Cupcake wrappers—those quiet, unassuming little tools we turn to when making cupcakes and muffins. But who knew they could do so much more? Here you'll find several ideas from clever cooks and creators that asked themselves, "What else could these things be used for?"

And because of the huge popularity that cupcake-making has enjoyed for the last few years, cupcake liners have come a long way—they're simply not plain colors and boring anymore! While a few of these ideas take a little bit of craftiness and a bit of stringing or gluing, most don't—making them very doable for just about anyone.

Today, cupcake liners vary in shape, size, style, color, and patterns, which make them so much fun to use for all sorts of things. Thanks to Pinterest, we have access to some amazing ideas. Take a look:

• 1. For instance, they make the perfect decorative topper when giving away jars of your homemade foodstuffs (think jams, jellies, preserves, mixes in a jar, etc.).



• 2. And how about cutting the bottom off a cupcake wrapper, labeling it with a name, and slipping it over the neck of a drink bottle? What a quick, inexpensive, and clever way to identify drink bottles at your next party or outing!



• 3. Before serving that Popsicle, slip the stick through a foil liner to catch the typical drips that go along with Popsicle-eating.
• 4. Poke the bulbs on a strand of lights (café or miniature) through the flat bottoms of liners to add a soft glow and festive touch to your next outdoor party.



• 5.Cupcake wrappers can add pretty touches to gift bags as well.



• 6. And not just gift-bags, but party decorations can be made from cupcake wrappers also.



• 7. Why not dress up those plain plastic cups with theme-colored or theme-patterned cupcake wrappers? This easy touch can take an outdoor meal from plain to fancy in seconds.



• 8. It had never occurred to me to make my own cupcake wrappers. Here a clever creator fashioned some out of common paper doilies and used them as an outer cover for her already baked cupcakes.



• 9. Another party décor idea: Garlands made from cupcake wrappers. This is a fun change to the traditional twisted paper streamers usually used for party decoration.



• 10. And isn't this a brilliant way to keep those pesky bugs out of your drinks when dining out of doors?



• 11. While Valentine's Day has passed, there are still plenty of reasons to give someone a heart-shaped cupcake, and using this ingenious idea—placing a marble between the holder and the pan—makes it possible to bake up a heart-shaped batch.



• 12. OK, while not a cupcake wrapper idea per se, I just have to share this clever suggestion, and I'll close with it. Cupcakes can be messy, so why not peel away the wrapper and place the cupcake inside a jar that fits it? You can even add a scoop of ice cream and then pipe some icing onto the top, as seen here in the picture. Attach a plastic spoon and cover the jar (maybe with another cupcake wrapper) and what a cool dessert you have! (read about "Cupcakes In A Jar" in one of our previous newsletters!)