I re purpose my dull straight pins in crafts either in Sunday school or just whatever. I make snowmen out of styrofoam balls and my kids stick them together with old straight pins first dipped in hot glue. The ones with the beaded heads (pins, not kids) tee hee, are held together in threes and dipped in hot glue, cooled and then dipped in black paint to make "coal" eyes for snow people. It is fun and my kids love it!