Around the house
* A thermos-type coffee decanter makes a great gravy server. The container keeps liquid hot and it holds a lot for large family dinners.
* Spray furniture polish on runners that hold two halves of dining table together. When you insert leaves for holiday dining, table will pull apart easily.
* When closing packing boxes, extend a length of string beneath masking tape, leaving about 2 inches free at one end. Pull end of string through tape when ready to open.
* Wear a shower cap when painting a ceiling. This will avoid messy drips in your hair.
In the garden
* Use a small plastic wastebasket, which comes in a variety of colors to suit your decorating scheme, as an inexpensive planter for large plants.