Category Archives:reuse

05
Jul

4 Upcycled Pallet Projects

succulent pallet table

Did you find a wood pallet that could use a little DIY love? Check out our upcycled pallet projects to turn them into something cute and usable!

Wood pallets are ubiquitous in the shipping industry, but they often don't get used many times before they're put out to pasture. It's a shame to let all of that wood go to the landfill! Luckily, there are lots of super awesome ways that you can upcycle old pallets.

If you see a stack of pallets outside of a shop, make sure you ask before you nab one. Businesses do reuse them, and if you take one that's still in use for shipping you're not really doing your best upcycling work, right? The idea is to get the most use out of these things as possible, and if you snag it before they're done with it, that means they have to buy a new one.

Upcycled Pallet Projects

1. DIY Succulent Table

If your pallet is made from untreated wood, you can turn it into a super sweet table with a built-in succulent planter!

2. Vertical Succulent Planter

Don't need a table but want to get in on the succulent-planting action? How about a vertical pallet planter for those beautiful succulents?

pallet desk

3. Make a Desk

Another great project for untreated wood pallets - make a desk using IKEA legs in just a few simple steps.

4. DIY Ottoman

This project is for folks who are on the handy side, and the results are totally beautiful. Turn a wood pallet into a classy tufted ottoman.

Posted:   |   Categories: crafting with wood pallets, DIY, DIY bird house, pallet crafts, pallets, reuse, upcycling, wood pallet crafts
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03
Jul

Spotted: DIY Fruit Basket Made from Grocery Bags

Paper Fruit Basket

These sweet fruit baskets are made from reclaimed paper grocery bags!

As much as I'd like to say that I always bring reusable bags to the store, sometimes I slip up. Other times, I bring one bag because I think I'm going to just grab a few essentials but end up with a cart full of groceries. Next time you have to take a single-use bag at the store, don't fret. Ask for paper, and head home to get crafty!

Do you remember doing old-school paper weaving when you were a kid? Crafter Lia Griffith uses that same technique to create these cute berry serving baskets. I love the simplicity of this project and that you probably have all of the materials that you need to create it right in your house!

Fruit Basket Tutorial

To make your own DIY fruit basket, you'll need:

  • an old grocery bag
  • ruler
  • pen or pencil
  • scissors
  • clothes pin
  • hot glue gun

Lia has a beautiful photo tutorial showing you how to weave this basket together. Click here to check it out!

Posted:   |   Categories: Craft Recycled, crafty reuse, creative reuse, DIY, DIY fruit basket, grocery bag crafts, paper crafts, reuse, upcycling
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11
Jun

5 Upcycled DIY Jewelry Projects

DIY Statement Necklace

Does your stash of accessories need a little kick? Try out some of these DIY upcycled jewelry projects!

Doesn't the right necklace or pair of earrings just make any outfit feel extra special? The trouble with store-bought jewelry is that it's often produced in a sweatshop and shipped all over the world. That means a big dose of cruelty and a side of greenhouse gas emissions. No, thank you!

The good news is that it's simple and fun to make your own DIY jewelry from all kinds of materials, from magazine pages to beans. Yes, beans! Here are a few DIY jewelry ideas to get you started.

1. DIY Statement Necklace

The beautiful, bold statement necklace pictured above is made using beans instead of beads! Pretty awesome, right?

2. Gift Card Necklace

Who needs shells when you have used gift cards? You can turn that single-use plastic into a super adorable necklace!

nail polish key necklace

3. Nail Polish Key Necklace

Do you have a key with no lock to open? Instead of tossing it out, grab a bottle of nail polish and transform it into a hip necklace.

4. Magazine Page Bling

Grab an old magazine or some junk mail and use it to make a 1980s-inspired jewelry set.

5. Wine Cork Earrings

Is there any end to useful ways to repurpose wine corks? Slice them up, paint them, and create super sweet stud earrings.

Have you guys made any fun, upcycled jewelry lately? We'd love to hear about it in the comments!

Posted:   |   Categories: DIY, DIY jewelry, how to make jewelry, reuse, upcycled jewelry, upcycling
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04
Jun

Spotted: DIY Bling from Old Magazines!

craftRECYCLED logo

recycled jewelry

Can you believe that this beautiful costume jewelry is made from upcycled magazine pages?

