Milk jugs can be reused in your home. You can cut the tops off (keeping the handle intact) and fill the remainder with crayons, pencils, markers or small toys such as Legos. Or cut a hole into the side of a jug and use it to hold plastic grocery bags or dryer lint. You can make a sandwich caddy out of a milk jug, too. For directions, visit makezine.com/2012/10/07/sandwich-caddy-from-a-milk-jug.

The first reader shares some more ideas:

Reuse plastic jugs:

I cut off the bottom of one jug to make a scoop for the dog food. I cut off the top to create disposable buckets or pans for messy jobs. If you create plant cuttings, you can start them in a cut-up plastic jug. If you garden, you can cut the opaque jugs into sections and make plant markers. -- Cookie, Mississippi

Fels-Naptha:

I read that it can be used to deter wasps, hornets and yellow jackets from building nests. The research indicated that birdhouse builders often spray the inside of the birdhouse to deter those stinging pests. I made a solution of Fels-Naptha soap melted into warm water to spray under my pool decking seven years ago and have not had a single hornet, wasp or yellow jacket nest until this year. I will have to make up a new batch and spray again. -- Debbie, email

Budget craft supplies:

I used to live in a town where a charity offered a craft supply-recycling center. It was only open once a month, but you could get all sorts of paper, paint and other supplies there.
Ask your local newspaper if they have "roll ends" of newsprint. If they print their newspaper in-house (many don't anymore), they are often more than willing to let you have the end of the roll of paper -- which still has TONS of paper on it. This paper makes great drop cloths and table covers. I used my last roll end as packing paper for our big move, and I still didn't use it up.
There are entire books at the library on making craft projects from paper plates.

Use styrofoam egg cartons for paint trays:

All sorts of miscellaneous household supplies make great tools for printing and clay crafting (with homemade clay, of course) -- forks, spoons, spatulas, etc. Try having the kids make their own beads with salt clay. I love pipe-cleaner crafts. And of course, summer is the best time to start to saving used popsicle sticks. -- Cookie, Mississippi

Easy button bracelet:

Buy lace elastic and string it through the buttonholes on your buttons to make a cute bracelet. You can string them so they're stacked back-to-back or run the elastic through two buttonholes on each button, so all of the buttons are flat on your wrist. -- Kristy, Ohio

Two-ingredient cookies:

I love these really easy cookies. Just mix together 2 mashed bananas and 1 cup of quick oatmeal, then bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes. Makes 2 dozen cookies. You can toss in a few raisins, chocolate chips or nuts, too. -- Elizabeth J., Indiana

Cookie gift container:

Stack baked cookies in a decorated Pringles chip container. Use wrapping paper to match the occasion. If you like bigger cookies, reuse a peanut butter jar or an oatmeal container as your gift box. Or roll cookie dough into balls, freeze and transfer to clear plastic takeout containers and give the dough as a gift. -- Lily, Pennsylvania

photo by bluewaikiki