As a crafty person myself, I thought I’d offer some reuse tips to other like-minded crafty people on this community.
~TOOLS~
First, here are a few items that may normally get thrown out after their “regular” usage has ended but can still be utilised by the crafty.
Toothbrush – Too worn for teeth, give it a clean and use it to create “splatter” paint effect! Great if you want to design your own wrapping paper or add an interesting panel to a “window” card. Not to mention loads of fun for the kids, especially if they have to wrap their exercise books up – they could add a little uniqueness!
Sponge – (this also works for those body mop items) once they have become a little tired, clean it, dry it and use with paint to give a cool sponge print effect on paper.
Thin cardboard – Cereal boxes are the best I’ve found, cut them up the seams and hold onto the large flat areas. These are great for making your own stencils (especially useful when using the above two tools!)
Eggbox – Egg boxes are invaluable! Whether its using them for mixing paint, holding glue or glitter or to separate beads, keep at least two of these with your craft box!
Burnt matches – For anything that small and fiddly that needs gluing (as a quiller, I found these were perfect for putting just the tiniest dab of glue on the end of the rolled paper!) Again, keep a stash handy.
Old Flour & Newspaper – Any flour that’s past its best for using in the kitchen can be used (along with strips of newspaper) to create paper mache. All you need is 1 part flour to 5 parts water, stir well for about 5 minutes and add a little salt. When it’s smooth, dip your newspaper strips in and then cover your mould!
~WRAPPING & TAGS~
Like many crafty people, I hate to throw things away especially so-called cut offs. These are always handy to keep in a store box that will be rummaged through frequently. It’s a good idea to start one of these boxes if you haven’t already!
Newspaper / Magazines – You’ve forgotten a birthday, managed to hurriedly get a present but then oh no, no wrapping paper! As a crafty person, you are sure to have a stack of newspaper on hand (after all, gluing, glittering etc is a messy business). Quick and simple present wrapping. You can also work it around the recipient, do they like fashion, then why not use a fashion or celebrity mag, a football fan might like it wrapped in the sports pages etc.
Material – Scraps of material come from all over, old pillowcases, ends of curtains you’ve turned up, old teeshirts that have been torn… Find a nice clean piece and use it to wrap a simple present. Instead of sellotape, hold it shut with a ribbon or twisted cord. If you have enough of a nice material why not stitch it into a small drawstring bag to add as an “extra” gift as well as wrapping source.
Cut offs – You’ve wrapped presents and ended up with small cut offs of the wrapping paper. Not big enough to wrap more, if there is a picture on it, cut out the picture and glue it onto a small piece of card (matching gift tag). If there are a few pictures on the cut off, then cut them all out and try your hand at a decoupage tag!
~BOXES & TUBES~
Having had enough experiences of trying to wrap awkward presents, I have learnt the value of boxes, bags and tubes!
Boxes – Never underestimate the use of a good box! I usually try and keep all good strong boxes from tiny to about shoebox sizes. This gives me a nice range for present wrapping. Boxes can be covered in paper (as in glued on rather than just wrapped) and can be an added extra as many people like them as storage boxes if they are pretty enough! Add some tissue paper, plop in the present and tie up the box with ribbon or string and its all neatly contained!
Cartons – Another good reuse is juice cartons! They are so nice and sturdy. Rinse them, cut off the very top then on two opposite sides cut out two V shapes, on the other opposite sides cut two inverted V shapes. Cover the carton in paper (glued!), add the present and then either stick or tie the two points at the top together. One method can be to punch three holes up either side of the inverted Vs and then “stitch” with a thick cord, the two halves together pulling the top shut.
Tubes – Start a collection of the cardboard tubes, add the small present inside the tube, with some tissue paper etc and wrap with wrapping paper (extending beyond the ends). Ribbons to tie the ends into a “cracker” shape! Use them to decorate the tree and as an extra treat!
