What to do with those credit cards that come in the mail.

Open a spring latch lock. (Doesn’t work on a deadbolt, thankfully.)
Ice scraper.
Paint scraper.
Aquarium glass scraper.
Caulk edger, like one of these things advertised on tv for $19.99.
Shims for tight spaces.
Guitar pick.
Hard Cheese grater–use the embossing side and wash the card first!
Paint guide for tight places.
BookmarkFinger splint, using it to immobilize an adjacent finger or two–until you can get to a doctor, of course.
Cake knife. (Seriously.)
Weeder, to get in the cracks between paving stones and sidewalks.
Straight edge. (Okay, a SMALL straight edge.)
Pick-pocket diverter. Fill a cheap prop wallet with them–use the fake ones you get in the mail–and slip it into your back pocket.
And finally my favorite..cut them up to use as mosaic tiles.
Make a mobile.
Give them to the kids to make cut outs.

Also: Why to pack duct tape when traveling.

Travel Gear: 10 Reasons to Pack Duct Tape When You Travel

We're minimalists when it comes to specialized travel gear, but the one thing we never leave home without is a small roll of duct tape (also called duck tape). Here are some terrific uses you've probably never considered.

Repair broken luggage or tape closed the area where a zipper has failed.
Once you've left the US (and TSA) tamper proof your luggage by wrapping duct tape around it. While someone can still get into your luggage if they really need to, they'll probably skip yours and rifle through someone else's bag.

Use colored duct tape, or a personal design to mark your suitcase for visibility.

In a hotel, close gaping blackout drapes.

Create an extra label for your suitcase by writing your name and address on some duct tape and sticking it inside.

Seal over the drain in a hotel room sink so that you can wash laundry.

Babyproof a Hotel Room

Entertain the kids: Use the tape to outline a hopscotch design or a race track for toy cars.

In case of fire, seal off door & air vents to keep smoke out. Some say that duct tape is more effective than damp towels, and it certainly works better to cover an air vent on the ceiling.

First Aid:

In a pinch, duct tape can be used to make band-aids (with some tissue or cotton), a finger splint (with two popsicle sticks), or to remove a splinter. (Wonder if it will work on jellyfish stings?)

You can buy mini-rolls of duct tape from a travel store, but it's easy and cheap to make your own. Wrap the tape around a popsicle stick, short pencil, crayon or expired credit card.

You can find more tips at Travel Gear: 10 Reasons to Pack Duct Tape When You Travel
We're minimalists when it comes to specialized travel gear, but the one thing we never leave home without is a small roll of duct tape (also called duck tape). Here are some terrific uses you've probably never considered.

Repair broken luggage or tape closed the area where a zipper has failed.
Once you've left the US (and TSA) tamper proof your luggage by wrapping duct tape around it. While someone can still get into your luggage if they really need to, they'll probably skip yours and rifle through someone else's bag.
Use colored duct tape, or a personal design to mark your suitcase for visibility
In a hotel, close gaping blackout drapes
Create an extra label for your suitcase by writing your name and address on some duct tape and sticking it inside.
Seal over the drain in a hotel room sink so that you can wash laundry
Babyproof a Hotel Room
Entertain the kids: Use the tape to outline a hopscotch design or a race track for toy cars
In case of fire, seal off door & air vents to keep smoke out. Some say that duct tape is more effective than damp towels, and it certainly works better to cover an air vent on the ceiling.
First Aid: In a pinch, duct tape can be used to make band-aids (with some tissue or cotton), a finger splint (with two popsicle sticks), or to remove a splinter
You can buy mini-rolls of duct tape from a travel store, but it's easy and cheap to make your own. Wrap the tape around a popsicle stick, short pencil, crayon or expired credit card.

You can find more tips at www.tipnut.com.

(Thanks, Judith in Bama)


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