The questions keep on rolling in! Put your thinking caps on - we have an "out of the box" question. Reader Linda V. asks: I would really like to see some projects created with the great containers from these chocolates! With Valentine's Day around the corner, the heart containers will be up for grabs! I also have Christmas trees, a star, a pyramid, a bunny, etc. these just have to be great for SOMETHING!

Does anyone have any good creative ideas for reusing these boxes?

Conversation hearts are one of those love-'em-or-hate-'em kind of candies.  They're not my favorites (they remind me of heart-shaped Tums), but they are one of those classic, iconic candies nonetheless.  If you'd rather non eat them, how about crafting with them instead?  Katie from Sew Woodsy turned a box of them into a set of magnets, sealing them up with a coat of sparkle Mod Podge.  (Gloss or matte Mod Podge would also work if you don't have any of the glittery kind or if glitter just isn't your bag.)  [how to make conversation heart magnets]

Project estimate:

• Conversation hearts, about $0.50
• Mod podge, on hand
• Sheet magnet, on hand or $1 and up
• Hot glue, on hand

Total:  about $0.50 and up

No matter how small your budget, this is a diamond necklace you will be able to afford!  It was designed by Clemence of Oh the lovely things, who also made a printable template you can use to make your own diamond shape!  The shape is cut from scrap leather; if you you don't have any bits of leather laying around, look for cheap leather items (or fake leather items!) at thrift stores.  You could also make them in many other shapes, or make them out of any suitable materials you happen to have laying around.  [how to make a geometric diamond necklace]

Project estimate:

• Scrap leather, on hand
• Paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Diamond printable, free
• Awl or nail, on hand
• Chain, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  Free and up

Ahhh, Magnets. One of the most useful craft supplies around. Who doesn't love magnets? I particularly love those little business card ones you can get in the Yellow Pages -- they're fun to alter and craft into a unique decorative magnet. Reader Jen G. asked on our Facebook page: These thin, 3in x 4in magnets were destined for the trash, but I saved them. Now which crafty projects can I make with them? Please share your ideas with me!

Jen's magnets are a little larger than regular business card magnets, so what can she do with them?

It's so hard to wait for holidays when you're a kiddo, which is why reader Gina from East Coast Mommy created this Valentine's Day Kiss Countdown Board with stuff from her dollar store. Well actually, her three boys made it! They used posterboard and a KISS sign from the dollar store, as well as heart-shaped felt stickers and Hershey's Kisses. Great idea, and a fun activity for kids. Thanks for sharing this with us on our Facebook page, Gina! [full instructions to the kiss countdown board]

Project Estimate:

• Foam core board, $1
• Kiss sign, $1
• Valentine stickers, $1
• Letter stickers, $1
• Hershey's Kisses, $2 and up
• Glue, on hand

Total: $6

We've had a lot of container-related questions the last couple of weeks! The latest comes to us via our Facebook fan page from reader Holli R.  She's got a collection of yet another kind of container: spice jars!  She writes:

I recently revamped my spices and got containers for them all. Any suggestions on what to do with the empty McCormick containers? Most of them are an inch tall, but there are four or so 4-inch ones.

The little spice containers are so cute -- and a good size for holding glitter.  And they've got a uniquely handy feature that other containers don't: a shaker top!  What do you think?  How do you reuse your old spice containers?

[photo by cohdra @ morguefile.com]

I just hate throwing fabric scraps away, don't you? And paper scraps, and ribbon scraps, and... you get the idea. Reader Erin asked on the DSC Facebook Page:

What can I do with scraps of fabric?! I despise wasting anything so when I cut out circles for hair flowers I end up with square like pieces of scraps and I just..can't..throw.. them..away.....lol. but it's becoming a pile so I need an idea. I primarily use military fabrics for the hair flowers so I'd like to find something somewhat military related to use the scraps for, maybe some kind of memory keeper.

My favorite use of fabric scraps is a Ticker Tape Quilt! They are so cute! I'm sure the odd shapes of fabric would be trickier to sew around, though. So, readers, I turn it over to you:

What would you do with these scraps?

There are a few bloggers out there that are crafting along with Project Runway All Stars, including Erika (and her furry buddy Sebastian) from Sew DoggyStyle.  They're taking a four-legged twist on each challenge, starting with the first episode's dollar store challenge.  She went to Dollar Tree on a $30 budget and bought all kinds of crazy stuff, then came home and formulated an outfit for Sebastian with her finds.  Doesn't he look dapper in a Michael Jackson-esque way?  [how to make a blingy dog outfit inspired by Project Runway All Stars]

Project estimate:

• Metallic cleaning towels, $2
• Headband, $1
• Aluminum foil, on hand or $1
• Coffee filters, on hand or $1
• Zip ties, on hand or $1
• Safety pins, on hand or $1

Total:  $3 and up

This is absolutely freakin' ingenious!  Love the reusability of mason jars but wish that you could pour dry ingredients from them easier?  Rena from The Cheese Thief added a pour spout to a jar, which she then filled with Thai fried garlic.  (She also shares her mother's recipe for the garlic, and I want to make some and put it on everything!)  It would also be great for holding sugar at your coffee station, or even in the craft room for things like small beads.  [how to add a pour spout to a mason jar]

Project estimate:

• Mason jar, on hand
• Empty salt container, on hand
• Paper, on hand

Total:  Free

Oh, Christmas cards.  How I love to receive you in the mail, and how I hate to throw you away when the new year rolls around!  It's bad enough tossing out pretty cards with scenes of snowy trees or glittery angels or jolly snowmen, but then there are the photo cards.  I mean, how can I bring myself to throw out a picture of my cousin's two little boys in their John Deere pajamas, or of dear friends I haven't seen in years grinning together in goofy his-and-hers holiday hats?  On our Facebook wall, reader Julie S. wants to know what she can do with them.  She writes:

I got a lot of photo holiday cards this year. Mixed with last year's, my refrigerator is packed! Any ideas, aside from just putting them in a photo book, for a craft that I can make out of them?

Do you save photo Christmas cards from year to year? Do you have any crafty ideas for them?

[photo by Flickr user blush printables, Creative Commons]