CD Boxes – After recycling or reusing old CDs, keep the boxes. Design thirteen cards to fit perfectly within it, either hand made or if you have a computer add the following years monthly dates per card and photos (this is where you can be very creative and make the gift to match the person…are they a gardener? Pet lover? Sports enthusiast? These can then be fitted in the CD box. All the person has to do is open the box and flip it over so that it stands open (L-shaped) on their desk! (PS: I say 13 pages because I personally like having a “title” page!) :p
I hope this give a few ideas for those who might want incorporate the greenliness of Reuse with the creativity of being Crafty 
Categories: reuse competition, water saver
Maddy this is amazing! Thank you SO much. Christmas just gone I made a couple of teddy bears, a bookmark and a doorstop out of old clothes material, and used other old clothes material as soft wrapping, or else glued it onto the outside of emptied food cartons to make gift boxes. I’ve never thought of keeping my burned matches, but what a brilliant idea – I often need something little like that to help me do fiddly craft-y things, usually involving glue, as you say. I’d love to read more about eco-crafting … eg sourcing truly friendly glues and paints and tapes … or even MAKING friendly glues and paints … Anyone?
another excellent article, Maddy. I always get a buzz when I read your stuff. Gifts wrapped in fabric can look beautiful and I love your idea of juice cartons for wrapping. We use old toothbrushes for cleaning areas around the taps; but your idea is much more exciting!
Hi Clara Thanks for the comment!
Yea eco paints and glues would be good. I know of eco paints for walls/wood panelling etc (Auro Natural Paints) but not for the smaller, crafty things and not yet heard of eco glue. Maybe someone will realise there’s a market for it! 
Aww Thanks Rachelle, your comments always make me smile so much! Ah yes, the trusty toothbrush for cleaning. I have a set of them but after each room got it’s own I started to look for different ideas!
I LOVE being a bit crafty with my rubbish – in fact, rubbish as a resource should be a programme on BBC1 at prime time if you ask me!!! Love your ideas here, the simplest ones are the best, TS x
I save my glass jars of all sizes and fill them with ribbon, or the smaller ones have beads and glitter in them. If you know a crafter, then a jar full of assorted ribbons all mingled together makes a practical, but unusual gift.
What a good idea Lou…I often save buttons and bits and never know what to do with them but you have just solved that problem for me! Well done! What a good idea…
Thanks I’m glad you like these ideas. Yes simplest is best! I like to think like that whenever I see a price tag on some item or tool that doesn’t look particularly specialised. I can usually come up with a non-bought idea!
Nice idea Lou, I never thought of that as a gift idea! I have some lovely shaped jam jars that would be great for this!
Hey Crafty Maddy! Love your tips…congrats on bein gin the final 10!
Maddy, a hundred congratulations for being shortlisted – I loved this article so much. Your creative ideas never fail to astonish me – it just keeps pouring out of you and I always love reading what you have been up to. Don’t ever stop – the world needs you
Go Maddy!!! So pleased about your top 10 rating
I agree with Rachelle – don’t stop with your brill tips. I love them!
I’m loving all of the above – you sound like my kind of girl! Try this with young children – all you need is the tiniest scraps of fabric left over from your frenzied present wrapping, clear plastic bags (the kind catalogues or mail comes in work best), greasproof paper (can be used for this purpose over and over again) and an iron. -Start by putting one sheet of greaseproof paper or parchment on the table, or direct onto the ironing board if you prefer. -Next,lay at least two thicknesses of plastic bag on top (any less and it’ll split when ironing) -Use the fabric scraps to make a collage – you can also cut out letters from newspapers etc to make up the child’s name – also try using the recycle logos from plastic shopping bags to really put an eco stamp on your handiwork! The important thing is to leave small gaps around the fabric pieces – ie you should be able to see the plastic bag between each fabric scrap – and also leave a border of plastic bag around all edges – a few cms will be enough. -When the design is done layer more clear plastic bags over the top, followed by another sheet of greasproof paper. -Now the fun begins! – gently iron over the top of the GP paper for a couple of minutes(adult help is advisable here) -Leave to cool a bit before slowly peeling back the GP paper – et voila’ – a beautiful piece of art! Let your imagination run wild – you can make tons of stuff like this – go really small for keyrings, pendants etc, or use the finished thing like fabric to make purses and bags. The more you iron the more crinkled it’ll get which I think sometimes looks like a long lost scroll or pirate map! It’s the summer hols, it’s bound to rain – have fun!
Lots of great ideas – a few more The plastic trays with sections from biscuit packets are great for storing sequins, buttons, beads etc when working (not for permanent storage as they don’t have lids) The lids from cream/large yoghurt etc are good for mixing paint – you let the paint dry and then flexing the lids peels it off, leaving you with a clean pallet.