Ideas to Use, Reuse, Upcycle, & Repurpose 15 Common Gifts

When Earth Speaks
Dec 2, 2025
7 min read

So many gifts are more versatile than you think!

1: Last Year's Calendar

Make envelopes, cut into gift tags, cut strips for bookmarks, scale into postcards, glue on o

r convert into notecards, use as small book covers, fashion into decorations, save as framed artwork, play with origami, make small gift boxes, recraft into paper flowers, convert bits into magnets, add to a junk journal, use for scrapbooking, create decorations, use scraps for testing ink stamps, or donate to an art program or school art department.

2: Tote Bags

Use as a reusable gift bag, draft as a beach bag, assemble a pool bag, take as a gym bag, transport exercise gear, carry road trip essentials, traveling personal bag, reusable shopping haul, pickup groceries, use for picnics, tote park toys, baby care on the go, fill with nursing supplies, rock it as a large purse, hold those yarn balls, pack up the art supplies, perfect book haul, use for lunch items, take to potlucks, small laundry transport, convert to garden bag, excellent casual work bag, gather study materials, keep in car for errands, great general carry all, create a journaling tote, a take-along wellness bag, basic home organization, hang on railing for upstairs/downstairs transport, create a pampering care package, or make an emergency kit.

Totes are so easy to elevate for fun; add decorations such as bandanas, buttons, pins, iron-ons, patches, and clips!

3: Blankets

New Blankets: Style up furniture, snuggle on a couch, soften a rocking chair, take to a movie theater, wrap up at a drive-in, keep warm at a tailgate, bring along for a picnic, take along camping, use around a fire pit, bring to football games and sporting events, take a hay ride in comfort, bring to the beach, use in the office, cover up at outdoor concerts, cozy up road trips and travel, roll up as pillow, or use for yoga and meditation.

Old Blankets: Create a privacy curtain, protect furniture while moving, roll up as a draft stopper, use as a dust tarp, reuse as a drop cloth, repurpose as a table covering, use for costume material, craft a cape, upcycle material for a bag, covert into a pet cage cover, place as barn cat bedding, make easy dog car seat cover, recraft into a play mat, keep in car for emergencies, or donate to a homeless shelter.

4: Stickers

Uses: Use to show love for your interests, add style to basic products, hide flaws, cover logos, add identification to belongings, mark calendars, change an aesthetic, and bring joy.

Places: Supply caddies, pill dispensers, phone cases, wallets, office equipment, laptops, tablets, headphones, storage containers and bins, eyeglass cases, clipboards, notebooks, folders, envelopes, mirrors, bottles, jars, tumblers, charging bricks, plant pots, sports equipment, helmets, hardhats, toolboxes, strollers, car seats, keepsake boxes, and to make craft projects.

5: Mouse & Gaming Pads

Reuse as padding for a shelf from harsh décor, such as a rock 😊, use as a mat for trinkets, repurpose as a trivet for smaller warm dishes, use as a small plant pot coaster or a protective layer, quick and easy exercise knee padding, use grippy side as a jar opener, upcycle as a drawer liner, use as a traveling game mat, use as a craft project mat, upcycle and cut into shoe heel pads, cut into coaters, trim into car cup holder pads, or reuse nice ones as a small casual placemat.

6: Mugs

So many things you can do with a mug! First of all, store rocks! 😊

Catch-all for loose change, a leak proof planter, a small vase, craft into a candle or candle holder, add potpourri or fragrance sticks, upcycle as part of a centerpiece, use to organize the garage, use to organize drawers, make desserts in it, make a parfait, warm up and drink soup, use as a circle biscuit or cookie cutter, break and use piece for mosaic art, upcycle into a bird feeder, hold art supplies, hold office supplies, organize bathroom essentials, use as a scoop for dried goods or pet foods, fill it with goodies as a gift, mix and hold spices while cooking, create a candy dish, label it as a measuring cup, or donate it to the workplace breakroom.

7: Notebooks

Notebooks have so much potential! - Track milestones 😊, personal development, travel diary, camping or hiking log, naturalist notes, gratitude journal, planner, school study, business planning, homemaking ideas, life hacks, project management, reference sheets, bible study, scrapbook, recipe keeper, meaningful quotes, garden tracking, letters, doodles, club meeting notes, fitness or nutrition tracking, science experiment notes, gaming tricks, poetry, author book development, hobby tips and notes, fashion, language learning, dream journal, sudden ideas, networking notes, fashion design, stamp collecting, and pregnancy planner. And still so much more!

