organizer

Tape or glue several small gelatin boxes together to create enough storage for all of your jewelry. Paint the organizer with any color you like. Place different types or sets of your jewelry into different boxes, and keep them well organized so that you can find the jewelry you want when you need it.

Gift Wrap

Save your boxes in a storage area for later use as gift wrap. When you need a box, check your storage area to see which sizes and shapes of boxes that you have saved will fit the gift you need to wrap. Decorate boxes with wrapping paper or even contact paper to create beautiful gift tanks.

References

• Better Budgeting: Frugal Parenting: 15 Creative Ways to Reuse Small Boxes
• Savings: Frugal Living: New Uses for Old Cereal Boxes