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You are not supposed to judge products based on packaging alone, but I am easily amused and distracted when products have "nice packaging". I actually purchased a couple clear glass bottles with stoppers at Ikea a few months ago, but you can find the exact concept at Sprouts for their Sparkling Lemonade Lemon - 25.4 oz.
The children love to eat those Push Up ice cream treats. They are left with these little nifty round discs with a stick attached to it.
I reuse the long green Velcro straps that are often wrapped around celery when I buy it. I save them to use as ties.
I use the piece of plastic found underneath the bacon in each package. It is flimsy enough to cut with regular scissors, yet strong enough to use many times over.
The plastic bags that cold cereals are packaged in can be cut into large squares and sewn between two pieces of cotton fabric. When finished, these are called "crinkle taggies".
Clean out cardboard containers, like the ones that held food. Cover them with contact or wrapping paper and use them to store leftover pantry food and small items.
Wash the Lay's Stax brand plastic chip cans, when finished with the chips. Also save your empty milk gallon and/or half gallon jugs. Fill them with water.
Use waxed boxes for paint palettes. When working with acrylics, you can use a (washed) waxed box such as the ones frozen foods come in, as a palatte.
Bookmarks: Attractive boxes such as candy boxes can be cut into bookmarks. Use the side panels. You can use a hole punch and put a ribbon through if you'd like.
After you have finished off your cool, refreshing Wendy's frosty that comes in a clear plastic cup with a clear plastic dome covering. Wash it and reuse in the bathroom for a toothbrush holder.
I bought some pull-apart bread last week. The tray that is on the bottom is black, but can't be recycled in this state. The center has a ring in the middle, and two other rings larger toward the edges.
I save the bags from empty cereal, they are super to use to take camping to use as bowls, or cereal. When used, fold up to carry home to discard.
Use cookie packs to make handbags, this is great for kids to use, for storing your shopping receipts, etc. I have used the 2 packs back to back and belting material.
I make my own chili seasoning and keep it in a Parmesan cheese container. The container has an easy opening to put your spoon in and it also has a holes for shaking in a little more, if needed.
I sometimes get packaged molasses cookies at the DT. They have the coolest plastic containers that I often reuse.
In the produce section, there are the large apple boxes that come with recycled layers of pocketed cardboard (like eggs) that protect the produce during shipping. They are kind of lavender in color.
Recycle your flour bags by reusing them to store your homemade baked goods (cookies, pastries, etc). I carefully open the bags to begin using the flour and when its finished, I reuse the bag.
Keep all "disposable" containers (juice bottles, margarine tubs, peanut butter jars, etc). They are great for taking to lunch for work, on picnics or to send leftovers home with dinner company.