8: Old T-Shirts

Quilt squares or fabric, bandanas (which have lots of uses), cut and craft cloth belts, cut for hair accessories, bags, make cords for bracelets and keyrings, weave or sew coasters, cut and fill circle to make sachets, recraft into tote bags, sew and fill for pillows, create cat toys, make a kids’ cape, upcycle into an apron, refashion into a kid skirt, craft a baby or adult bib, use for costume material, experiment with tie-dye, cut and spruce up as a gift wrap, trim for rags and use as towels or shine shoes, or donate to a homeless shelter.

9: Wrapping Paper

Make cool envelopes, cut and fold into gift tags, trim and craft bookmarks, wrap a vase for a centerpiece, cut and fashion into decorations, glue on notecards, reuse as book covers, add to collage artwork, create unique origami, repurpose and laminate as placemats, cover storage boxes, upcycle into paper flowers, craft into magnets or buttons, scrap into a junk journal or scrapbook, or donate to an art program or school art department.

10: Pillows

Use a part of a cozy pet bed, recreate into a draft stopper, combine into a floor pillow, add weight and make a doorstop, reuse out on the patio, create a travel pillow, upcycle stuffing to re-plump an old stuffed toy, repurpose into a kneeling cushion, turn into a back rest for the car, use for costume padding, make creative wall art, bolster up a headboard, stack and invent an ottoman, convert to camping pillow, use as stuffing for holiday décor, or see if you can donate or recycle in your area.

11: Buttons

Uses: Use to elevate your personal stuff, display your interests, add style to basic items, hide fabric flaws, cover buttons, hide logos, identify belongings, pin down ribbons or bows, hold light stuff together, and bring smiles to others.

Places: Clothes, jackets, bags or totes, sports gear, backpacks, scarves, hats, shoes, curtains, costumes, covers or pillows, pet stroller fabric, soft pouches, add as gift flare, and create craft projects.

12: Ornaments

Use to elevate gifts, add to a Christmas tree, use in wreaths & garlands, hang as wall or window art, add to centerpieces, differentiate travel bags, create party accents, make a door handle charm, hang from light or blind pulls, convert to napkin rings, glue onto trinket boxes, drape on a mantle, upcycle into curtain tie backs, upcycle into wine bottle décor, hang from house plants, hang in the car, or attach to shower curtain rods.

13: Used Candle Jars

Create another candle using various wax methods, or remove wax and use for one of these: create a candy dish, repurpose as office supply storage, craft into a desk organizer, reuse to store bathroom basics, use as easy makeup brush caddy, keep hair ties together, upcycle as a container for bath salts or scrubs, use to hold loose change, make a button jar, grow a seedling or craft a terrarium, convert into a small vase or centerpiece, add tealights or make a lantern, add potpourri or use for room fragrance methods, fill with stones and use as bookends or paperweights, and lastly donate or recycle if possible.

14: Can Coolers

Trim as use as padding for a shelf from harsh décor, such as a rock 😊, trim upcycle into circle for coasters, cut into a mini trivet for smaller warm dishes, cut for small plant pot coaster, repurpose as a protective layer for small glass items during travel, put earrings through for travel and transport, protect delicate fruit for a picnic, reuse as a camera lens cover or external hard drive holder, use to store glass ornaments, place in vehicle cup holders, cut bottoms off and use as tube to store rolls of paper, cover a can of shaving cream to prevent bathroom rust stains, roll a t-shirt or cloth gift into the cooler as a fun gift holder, and use for cans you want to hide the label on 😊.

15: Bandanas

Last, but definitely not least, bandanas have to be about the more versatile item on the Earth!

Use as eco-friendly gift wrap (furoshiki), repurpose as picnic linens, wrap into a snack holder, line a basket, add elastic for a fabric bowl cover, hold a hot bowl or cup, tie onto luggage, makeshift dust mask for face, dry hands as needed, use as an emergency tie or sling, fill with ice as temporary ice pack, protect necks from sun or wind, wear as a stylish wrist or ankle wrap, design a belt or belt loop accessory, add as a hair or head accessory, create a hat band, add to collar as a pet scarf, reuse as a bib, fold into a blindfold or eye mask, flag down a taxi, wrap a found treasure such as nice rock or shell, tie into a sack for picking berries or nuts, bind twigs for a fire or unruly cables, put up a quick car window shade, roll into a fly swatter, use on a door as a code, and last, but not least, do magic tricks!

Please leave a comment to add your repurposing and resuing ideas! Rock on! 😊