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by ALEXANDRA FROST

10 Creative Ways to Reuse All Those Extra Holiday Shipping Boxes

Image Credit: Ashley Poskin

With a little crafty creativity, your boxes can be just as valuable as the gift inside them this season. Here are 10 creative ways to put those boxes to work.

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Organize your pantry

By adding these cute little chalkboard labels, and cutting boxes into the shape of a can storage item, organization will be quick and easy.

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Set out a pile of boxes, and let everyone know they’re free

Someone’s bound to be moving near you so let others reuse your old boxes. 

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Stack and decorate celebratory boxes

Turn boxes into celebratory decor by painting letters on the sides to spell out the name of the birthday person—or any other message.

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Get control of those plastic bags floating around

Create a plastic bag holder with a cardboard box by simply wrapping it in contact paper and cutting a hole at the top. 

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Beautify your gift boxes

Instead of wrapping gifts, use cardboard boxes turned inside out and decorated with paint, tape, marker, or ribbon. Get instructions here.

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Start a band

Turn shipping boxes into a kid-sized “guitar.” Boxes make excellent drums, as well. Just add simple kitchen utensils as drumsticks, and bring on the earplugs.

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Practice life skills for cheap

Boxes can also make entertaining kitchens, dishwashers, and washing machines for kids to play and practice with. 

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Create an at-home drive-in movie theater

Create your own drive-in movie theater for small children out of boxes covered in paper, modeled after cars.