40 Things You Don't Have To Throw Away

Some of these lifehack-slash-DIYs are simpler than others, but all of them save good things from a trip to the landfill. And no, mason jars aren’t on this list.

1. Shoe Boxes

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One word: Robots. Directions -- pretty simple to follow -- here.

2. Old Candle Jars

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Maybe you've seen this on Pinterest, but never bothered to find the source. Here's one of the many tutorials out there. Now you just have to finish burning a candle.

3. Altoids Tins

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So there are dozens of things you can do with those little aluminum boxes, including decoupage. It's a cute way to store buttons, or disguise contraband. Directions here.

Altoids Sours Tins ...if you have them around.

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Now you can heat up a cup of old coffee with the help of discontinued candy. Maybe you could grill a burger, over time -- learn how to do it here.

4. Cereal Boxes

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Transform them into a little painted box to store all of your essentials, like your pincushion. Also uses scrap wood (but maybe you can find a way to just use the fabric-covered cereal boxes). Directions here.

5. Broken Clothespins

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Because if you actually have clothespins lying around, they're probably broken. How-to here.

6. A Ripped T-Shirt

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Don't trash it, sew in a zipper instead. Directions here.

7. Soda Cans (and more cereal boxes)

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Just in case you need to make your own flashlight one day. Directions here.

8. Beer Bottles

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Celebrate the Game of Thrones premiere with your very own goblets. Maybe even made from Game of Thrones official beer bottles. Directions here.

9. Old Film

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This project isn't exactly practical, but it's pretty. Directions here.

10. Baby Food Jars

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Baby break your favorite salt shaker? Take your revenge by using their empty food jars to replace it. Directions here.

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Option two: knockoff Anthropologie Jars. Using chalkboard paint.

11. Pringles Cans

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Once you pop, the fun don't stop...especially with the help of a little lace. You could also decorate with washi tape. Or paint them black. Originally here.

12. Broken Crayons

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Grown ups can color, too. Directions here.

13. Liquor Bottles

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Maybe grown ups can color and drink AT THE SAME TIME. Then use the empty bottles for almost sophisticated soap dispensers.

14. Round Wafer Cookie Tins

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Not sure what you'd store in these things. Maybe crafting supplies. Maybe sugar and flour? Directions here.

15. Old T-Shirts

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For those of you with small children, or with friends with small children. These shirts on The Cheese Thief, who used this tutorial.

16. Paint Cans

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With the help of toilet paper and some isopropyl alcohol, you can make sure you're never stranded in a cold car again. Directions here.

17. Leftover Paper Cups

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It's hard not to buy too many paper cups, because you never want to run out during a party. Now you can make something pretty with him.

18. Gerber Graduates Puffs Containers

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Or whatever vase-shaped trash you make. It uses dollar-bin duct tape, directions here.

19. Magazines

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Now you can do something useful with those ads for overpriced shoes. Directions here.

20. Burnt Out Tail Lights

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Our only problem with this: we don't have a car. How sad. Directions here.

21. Clorox Wipe Containers

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Organize your craft supplies, tools, cat toys, or whatever's lying in a pile on your floor with this tutorial.

22. Starbucks Coffee Stirrers

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You should click on this just for the beautiful instructional graphic this blogger made.

23. Honeybears

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You know you want gold-leaf bears with flowers sticking out of their heads. Directions here.

24. Cardboard boxes

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Bake a pizza in this zombie apocalypse-ready oven (no word on how well it performs, though). Directions here.

25. Last Year's Calendar

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Or cards. You don't even need the gift tag puncher, just a pair of scissors. Learn how to do it here.

26. Tin Cans

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You could plant little flowers in these if your desk is already super organized. All you do is spray paint the cans then glue them together -- originally here.

27. Wine Corks

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You'll just have to drink a lot of wine. No problem, right? Directions here.

28. Old T-Shirt

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Knitters will especially appreciate. Directions here.

29. Cassette Tapes

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So you're digging through your attic and find old cassette tapes. It's like making a yarn pom pom, but shinier -- find out how to here.

30. Forks

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Why you’d be throwing away good forks is a mystery to us. But since you insist, we vote you turn them into bracelets instead. Directions here.

31. Bottle Caps

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Because after making beer bottle goblets, you'll have lots of extra bottle caps. It's a little complicated but pretty all the same.

32. Peanut Butter Lids

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So you'll never be lost (iPhone batteries only last for so long). Directions here.

33. Extra Straws

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You probably want ones that haven't been used. Directions here.

34. 50 Shades of Grey

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Turn it into an erotic photo holder, instead. Because for some reason you spent money on that so-called novel.

35. Old Circuit Boards

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By artist Franco Recchia, and not a DIY. But awesome anyway.

36 & 37. Wine Bottles and To-Go Containers

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Hang it outside your window so you can see the hummers up close. Directions here.

38. Wooden Boxes

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Grow your own little herbs for yummy food, directions here.

39. Mexican Food Cans

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Or really any cans. The bright colors work well with the succulents, though. Originally here.

40. Plastic Grocery Bags

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Then pack them with juicy raspberries. You'll need a sewing machine for this one.