Creative DIY Projects That Turn Trash Into Treasure
I think this idea is brilliant! Who doesn’t get sale flyers each week in the mail or read a newspaper. What to do with them? Well here is a great idea from Pecan Sandies. She does a great job showing you how to step-by-step fold up a tiny pot perfect for starting seedlings. The best part-no glue or other supplies needed!
Okay, I have to tell you about one of the most bizarre-yet-brilliant DIYs I’ve come across in a while. While scrolling through google (as one does when deep into a late-night upcycling rabbit hole), I stumbled on a video tutorial for a table made out of mannequin legs. And honestly? I couldn’t look away.
This project is peak creative chaos—in the best way. The concept is exactly what it sounds like: four mannequin legs, flipped and fixed in place, supporting a standard tabletop. It’s got this quirky, surreal vibe that makes it feel part high fashion, part modern art installation. Think: Tim Burton meets IKEA.
What I loved most about this video is how surprisingly accessible it is. The creator breaks the process down clearly—so even though the end result looks totally wild, the steps are manageable. You’ll need a few tools and a decent amount of glue or screws (depending on how permanent you want this table to be), but nothing too technical.
Design-wise, this piece is an absolute conversation starter. It would look amazing in a creative studio, a funky coffee shop, or even as a statement piece in a minimalist home—anywhere you want to break the “normal furniture” mold. The contrast between the realistic mannequin legs and a basic tabletop is just the right kind of weird.
If you’re into recycled home decor, eco-conscious DIY projects, or just love adding some unexpected personality to your space, this one’s worth bookmarking. Whether or not you ever make it yourself, it’s guaranteed to make you see mannequins—and furniture—in a whole new way.
Catch the full tutorial and see the visual magic for yourself on Recyclart. Just be prepared to say, “Wait, is that a leg?” every time someone visits your house.
This is a great idea, but I would use plain newsprint, not newspapers. Colored ink in newsprint has heavy metals in it that you would not want in your garden, plants, or soil!
we use a discarded tire to put around our mint plant. It makes the mint look very nice, and if it grows outside of the tire, we just pick that part so that its only growing from the middle of the tire.
I started using a layer of newspaper in my vegetable garden to block weeds several years ago, and it’s the best solution I’ve found. By the end of the season it decomposes and it can be turned over into the soil. I’ll definitely make these seed starters next year.