Crafty superstar Mark Montano shared a super awesome video tutorial on how to make your very own 80s-inspired upcycled jewelry from old magazine or catalog pages. You need a few simple jewelry supplies to make your own, so check the materials list below before you get started!

This tutorial makes a whole set of DIY jewelery. To make the complete set, you'll need:

  • an old magazine or catalog and scissors to cut it up
  • needle nose pliers
  • spray paint - spray paint can be nasty stuff, but you can choose Krylon H2o, which is a little bit better. I couldn't find the H2O in gold, but I think that white would look really nice, and still keep that 80s feel.
  • flat-backed beads - Dont' want to buy new? Salvage these from thrift store jewelry!
  • E-6000 - this glue is far from green, but it is durable, which means your finished product will last.
  • earring backings, ring findings, and a blank metal cuff - you can salvage these from thrifted jewelry, too!
  • white glue

Ready to get crafting? Here's the video tutorial!

Posted:   |   Categories: Clothes+Accessories, Craft Recycled, DIY, DIY jewelry, Living, magazine page crafts, paper crafts, reuse, upcycled jewelry, upcycling
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07
May

Mother’s Day Gift Idea: Blue Ribbon Brooch

craftRECYCLED logomothers day gift idea

Mother's Day is on May 12 this year, so if you want to get crafty for mom, you've only got a few days left!

This Sunday is all about making mom feel special, and what says special better than a sweet blue ribbon that you made yourself? Bonnie over at Crafting a Green World used a page from a reclaimed book to create a super cute blue ribbon brooch for her momma, and she shared a tutorial so that you can make one for your mom, too!

What I love about this project is that not only is it totally adorable, it won't take you too long to make. Perfect for us procrastinating children, right?

mothers day gift idea

It only takes a few materials to make an upcycled Mother's Day brooch of your own:

  • an old book
  • scissors
  • white glue
  • hot glue
  • crayons and markers
  • brooch pin - the sort with a flat back

Ready to whip up a blue ribbon brooch for Mother's Day? Click here for the tutorial!

Image Credits: Creative Commons photos by Bonnie Getchell

Posted:   |   Categories: book page craft, Craft Recycled, DIY, DIY blue ribbon, Mother's Day, Mother's Day gift, Mother's Day gift idea, reuse, upcycling
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02
May

5 Wine Cork Crafts

Wine Cork Board

Do you hoard wine corks like I do? Let's bust that stash with some upcycled wine cork crafts!

Unless you're buying box or screw-top wine (no judgement here - lots of good bottles come in boxes or with screw tops these days!), chances are every time you pop a bottle of vino, you're left with a cork in your hand. Don't toss those suckers into the trash! Save them in a bowl for some rainy day crafting instead!

Wine corks aren't always made from actual cork, which for most of these projects is a-ok! The plastic corks are just as fun for crafting as the natural cork ones, and those plastic ones are actually a lot easier to cut up than natural cork. For either sort, a sharp, serrated knife gets the job done nicely if you need to slice and dice your corks.

Ready to get crafty? Check out some of these wine cork crafts!

1. Wino Cork board - If you have a nice stash of corks going, you can turn them into a mini cork board to keep your a little bit more organized.

2. Micro-Planters - Make your self the teeniest garden ever by transforming your old corks into micro-planters for succulents.

DIY cork plant markers

3. Plant Markers - This project works best with natural cork, but if you use a permanent marker that contrasts with the color of your synthetic cork, you can even use the plastic sort to make these cork plant markers!

4. Decorative Heart - Another project that's best with natural cork, though you could modify it with some artfully-placed synthetic ones. Gather your corks and make a sweet cork heart to hang on the wall!

5. Pendants - Use paint to add a pop of color and stamps to embellish your very own handmade wine cork pendants.

Have you made anything cool out of old wine corks? Tell us all about your favorite cork crafts in the comments!

Posted:   |   Categories: cork crafts, corks, crafty reuse, creative reuse, DIY, how to reuse wine corks, reuse, wine cork crafts, wine corks
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30
Apr

Spotted: Wine Cork Pendants

craftRECYCLED logoWine Cork Pendants

Check out these beautiful pendants made from reclaimed wine corks!

