It’s Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day and we know what you’re thinking: why in the world would anyone celebrate bubble wrap? Well, bubble wrap has been around for 60 years, and over those 60 years, its use has expanded to more than just shipping packaging. Besides giving your kids a simple (if noisy) distraction, here are ten other unique uses for your leftover bubble wrap.

Hair Rollers. Bubble wrap can be a beauty product. Rolled up bubble wrap can be used to curl hair just like flexi rods. And since there’s no rod, we bet they’re more comfortable to sleep in. Check out this tutorial for super bouncy spiral curls made using bubble wrap.

Art. Bubble wrap is art. New York artist, Bradley Hart, has made a career out of recreating famous paintings by injecting paint into the tiny air pockets of bubble wrap. The process is very tedious and time-consuming; it takes about 150 hours to complete a single recreation but it looks spectacular.

Cake. No, bubble wrap isn’t edible, but it can be used when making a cake look great. In this tutorial, the chocolate cake wrapping is given dimension and texture when the chocolate is poured over the bubble wrap, which acts like a mold. Here’s a video; see for yourself.

Window Insulation. Bubble wrap was originally marketed as insulation before being used as shipping packaging. Tape bubble wrap to your windowpanes to prevent the cold air from penetrating into your home.

Toilet Insulation. Bubble wrap can be used for sweating toilets. Yep, you heard us right, sweating toilets. If you find that your toilet is sweating after you hop in the shower, consider lining the tank of your toilet with bubble wrap. It’ll stop the condensation.

Pipe Insulation. Burst pipes in the winter are an all too common problem plaguing homeowners. Wrap bubble wrap around your pipes to help prevent them from freezing. Again, the insulation properties of bubble wrap help to keep the pipes from freezing over.

Flower Flotation. If you’re into designing floral arrangements, then this one’s for you. Cut a piece of bubble wrap that’s slightly smaller than the base of your flower. Snip a small hole in it, just big enough for the stem to fit through. Slip the stem through the hole and you’re done. Now just place the flower in water and it should float. Here’s a photo tutorial to walk you through it.

Children’s Craft Projects. Bubble wrap can be used in a plethora of craft projects for children, such as sensory play, construction paper substitute, and pretend corn. Check out our Bubble Wrap Pinterest Board for more ideas.

Joint Therapy. If someone you love has weak or arthritic hands, bubble wrap may help to strengthen hands. Try popping the bubbles for a few minutes a day to build up your hands’ joint and muscle strength.

Stress Reliever. And as always, bubble wrap works amazingly as a stress reliever. If you often find yourself getting anxious while driving or hate sitting in gridlocked rush hour traffic, then wrap it around your steering wheel for a convenient way to relieve stress.

If household chores are stressing you and bubble wrap doesn’t help, give TalkLocal a call. We’re always glad to help!