Potato chip bags, given the stiff competition among reputable junk food brands, are pretty stylish. Most of them are blessed with vibrant colors, attractive layouts and appealing fonts. With those bags alone, some people are forced to buy potato chips, even if they’re not really hungry. The foil-based wrappers, oddly enough, are instantly thrown in the waste basket once their contents are consumed. If those people only knew the amount of things you can do with potato chip bags, they might value those foil wrappers even more than what they contain.

Potato chip bags are flexible and durable, paving the way for tons of alternative uses. Just like making art projects, you’ll have a blast tweaking and styling them to form useful products. The bags can be transformed into containers, table items, fashion accessories, and many more. So without further ado, here are the 15 reasons why potato chip bags aren’t useless:

1. Pencil Case – The pencil case is a source of pride among youngsters. They often compare pencil cases to earn the respect of their classmates. Make your kid “numero uno” in his or her class by creating a potato chip bag pencil case. Just sew together two sheets of vinyl, a potato chip bag, a zipper and some fabric lining.

2. Weird Hats – Need a hat for a costume party? Instead of buying an expensive costume at a toy store, just buy a family-size bag of potato chips. You can cut and paint it, stick tiny ornaments, or sew pieces of fabric until you form your desired hat. You can even leave it as it is if you want to look plain silly. (For more tips on hat party, see Hat Party Ideas)

3. The Masked Marauder – The Halloween season is marked by people hiding their faces behind masks. If you have a family-size bag of chips in your room, consider your Halloween mask taken care of. Bore two holes on the foil wrapper for your eyes. Once done, paint, sketch or sew a scary face on it. You can then use your mask to scare your friends come the 31st of October.

4. Food Preserver – The potato chip bag is made of aluminum foil, so naturally, it can be used as a means of preserving food. Cut a bag of potato chips to form a single-layered sheet. Wash the sheet with soap and water. Now, you can use it for wrapping and storing leftovers.

5. Coaster – Cut a potato chip wrapper to form dozens of aluminum strips. Arrange the strips strategically, so they will form coasters with cool color patterns. Sew and weave the strips together until they form circles, which are big enough to hold a glass. You can also insert strips of wood after several rows of aluminum for sturdier and more stylish products.

6. Trash Bin – Just like with the coaster made of a potato chip bag, you need to cut several family sized bags of potato chips to form bundles of aluminum strips. Arrange the strips with wooden strips and weave them together. You will get a waste basket that looks too cool to actually hold trash.

7. Potato Chip Shoulder Bag – If you think potato chip bags aren’t stylish, you should try making a potato chip shoulder bag. Line up several small bags of potato chips then sew them to fabric or cardboard lining. When the bag has been formed, sew a zipper and a couple of straps at the top portion. Friends, loved ones and even strangers will ogle at the fashionable accessory that you just created. (Learn how to make a potato chip handbag)

8. Purse – For people looking for fresh fashion ideas, the potato chip purse comes as a worthy prospect. The purse’s stylishness and artistic value will make you the envy of your peers. Best of all, you get to eat several bags of potato chips before starting the project.

9. Mini Trash Bag – Some rooms have tiny trash bins, which suit the prevailing theme of the area. They need trash bags that are proportional to their size. As a junk food lover, you can use a family size potato chip wrapper as the bin’s official garbage catcher.

10. Belt – Cut a number of potato chip bags, depending on the measurement of your waistline, into tiny strips. Weave them together to form a straight band. Don’t forget to dedicate a few strips for the belt holder. When the belt has been formed, affix a buckle at the end that contains the belt holder. Bore four or five holes on the other end, so the loop can be clasped. You will then have a belt that is considered an element of urban or avante-garde fashion.

11. Bracelet – You will need two potato chip bags, two frying pans, and a piece of leather cording. Place the bags into a frying pan then place the second pan on top of the first one. Heat the pans until the potato chip bags shrink to the size of your wrist. When the bags shrink to a perfect fit, tie the leather cording at both ends, forming an “X.” Wear your new potato chip bag bracelet to your next social event and wow your friends with its style.

12. Door Knob Protection from Paint – Door knobs, when splattered with paint, lose their elegance in an instant. Protect your door knob from being stained by covering it with a potato chip bag. Tie a rubber band near the end of the knob to keep the bag attached.

13. Gift Wrapper – Give an edgy touch to a present by using potato chip bags as a gift wrapper. Sew the bags together to form the wrapper. Use it to cover the present, then add a ribbon for style.

14. Giant Stink Bomb – If you are a natural prankster, you can tap your chemistry skills and create a homemade stink bomb. Mix the sulfuric chemicals needed then seal the mixture inside a potato chip bag. Remember, the bag should be inflated so it will look like a regular bag of chips. Hand it to your friends. The moment they open it, that’s when all the fun begins. (More ideas on how to make stink bombs)

15. Pet Repellent for Couches – Spread layers of clean potato chip bags on your couch. When your pets step on the cushion, they will be annoyed with the noise created by their walking on the bags. They will then realize that sleeping on the couch isn’t a good idea after all.

Potato chip bags are easy to alter and reuse, given their properties. With a good set of art materials, sewing equipment and weaving skills, you can manipulate the foil-based container into almost anything. Just consult your imagination and all the bag’s alternative uses will follow.