Recycled Crafts

Creative DIY Projects That Turn Trash Into Treasure

Christmas Joy wood blocks embellished with buttons and beads

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Nothing adds more fun to painted wood than buttons, beads, sequins and half pearl dots from Buttons Galore and More!

They are perfect for adding details to projects of all sorts materials. In this case I painted wood blocks, letters and a Christmas tree with a variety of Folk Art paint.

When the paint was dry I played with all sorts of red, green and white buttons in a variety of sizes on the blocks.  I landed on placing tiny white buttons on the corners of the little wood squares. For the large wood block I placed larger green buttons in each corner.

To embellish the tree I placed a red half pearl dot on each scallop of the tree edge.

Buttons Galore and More makes tons of shaped buttons like the star I used top top off the tree.

The “O” of the word joy is actually an ornament shape. I blinged that up by coating it with a layer of glue and sprinkling tiny green seed beads.

Again I used the fun half pearls to embellish the band of the ornament this time green ones.

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Don’t Toss That Old Fence! Here’s How to Give It a Second Life in the Garden

When our old fence blew down during the recent cyclone (thanks, nature ), I did what any slightly obsessive DIYer would do—I went straight to Google to find a way to repurpose the whole lot instead of sending it to the tip.

That’s when I stumbled across this brilliant tutorial from Journey with Jill about turning old fence boards into DIY raised garden beds. Total game changer. Not only does it save you money on lumber (which, let’s be real, isn’t cheap right now), but it also gives that weathered wood a gorgeous, rustic look that fits so well in the garden.

Her step-by-step guide is super practical, especially if you’re like me and not quite ready to part with “good wood” even if it’s a little rough around the edges. I loved how she emphasized prepping the boards properly and keeping the build simple—no fancy tools or complex measurements, just a solid, doable weekend project.

Why I’m Loving This Raised Bed Idea:

  • It’s eco-friendly (hello, upcycling win!)

  • The aged wood has such a cozy, natural aesthetic

  • It’s perfect for veggie beds, herbs, or even a rustic flower patch

  • And hey, there’s something very satisfying about turning storm chaos into garden calm

So if you’ve got a sad pile of fence boards and a patch of dirt calling your name, check out Jill’s full tutorial right here. Your future tomatoes will thank you.

Now I just need to convince the family that pulling nails from old fence boards is “fun quality time”