Creative upcycle and downcycle ideas
This month’s ReadyMade magazine’s MacGyver challenge winning entry shows us that we needn’t throw out that pesky broken umbrella. Instead, transform it into something equally functional (and waterproof): a magazine rack.
[tags]umbrella, magazine rack, readymade, macgyver, challenge, contest[/tags]… Read More ...
Words aren’t the only thing you can create from Scrabble tiles as jessfun23 over at Craftster shows us. She made this set of coasters a few years ago as a gift for her boyfriend. She says coming up with a … Read More ...
Artist John Bassett takes discarded glass bottles and plates and then slumps and fuses them into colorful abstract works of art for the wall. A true recycling artist, he even uses materials from old window sashes and door frames when … Read More ...
Folk Art South Africa features a number of colorful and inventive recycled crafts, including a line of one-of-a-kind whimsical bird mobiles made from used plastic, ribbon, threads. When perusing other crafts up for sale on the site, be sure to … Read More ...
Patricia from The Little Hut once again proves that elegant, modern design can come from garbage. I love this Valentine’s Day ensemble made from egg cartons and vibrant red paint. To top it off, she often frames her recycled art, … Read More ...
These aren’t your ordinary origami-inspired paper birds. Cotton Bird Designs‘ little beauties are created from colorful vintage storybook pages (shown), the finest vintage fabrics and interesting newsprint. The fact that they’re entirely hand-stitched makes them even more precious. This … Read More ...
S.A. Schimmel creates striking portraits not with paint but with junk in the form of flyers, mail, greeting cards and colorful ephemera. The artist, who graduated with a degree in psychology and painting, has a diverse art career, ranging from … Read More ...
I was fortunate to get a sneak-peak at the new book Rubbish! Reuse Your Refuse, by Kate Shoup. This step-by-step project book is the perfect read for dumpster divas, second-hand shoppers and treehuggers. License plates, tin cans, game board … Read More ...
If you, your parents or your grandparents still have a circa 1982 TV console lingering in your home, it might be best to grab some inspiration from AlpineButterfly, who transformed a TV cabinet into a chic bar. Most stunning … Read More ...
Proud momma annam42 over at Craftster designed and built her daughter this finely crafted custom kitchen using salvaged cardboard and contact paper. Added touches such as hot and cold water taps, a recessed baking pan sink and a working oven … Read More ...
Accent your next beading project with Cathy Collison’s bottle cap beads. These shiny hollow beauties, sold individually, are made with lead-free solder and feature nearly 70 of your favorite soda pop and beer varieties, from the common Coke to … Read More ...
Room dividers can provide privacy as well as transform any space into a cozy space. Stars of the DIY network show “Creative Juice” Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza created a divine divider by hanging old LPs from chain. Alternatively, the … Read More ...
Add this to my wish-list. One Good Bumblebee offers its (best-selling) Pile of Paper, featuring an “intriguing collection of over 50 carefully selected vintage ephemera and papers including greeting cards, antique photographs, postage stamps, illustrations, matchbooks, postcards, medical papers, labels, … Read More ...
I was tickled to find these appropriately named novelty baby booties made by MoJoTrashion at Etsy. The shoes are made from a recycled ramen noodle package covered in flexible, durable vinyl. The inside is lined with baby pink felt. Is … Read More ...
I don’t recommend DIYers attempt to create this product, but anyone who has an appreciation for environmentally-friendly and off-the-beaten-path products will surely get a kick out of the offerings at Great Elephant Poo Poo Paper. That’s right, the company creates … Read More ...
