5 Things You Can’t Throw Out After Christmas

So what shouldn't you toss out with the tree and the fruit cake?  Good Housekeeping has a list of things we should consider keeping.  The reason?  They've got some great ideas about what to do with them that just might give this tired old junk a new life.

First on the list?

Wrapping Paper Scraps

My mom has been saving this kind of thing for years. It's a family joke at this point. What in the world can you do with paper scraps? A lot actually!

Turns out, colorful scraps of wrapping paper are the perfect crafting material.  Use old wrapping paper to create collages or strings of garland.  Depending on the size of your scraps, you can also line desk drawers with wrapping paper to brighten up your work space.

The next one on the list is something you can do all year long.

Empty Wine Bottles

They can be repurposed into fun crafts that are useful all over the house. … from rustic centerpieces to nifty citronella candles.

Some wine bottle citronella candles for the back patio would be way cuter than the unsightly candles from the garden department at Walmart.

Good Housekeeping has a great idea for the corks too!

Wine Corks

They're easy to work with and can be transformed into anything from place card holders to garden markers.

There are tons of ideas for wine corks all over the internet! I can't wait to make something nifty from my leftover corks!

Next on the list is a candy item we all have lying around…

Candy Canes

Is it just us, or do those mini candy canes have a way of accumulating throughout the holiday season?  Once Christmas passes, resist the urge to toss the rest of your stash and instead melt the peppermint candies to use for a cute craft or winter recipe.  We're a bit obsessed with turning peppermint into edible candy spoons.

Doesn't that sound divine with a cup of cocoa on a cold winter night?

Finally, if you did your holiday shopping online, Good Housekeeping has a great idea for the shipping boxes!

Empty Cardboard Boxes

Put the cardboard boxes your gifts came in to good use by turning them into pretty storage baskets.  All you have to do is wrap twine or rope around the cardboard and it will be instantly transformed before your eyes.  Add fabric with a fun pattern for an oh-so-pretty finishing touch.

I'm thinking something like this would make great storage for my baby's changing table.

Not interested in making baskets? Just give them to your kiddos to play with! My kids have more fun with the boxes than the toys most of the time.

What else should you keep and recycle instead of tossing out?  Get the scoop on what you just can't throw away at Good Housekeeping.