But the idea of using it for self watering is a good one though.

the wall street journal that is mistakenly delivered to us becomes mulch (no need to shred)

I can understand finding aluminum beer cans in your abode, but soda bottles and pizza boxes?

I also have a plan to make a checkbook cover and some dining room napkins out of old clothes. And most people would agree that long before the time I refuse to wear something anymore, most people would think of it as trash.

I like to save pretty pictures from magazines to decoupage shoe boxes and envelope boxes I’m using for storage. Not that I’ve actually done that yet, but I did just decorate an (admittedly new) notebook with one of the things I saved. It let me buy a cheap boring notebook but then have a gorgeous notebook that I love looking at.

As a kid, I once cut out a picture of a car from a greeting card and glued it to a peanut butter lid which was the perfect size to frame it. This is still hanging on my wall today.

I’ve made a charcoal starter from a large can and a camp stove from a tuna fish can, corrugated cardboard (or you could use dryer lint) and wax.

I’ve turned failed attempts to make tomato soup into spaghetti sauce. And bruised and extremely ripe fruit into smoothies. (Actually, fruit milkshakes.)

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I can’t think of many things I’ve made from garbage, but I do re-purpose some garbage.

I use glass peanut butter jars and spaghetti sauce jars to store home-made pumpkin butter and to store some bulk items like peanuts, granola, and chocolate chips. Lots of people use glass baby food jars for screws and things. I use yogurt containers (the kinds with lids) to bring home-made pudding to work.

I’m using a free coozie from work to store pens at work. And a free mug to store rubber bands.

I sometimes use newspaper as a layer of mulch in my yard. Not to mention coffee grounds and egg shells.

I use envelopes from junk mail (the ones without any writing on the back) for my shopping lists. I store coupons inside.

I’ve used gift baskets to hold hair scrunchies in the bathroom, first aid stuff in the bathroom, juggling balls in the living room and fruit in the kitchen. I’ve heard of people using Velveeta boxes to organize their silverware.

I hope some other people have better ideas than mine.

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Alcohol also is good for removing most stickers, though supposedly not quite as good as lighter fluid (and, I assume, gasoline). Alcohol seems much safer and more pleasant, so I always try that first and so far it has always worked for me. Sometimes just letting things soak in water can work, too.