Are you tired of the same old Christmas decorations you see in the same old stores year after year? Then it's time to pull out the needle and thread and get creative. From stockings to tree toppers and everything in between, the cool crafts you can make are endless. But before you start........maybe you should get a handle on the tangled thread in your sewing box. Just wrap a rubber band around the spools to keep the thread from unraveling.

Tell us how rubber bands make a difference in your holidays by emailing us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Remember to comment below!

Did you know clothes account for over 5% of expenses for the average American? Don’t let that investment end up on the bottom of your closet. Many clothes just don’t want to stay on their hanger. If you have a particularly difficult shirt that just won’t stay put, try this trick with just a few rubber bands.

Simply wrap the ends with rubber bands and presto! No more slippery garments slipping off hangers. This trick even works for those zip up sweatshirts and hoodies that just fall off the hanger every once in awhile for no reason. You don’t have to battle to get them all zipped up, you can just wrap a rubber band around each end of the hanger to keep them in place. No more clothes on the floor!

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As the holidays draw near, I’m reminded of the many, often humorous, ways rubber bands make a difference in our world.  For instance, Mike, one of our blog commenters, was describing a scene at home where…the kids had grabbed a bunch of bands and left. Laughingly, he sort of whispers in his post, “It’s quiet…too quiet… I expect an ambush.”

It’s one of those precious moments parents love.

These memorable days with the kids, filled with happiness and simple things, like rubber bands, are times to cherish. From Thanksgiving preparations to tree decorating, rubber bands can help put a little more joy into your activities, no matter what you find yourself preparing or assembling with them.

Tell us how rubber bands make a difference in your holidays. We’d like to thank Melanie, the winner of our latest blog post. She receives a prize pack. Thank you for participating in our “Stretch the Limits of Alliance Rubber Bands” contest. Remember to comment below! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. We are glad to have you here.

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Every year, rubber bands help numerous volunteer projects. Take a look around and you’ll find some of the best bands help organize some of the most endearing causes.

Soles4Souls is a great example. In times of need, they provide shoes free of charge. It’s easy to slip and fall without proper footwear. It’s happened to the best of us and most of us have at one time or another. That's why these kind of projects are so heartfelt and make such a difference. We cling to those favorite slippers. Truth is, they are probably best served with people that truly need them.

“I collect used shoes for…Soles4Souls.  Before delivering the shoes to their warehouse in Wadley, Alabama, I sort and match up pairs.  In order to keep the pairs of shoes together, I either tie the shoestrings or rubber band them together,” Marta Turner said. “I have been collecting and rubber banding these shoes for the last three years and have found that rubber bands are truly the perfect tool for the job. I use three different sizes to accommodate everything from steel toe work boots down to flip-flops.  They are flexible, yet strong, and very quick and easy to use.”

She continued, “I have delivered over 45,000 pairs of shoes so far and rarely do I have a problem with the rubber bands breaking or not holding the shoes together firmly.  Though my use may not be so wonderfully creative, I feel that these rubber bands help serve a higher purpose by facilitating getting shoes onto the feet of people in need.”

All Soles4Souls says they want is to provide relief to families in the form of safe, sturdy footwear--one of the sweetest missions you'll find. Connect with the organization, currently working to help those impacted by Hurricane Isaac, at http://www.soles4souls.org/.

We’re thankful Marta chooses Alliance Rubber Bands to assist in getting her Soles4Souls projects to their destinations...neat and organized. It's a simple, yet powerful reminder, that rubber bands make a huge difference in our everyday projects.

We’d like to thank Kyli, the winner from our September 5th blog post. She receives a free prize pack and Bandology T-shirt.

Thank you for being here and participating in our “Stretch the Limits of Alliance Rubber Bands” contest!!  Remember to comment below!

If you have ever shared a living space, then you’ve probably searched for ways to secure your bedroom or private areas. Tim L. of Washington submitted the featured photograph and the following suggestion. He says, “When I was a kid I used to take a rubber band and wrap it around the door knob on my bedroom door.”

That simple procedure would tell him if any of his sisters “had been snooping around” while he was gone.

For this to work, Tim says, you must first ”close the door with the rubber band installed… If someone opens the door, the rubber band will snap off of the latch.”

Because this is a quiet process, the person will never see or hear that your door was rigged.

This method is probably one of the best ways to get an indicator as to if your door was opened while you were gone.

The key is remembering to check the knob when you get home, something that’s now second nature to Tim. This same technique, he says, could work if you have roommates or visiting guests.

We’d like to thank Tim for his inventive idea!! Be sure to comment on this blog and other posts. We look forward to hearing from you!

Whether you need it for your top executive or a special friend, make a beautiful flower bouquet in a matter of minutes with fresh flowers and a few rubber bands.

While you do not have to be a flower expert to make an arrangement, you might want to consider utilizing some interesting containers and unusual items, like rubber bands, when putting one together.

To make a bouquet, first gather fresh flowers. Try to do this in the morning or late in the evening. Afterward, put them in a bucket or container with water.

Consider the type of container you need for your arrangement and the wide variety of possibilities. Container selection is a personal choice that adds dimension to your floral projects. Items such as teacups, pitchers, jars, and bowls are fun and decorative.

With materials gathered, lay the flowers down and spread them out. Select what you want. Trim your stems at an angle and just above the height of the vase for the best effect. Then, use a rubber band to keep the flower heads together.

To make a dome of flowers, bunch and tie them with a rubber band.  Place in a container. Put several in the same container for added variety.

Keep this in mind---fresh flowers usually last about a week and then its time to make a new one. Rest easy knowing you can enjoy the best selection and an endless assortment of arrangements with a few minutes of your time and a couple of rubber bands.

We’d like to congratulate Tim Lintz, this week’s blog winner. He will receive a prize pack filled with products and a Bandology tshirt! Be sure to comment on this blog and posts this upcoming week. We look forward to hearing from you!

Ask yourself these simple questions:

Do your socks seem to tip toe away from you? Ever misplace a mate between the clothes bin and the washing machine? Has someone taken one of your socks away without your knowledge? Need some help keeping your new pair together? Do your socks go into the laundry, but never come out of it?

For what equates to just a few pennies, a rubber band can provide the perfect rescue. You’ll find nothing works better for less.

Simply put one around your socks before you toss them in the dirty clothes. With this perfect little "sock safety," your mates are sure to keep from straying. Rubber bands even stay on while you wash and dry socks and they can be left on until you are ready to wear them again.  This, by the way, is also great for baby socks.