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Giveaway- $150 of Folkart Milk Paint

July 20, 2016 by Stefanie Girard

Milk-Giveaway-Blue-Text-Overlay

Giveaway- $150 of Folkart Milk Paint

Leave a comment in today’s post by July 28, 2016 and you are in the running for this amazing collection of paint!

Open to U. S. residents only please.

PLAIDCREATORSCOLLAGE

Looking for some inspiration on all sorts of great things you can upcycle with Folkart Milk Paint? Pop on over to the Plaid Pallet blog for some great ideas on what to paint with Milk Paint.

I had some fun painting a giant light up firefly jar with Plaid’s Chalk paint and Folkart Multi-surface paint that you can see the tutorial for over at Cheap Eats and Thrifty Crafts. They make great paint!

Related Posts:

  • How to make recycled chalk paint
  • How to make floating chalk prints
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Comments

  1. Mary says

    July 25, 2016 at 10:23 pm

    I love refurbishing projects! thanks for the giveaway!

  2. Becky says

    July 25, 2016 at 10:28 pm

    This is a great idea! I’m upcycling a bunch of reclaimed items for my apartment; this would be great!

  3. Michele Stubbe says

    July 26, 2016 at 1:18 am

    Wow what a generous giveaway! Good Luck everyone!

  4. Elena Tucker says

    July 26, 2016 at 11:21 am

    Oooh how fun! I’d love to play with this paint

  5. Daniele says

    July 27, 2016 at 7:25 am

    I have a hideous mirror that is begging to be transformed by some amazing milk paint ;). Great giveaway!

  6. Leslie Horinka says

    July 27, 2016 at 8:08 pm

    Thank you for offering this giveaway, I haven’t heard of milk paint, so it would be interesting to win and test it out, lol

  7. Tara says

    July 27, 2016 at 8:57 pm

    Bought a bottle of Quaker Blue tonight. I was drooling over all the colors, how hard it was to choose just one! About to start my first project tonight, a wooden crate from the craft store. Couldn’t be more excited about this paint!

  8. Cheryl@Sew Can Do says

    July 28, 2016 at 10:26 am

    Have been wanting to try this forever – would love to win some!

  9. Candace Tornay-Gonzalez says

    January 5, 2017 at 4:35 pm

    I am so excited!!!! I just saw this product in Michael’s today!!!! Can’t wait to try it!!!

« Older Comments

Have you read?

Upcycling or Hoarding? Why Your DIY Projects Could Be Doing More Harm Than Good

am I a hoarder-upcycling title image

I’ll admit it—I’m a sucker for a good flea market find. It’s not just about the thrill of the hunt; it’s about envisioning the transformation. That old chair with peeling paint? I could make it into something beautiful. The mismatched plates and cups? They could become the perfect set for my rustic kitchen. Over the years, I’ve gathered a collection of “potential” projects, each with its own dream of being turned into something more sustainable. But recently, I’ve been wondering—am I upcycling, or am I hoarding?

As someone who has always been passionate about sustainable crafting and reducing waste, upcycling seemed like the perfect solution. After all, how can it be wrong to give new life to something that would otherwise end up in a landfill? But here’s the twist: I’ve come to realize that sometimes, our well-intentioned DIY projects can do more harm than good.

The Fine Line Between Upcycling and Hoarding

I’ve always prided myself on my ability to see potential in objects others might overlook. A vintage wooden crate turned into a bookshelf, a pile of old fabric scraps turned into a cozy quilt—each project was an opportunity to reduce waste while creating something beautiful. But slowly, I started accumulating items without a clear vision for them. That stack of old newspapers “just in case” I needed them for a craft project, the discarded picture frames I swore I’d repaint, and don’t even get me started on the old furniture. What started as upcycling turned into a storage problem. My “DIY stash” was growing, but my productivity was not.

And that’s where the problem lies. At first, upcycling felt like the perfect antidote to consumerism. Instead of buying new items, I was reimagining the old. But over time, the line blurred between doing something creative and simply holding onto things because I thought I might need them later. Was I really upcycling, or was I just hoarding in the name of sustainability?

The Environmental Impact: It’s Not All Green

Upcycling is often touted as an eco-friendly solution to waste, and in many cases, it is. The concept of taking something that would otherwise be thrown away and transforming it into something useful is undeniably sustainable. However, when you’re stockpiling materials “just in case,” you’re not necessarily helping the planet. The truth is, if you’re not actually using these materials, you’re just taking up space, both in your home and in your local landfill.

When we hold onto things “for later,” we run the risk of contributing to a different kind of waste: wasted space. I can’t count the number of times I’ve kept a piece of fabric with the best intentions, only for it to sit in a corner gathering dust. The resources used to create those materials are still there, even if they’re not being actively used. I had to ask myself: Was I really being sustainable by keeping all this stuff around, or was I just delaying the inevitable?

Are You Upcycling, or Just Creating More Waste?

The truth is, our desire to upcycle often stems from the feeling that we need to do something with the items we collect. But the reality is, not every object needs to be turned into a craft project. Not everything that’s old or unwanted can—or should—be upcycled. Sometimes, it’s better to just let things go.

I had to come to terms with this myself. After years of hoarding materials “for future projects,” I realized I was no longer in love with the creative process. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of things I had gathered, and I wasn’t sure if I was even upcycling anymore. I was holding onto stuff because I felt guilty letting it go. It wasn’t a hobby anymore; it was a habit. And that’s when I knew it was time to take a step back and reassess.

Tips for Truly Sustainable Upcycling

If you’re feeling like your DIY projects might be veering into hoarding territory, here are some tips to keep your upcycling practices truly sustainable:

  1. Only Keep What You Truly Need: Instead of hoarding materials “just in case,” be intentional about what you’re keeping. Ask yourself: Will I actually use this? Do I have a clear idea of how I’ll transform it into something useful? If not, it’s time to part ways with it.

  2. Repurpose Wisely: Not everything needs to be upcycled. In fact, some items are better off being recycled or disposed of properly. If an item is beyond repair or reuse, it’s okay to let it go.

  3. Focus on Quality, Not Quantity: It’s tempting to pick up everything at a flea market, but a few carefully chosen items that you’ll actually use can have a greater impact than a whole pile of unused treasures.

  4. Repurpose Items That Have True Potential: Before you buy, collect, or keep something, make sure it has the potential to be turned into something meaningful. This will help prevent unnecessary accumulation.

  5. Embrace Minimalism: In a world that constantly tells us to buy more, practicing minimalism can be the best form of sustainability. By focusing on quality over quantity, you can make a real impact without filling your home with excess.

 

Upcycling can be a wonderful way to reduce waste and create something beautiful. But when the line between upcycling and hoarding becomes blurry, it can actually contribute to the problem it’s trying to solve. It’s important to be intentional with our DIY projects and to only keep what we truly need. If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll realize that sustainability isn’t about collecting more—it’s about using what we have wisely and thoughtfully.

So, the next time you find yourself tempted to pick up yet another flea market find or hold onto something “just in case,” take a moment to think about whether it’s truly an upcycling opportunity or just another item to add to your collection. After all, true sustainability isn’t about holding on—it’s about letting go of the unnecessary and making room for what really matters.

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