Recycled Crafts

Creative DIY Projects That Turn Trash Into Treasure

Book Review – Upcycling: 20 Creative Projects Made from Reclaimed Materials

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Are you tired of always buying new furniture and decorations for your home? Want to save some money while being environmentally friendly? Well, let me introduce you to Upcycling: 20 Creative Projects Made from Reclaimed Materials.

This book is written by none other than the eco-friendly, TV presenter, and Dragon’s Den entrepreneur, Max McMurdo. With his expertise in turning junk into treasure, he takes you on a journey to discover your inner design genius and transform your old, forgotten items into stunning pieces that will have your friends and family thinking you’re a professional designer.

The best part? You don’t have to have any previous experience or own expensive tools. Max includes projects that can be completed within an hour and others that take a whole weekend, but the most important thing is to have fun and remember that design is all about experimenting and learning.

So, dust off that rusty old item in the garage and get ready to impress your dinner guests with your newly upcycled creation. Don’t worry if it doesn’t turn out exactly as planned, just remember what Max always says, “Design is all about experimenting and learning, not always getting it right.”

So, go ahead, get creative, and let’s turn some junk into something wonderful!

Get the book here: Upcycling: 20 Creative Projects Made from Reclaimed Materials

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Time Flies — And Sometimes It Has Wings Made of Vintage Paper and Buttons

Have you ever been to the cuckoo clock shop at Tamborine Mountain? It’s like stepping into another world — a charming, ticking wonderland filled with thousands (yes, literally thousands) of clocks. Some are grand and ornate, others tiny and tucked away like secrets waiting to be discovered. I remember walking through the shop with my kids, completely enchanted by the whirring gears, dancing figurines, and the joyful chorus of chimes. It was one of those places where time feels like it both stops and flies.

That same feeling came flooding back when I stumbled across this adorable craft project from Teawagon Tales called Time Flies. In true vintage style, it’s a whimsical little DIY that combines scraps of fabric, old paper, buttons, and clock faces into sweet butterfly-like creations — a beautiful mashup of memory, imagination, and just plain cuteness.

It reminded me that crafting is a little like walking through that clock shop. Each piece holds a story, a tick of nostalgia, and the joy of noticing small details. You don’t need much — just some leftover fabric, maybe an old book page or two, and a few bits from your button tin. And suddenly you’re creating something that feels like it fluttered out of a fairytale.

So if you’ve got a stash of pretty paper or vintage bits and bobs you’ve been saving for “something special,” this might be the perfect project to give them new life.

Take a look at the full tutorial and soak up some serious inspiration:
Time Flies – Teawagon Tales

And if you ever find yourself near Tamborine Mountain, do yourself a favour — pop into that cuckoo clock shop. It’s pure magic for anyone who knows that time isn’t just measured in minutes, but in memories.