My old pasta colander is now a snazzy hat :)

I used to eat a lot of Cool Whip. Now the old Cool Whip containers serve nicely to hold fresh mixed berries to take to work with me for lunch. The funny part is because of the container, that some people actually think I am eating cool whip for lunch! Perhaps after hearing me say things like "Eating fat is good for you," they already assume I am totally off my rocker anyway.

I have a lot of bread stored in my freezer from some free givaways a while back. I am now using it to feed the wild birds.

My old sugar container works nicely for storing almond flour. The white flour container now stores coconut flour. I don't do a lot of baking, but once in a while, I still get the urge..

The noodle strainer/collander works nicely to hold frozen items as I pour water over them to rush a defrost.

I saved all my store bought egg containers to hold the eggs I now get directly from the butts of my own chickens or from the lady down the street's chickens, all of which are raised on more natural foods and are not given chemicals.

I use a bag of whole buckwheat groats as a kind of "sand" in my incense bowl. It keeps the sticks standing up right. Baking soda for shampoo and toothpaste, but i guess thats a common one now.

Coarse sugar + vegetable oil = awesome body scrub. I also use it to take polymer clay off my hands after a session in the studio; it works way better than rubbing alcohol (the standard for polymer artists), and leaves your hands feeling wonderful.

My favorite "new" uses for CW items: Rice: keep it around for dehydrating electronics. I know many a cell phone that is still working because it was stored in a bag of rice to dry out after a dunking. Canisters: they can be used for many things other than grains and sugars. Mine currently hold loose-leaf tea, coins, and art supplies. Strainer: place cut veggies in it to lose water before cooking. For example, salting eggplant and leaving to "leak" over the sink will cause it to gain a firmer texture, which can them be turned into pizza or un-fried eggplant parm if you are a dairy eater.

That's what I come up with from the top of my head - I'm sure there's more!

Daquari machine is now a smoothie machine.....

I've held onto the dessicant packets from the bottles of vitamins I used to buy to keep my kale chips crispy.