Before you toss out old stuff, get creative with ideas to reuse old items cluttering up your shelves and closets. Real Simple.com has some great tips for reusing old items--here are a few of my favorites:

Votive candle holders: Use for toothpick holders, paperclip holders, ponytail holders, marble collections.


Wooden Crates: Make Excellent bathroom storage centers for toilet paper and towels!


Old Books: Can make a free table stand instantly!


Empty Kleenex Boxes: Makes a handy place to store plastic grocery bags.



Extra Stamps: Interesting stamps can make for a fast and cheap nail manicure! Just trim the stamps to fit your finger nail, dampen and apply!


Other ideas: Shared on the Mail Tribune.com:

Trimming tree branches: Save long fallen twigs or branches that are in good condition. Tie in a bunch and let dry completely in the garage. Spray paint them in white, silver or gold and display in a vase or large urn as indoor decorations.

Dry leftover slivers from bath soap bars and place them in a large zip top plastic bag. Use a hammer to smash the bars into small pieces, and then close the bag. Poke several small holes in the bag with a pin, and then toss the bag into storage bins with clothes. The soap will repel moths and other insects, and keep clothes smelling fresh.

Save old socks or partner-less socks to store delicate Christmas ornaments.

Have any re-using tricks to share? We'd love to hear them!