What do you do with the gift baskets after the contents are eaten or removed?  As lovely as they are, they begin to accumulate and take up valuable space.  Since it is wasteful to throw them out while their condition is still good,  we will suggest simple and fun ways to turn those empty gift baskets into useful and practical decorator items.

Indoor or Outdoor Planters -  Line the baskets with plastic wrap to waterproof them, fill them with potting soil and add your favorite plants. This makes a nice centerpiece on your picnic table or inside when entertaining.

Dog Toys -  Dogs, like children, need a toy box to store their favorite toys.  When they are ready to play, they will know where to look.

Guest Towels -  Small baskets make wonderful extra holders for hand towels in the powder room.

Guest Room Basket -  When you have overnight guests, nothing says, "Welcome", like putting small extras in a fancy basket and placing it in their room.

Books or magazines -  These tend to accumulate around the house.  Where do you put them?  A basket is the perfect holder.  It is easy to move and you can leave it out in plain sight.

Mail Storage -  Take those letters you mean to answer and those unpaid bills that are piling up and place them in a basket until you are ready to tackle them.

Sewing and Knitting Supplies -  If you like to sew or knit, placing a basket with all your supplies next to your favorite chair has them ready when you are.

Fruit Basket -  Real or artificial fruit placed in a basket makes an inviting centerpiece.

Children's Art Supplies -  When grandchildren come to visit or children of your own need crayons, markers, and other creative art supplies, they are all in one place.

Medicine and Vitamin Bottles -  Nothing takes up space like pill bottles sitting on a table or stored in a cabinet.  A decorative container will store them neatly and be pleasing to look at, at the same time.

Holiday Centerpieces -  When Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas came around, seasonal items such as colored eggs, gourds and pumpkins, and greens and colored balls in baskets make beautiful centerpieces.

Spices -  Great cooks have an abundance of spice bottles.  A small basket can absorb the overflow and still be at hand when needed.

"Catch-all"  Basket -  Everyone needs a place for essential items such as keys, remote controls, etc., items you know you need but can never find when you need them.

Garden Basket -  Nothing is more annoying than to start working in the garden and to have to go back for a tool.  In addition to holding tools, baskets are also useful for carrying the flowers or vegetables from the garden.

Button Box -  Most clothing items come with an extra button to replace one when you lose it.  The problem is, when you lose it, the replacement button is nowhere to be found.

Snack Basket -  Store all your favorite snacks in one place.  This will save you from making repeated trips to the kitchen in the middle of your favorite movie or TV show.

Emergency Basket -  When the lights go out, wouldn't it be easier if all your emergency items like flashlights, candles, matches, portable radio, etc. were all in one place where everyone could find them?

Personal Care Products -  All those small jars and bottles that clutter the dresser could be stored in your own personal hand basket.

Tool Box -  Small tools and things like picture hooks, curtain rings, nails, screws, a tape measure, etc. will be right there when you need them instead of having to look through a crowded drawer or tool bench.

Baby Items -  Things for the baby that you carry from room to room could be stored in a handy carrying basket.

Dog Bed - Small dogs and cats like to curl up in a soft protected spot.  Lining a basket with a towel or soft piece of fabric provides them with a comfortable bed.

Christmas Card Holder -  After you've hung and displayed your Christmas cards, what do you do with all the extra ones?   A small brightly painted basket decorated with a bow is the answer.

Travel Basket - Traveling distances with children requires a variety of games, books, DVDs etc.  A basket placed in the car provides a handy recepticle to keep these items together.

Laundry Basket - Small amounts of laundry can be kept in a basket in a corner or closet in a bedroom.

Extra Towels - A basket placed in the corner of the bathroom is a great place to put those extra towels until you need them.

DVD/CD Holder - Favorite DVDs and CDs are sometimes difficult to locate when you don't have a tower in which to store them.  Putting them in a basket allows you to access them when you want to use them. 

Gift Wrapping Supplies - Frequent gift givers know that you need to keep a supply of ribbon, bows, small gift bags, tissue paper and tape.  Having all these items on hand, in one place, simplifies the process.

Easter Basket - Let the Easter Bunny fill those baskets with jelly beans, eggs, and chocolate bunnies as an Easter treat for your loved ones.

Cut or Artificial Flowers - Flower arrangements using lined baskets make attractive room or table decorations.

Compost Baskets - Old, beat-up baskets that have been lined, can still be used as compost bins for kitchen vegetable scraps.  When filled they can be added to the outdoor compost site.  One more small way to cut down on waste and save the environment.  

If all else fails, refill the basket with tasty snacks or other useful items, wrap it in cellophane and recycle it to a friend or loved one.

Gift baskets have many possible chances for a second life.  By reusing them, we reduce waste and help give our fragile planet a second life