Put your collectibles and flea market finds to work during the holidays with fresh ideas for creative "repurposing" of objects.

« Previous |  1 of 5  | Next »

New Twists on Old Objects

Decorating with vintage treasures and collectibles discovered at flea markets, antiques shops, and yard sales gives your home distinctive personal style year-round. During the holidays, highlight your favorite prizes by using them as focal points for holiday decorations. Using the ideas on these pages for inspiration, take a fresh look at your own collectibles and their possibilities for creative new uses.

Syrup-bucket Wall Vases

Painted Canadian maple syrup buckets have become so popular that manufacturers are producing new ones in a similar style. Whether you have rusted and worn vintage buckets or newer reproductions, consider displaying them on the wall like three-dimensional art.

• If you want the bucket to hug the wall, simply slip the hole in the rim over a nail. To let the buckets hang forward slightly, thread picture-hanging wire through the hole and twist it into a loop, then hang the loop over a picture hanger.
• For a temporary display, simply fill the buckets with branches of greenery -- don't worry about water.
• To keep the greens fresh for several weeks, place the stems in a plastic container filled with water, and set the container in the bucket. Older buckets are likely to have rusted at the seams and may not be watertight.