Recycled Crafts

Creative DIY Projects That Turn Trash Into Treasure

Art prints from collages using ElephantStock

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I was so excited when ElephantStock offered me a complimentary printing of my work for review. This has been on my “to-do” list for awhile. They have so many options of sizes and shapes to choose from to make prints of your own work along with tons of images in their stock collection it was fun to scroll through and check them all out!

I decided to print 9 squares of my 12×12 collages. The process of uploading prints and fitting them to the canvas was super easy.

I took my photos with the HD setting on my iPhone hooked into a selfie stick on a light stand.

The stretched canvas prints arrived individually wrapped with care and looked awesome! I decided to also try hanging them in a row in my studio to see if they worked in another configuration. I like them both ways.

But wait! There’s still more! I decided that now that I had a set of lovely prints of my work I would try altering them with all sorts of  techniques.

I cut up recycled elements including vintage sewing patterns, postage stamps, paint samples with fun name colors, and die cut hearts made from penmanship paper. Along with the additional recycled paper ephemera elements I painted with all types of glitter and paint. Some favorites were Plaid’s Glitterific in pink and silver. The chunks of silver are huge and all different shapes. The ElephantStock canvas prints make a great surface to add touches of paint to.

Along with decoupage and glitter paint I stamped and embossed on the ElephantStock prints which worked great as the canvases make a great surface for this altering technique.

A bit more about ElephantStock Products:

Your photos are memories of beautiful moments. Print them on canvas to make those special moments last longer!

  • Our 100% premium canvas is made of the best materials, ensuring longer lifespan and durability.
  • Excellent canvas printing technology makes our products eye-catching and sturdy.
  • Protected with UV scratch-resistant and waterproof laminates.
  • Ready-to-hang canvas, supplied with hanging hardware – no additional hardware needed!

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DIY Review: Handmade Wooden American Flag – Rustic, Patriotic, and Perfectly Imperfect

 

I don’t know about you, but there’s something extra special about décor that’s both meaningful and made by hand. That’s exactly what drew me to this gorgeous DIY wooden American flag from Reinvented Delaware. It’s rustic. It’s bold. It’s brimming with character. And the best part? It’s made using reclaimed wood, which gives it that perfect weathered look that screams vintage Americana.

This isn’t one of those quick, cookie-cutter craft projects. It’s the kind of DIY that feels like a labor of love—in the best possible way. Cindy walks you through the whole process with easy-to-follow steps, and I found myself nodding along, thinking, “Yes, I could totally make this.”

Using scrap wood from previous projects (we love a good upcycled decor idea, right?), she cuts, paints, and assembles each stripe with care. What really makes this piece shine is the attention to the little imperfections—the uneven brush strokes, the subtle distressing, the real wood grain showing through. It’s that handmade touch that gives it soul.

And let’s talk about those stars for a second. Instead of using a stencil or printed decals, she goes full-on old-school by hand painting them—flaws and all. It’s not about perfection here. It’s about capturing that raw, rugged beauty that makes patriotic farmhouse decor feel real and lived-in.

Once assembled, the flag makes a statement—whether it’s displayed on a porch, hung in a cozy entryway, or propped on a mantel. It’s bold, but not flashy. Americana, but not tacky. Just honest, beautiful handmade home decor with a patriotic twist.

Personally, I love that this project honors not just the flag, but the idea of reusing and recycling materials to create something new. It’s a subtle reminder that old things still have value and that a little creativity goes a long way.

So if you’ve got some extra lumber lying around (or you love haunting the scrap bin at your local hardware store like I do), this is the kind of weekend project that satisfies your creative itch and leaves you with something meaningful to display. Bonus points if you already have red, white, and blue paint in your stash.

Bottom line: this DIY is a winner. Whether you’re crafting for the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, or just love a good rustic statement piece, this DIY reclaimed wood flag is a project with heart.