Recycled Crafts

Creative DIY Projects That Turn Trash Into Treasure

How to melt recycled glass bottles in a microwave to make jewelry

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melt glass bottles in microwave

I’ve always been interested in learning new things and expanding my skills, so when I received a microwave kiln as a gift, I knew I wanted to try my hand at fusing recycled glass into jewelry. I was a bit intimidated at first because I had never tried anything like this before, but I was also really excited to give it a go. I’ve always been interested in upcycling and finding new ways to create beautiful items from what would normally be considered waste, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to combine my interests and try something new.

I started by gathering up all the recycled glass I could find. I rummaged through thrift stores, checked local recycling centers, and even asked friends and family if they had any unwanted glass they’d like to donate. Once I had a good collection, I was ready to start my first project.

To offer some guidance on how to fuse recycled glass into jewelry, I decided to watch the videos posted on the blog Upcycle Design Lab. This blog is all about upcycling and repurposing, and they have a great section on fusing glass into jewelry. I was really impressed by the quality of the videos and how easy they made the process seem. The instructions were clear and easy to follow, and the end results were stunning.

I was so eager to try it for myself, so I set up my workspace and got to work. I started with a simple project, just to get the hang of it, and was pleasantly surprised at how quickly and easily the process came together. Before I knew it, I had created my first piece of jewelry from recycled glass, and I was so proud of myself.

I’ve been hooked ever since and have been experimenting with different techniques and designs. I’ve even started to make gifts for friends and family, and they’ve been amazed at what I’ve been able to create with just a microwave kiln and some recycled glass. I’m so grateful to have found this new hobby and to have the resources and guidance available to me through the Upcycle Design Lab blog. I’m looking forward to seeing where this journey takes me and what new and exciting creations I’ll be able to make in the future!

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Have you read?

Free E-book – Cheekoo and the Cloud of Trash – A Must-Read for Little Recycled Eco-Warriors

If you’re raising little recyclers, or just trying to get your kids to stop tossing snack wrappers under the couch, Cheekoo and the Cloud of Trash is the picture book you didn’t know you needed.

In this beautifully illustrated and imaginative story, we meet Cheekoo—a young girl who becomes the unhappiest girl in the world when a literal cloud of trash begins to follow her. Orange peels, plastic bottles, buzzing flies—the whole lot! Why? Because Cheekoo never listened when her Amma told her not to litter.

What makes this story so clever is how it transforms a common environmental lesson into a fun, visual metaphor that’s both humorous and powerful. Kids will laugh (and maybe squirm) at the idea of a garbage cloud trailing behind them, but they’ll also get the message loud and clear: our waste doesn’t just disappear.

As Cheekoo starts encouraging others to stop littering, her trash cloud shrinks—giving kids a hopeful reminder that change starts small, and everyone can help. There’s even an educational section at the end that talks about where trash really goes and how to make better choices like reusing bags or waiting to find the nearest bin.

For crafty parents and educators, this book opens the door to all kinds of creative eco-lessons. Try pairing it with a recycled craft project, like making art from clean trash or DIY bins for sorting recyclables. It’s a fun way to reinforce the book’s message while getting hands-on with the kids.

Final thoughts? Cheekoo and the Cloud of Trash belongs on every eco-conscious family’s bookshelf. It’s smart, silly, and wonderfully inspiring—a gentle nudge toward cleaner habits and a greener future.

Perfect for kids aged 4–8.

Trash’s Cloudy Tale