We love crafting with wine corks around here. That humble little cork in your bottle of vino has so many crafty possibilities! Whether your bottle has a plastic or a natural cork, it's worth collecting those suckers in a little bowl, because both make great, free craft supplies. The bonus? When you craft with your old wine corks, you're keeping that material out of the waste stream.

wine cork pendants

Over on the Fiskars blog, Lisa Storms shares a tutorial for making some super sweet wine cork pendants. You only need a few materials to make your own:

  • A sharp knife - I've found that a serrated blade is best for cutting cork
  • Paint
  • Paint brush
  • Stamps
  • a 5mm eye screw

You probably have most of these supplies laying around the house! Ready to make your own wine cork pendants? Click here for the complete tutorial!

Posted:   |   Categories: Clothes+Accessories, cork crafts, Craft Recycled, DIY, Living, reuse, upcycling, wine cork crafts, wine cork pendants, wine corks
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30
Apr

Spotted: Wine Cork Pendants

craftRECYCLED logoWine Cork Pendants

Check out these beautiful pendants made from reclaimed wine corks!

We love crafting with wine corks around here. That humble little cork in your bottle of vino has so many crafty possibilities! Whether your bottle has a plastic or a natural cork, it's worth collecting those suckers in a little bowl, because both make great, free craft supplies. The bonus? When you craft with your old wine corks, you're keeping that material out of the waste stream.

wine cork pendants

Over on the Fiskars blog, Lisa Storms shares a tutorial for making some super sweet wine cork pendants. You only need a few materials to make your own:

  • A sharp knife - I've found that a serrated blade is best for cutting cork
  • Paint
  • Paint brush
  • Stamps
  • a 5mm eye screw

You probably have most of these supplies laying around the house! Ready to make your own wine cork pendants? Click here for the complete tutorial!

Posted:   |   Categories: Clothes+Accessories, cork crafts, Craft Recycled, DIY, DIY pendant, Living, reuse, upcycling, wine cork crafts, wine cork pendants, wine corks
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26
Apr

5 Ways to Reuse Cereal Boxes and Organize Your Life!

craftRECYCLED logo

Cereal Box Crafts Magazine Organizer
[This magazine rack is made from recycled cereal boxes!]

Feeling guilty about the cereal boxes in your recycle bin? Pull 'em out and try some of these upcycled projects to give them a new life!

Recycling is great, but reuse is always better! Cardboard recycling is pretty efficient, as recycling goes, but it still takes energy to turn old cardboard into new paper products, and transporting cardboard from your home to the recycle center produces carbon emissions, too.

Boxes are a natural pick for storage, right? When I was researching some ideas for cereal boxes, I noticed that so many of them were organization-related! Next time you polish off a box of cereal, save the box for one of these home organization cardboard crafts!

1. Magazine Rack - Do you have magazines all over your house? Tidy those suckers up with a cereal box magazine rack!

2. Expandable File Folder - Get organized! Check out how to turn an old cereal box into a chic way to store your files.

upcycled mini album

3. Mini Album - Get your photos all in order with an upcycled album.

4. Fabric Storage Baskets - Cover old cereal boxes in fabric to make boxes for all kinds of organizing needs!

5. Closet Organizer - Tame a messy closet with the power of upcycled cereal boxes!

Have you guys made anything fun with reclaimed cereal boxes lately? Share your ideas in the comments!

Posted:   |   Categories: cereal box crafts, Craft Recycled, crafty reuse, creative reuse, DIY, Home+Decor, Living, reuse, upcycling
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07
Mar

Craft Recycled: Your Spring Garden

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vertical garden shoe planters

Spring is so close that I can smell it! It's just about time to start planting those spring crops, and now is also the perfect time to add a few upcycled touches to your spring garden. Here are a few ideas to get you going!

1.  Boot Planters

Going vertical is a great way to grow more in less space. Hit the thrift store and find some old rain boots to create these sweet, upcycled hanging planters.

2. Reclaimed Raised Bed

Raised beds are great for keeping weeds and pests at bay and in areas where the soil quality might be on the poor side. Instead of using new lumber, check out this upcycled garden bed using reclaimed wood instead.

wine box container garden

3. Wine Box Containers

For smaller plants, like herbs, you can use old wine boxes to create beautiful, upcycled planters.

4. Bike Wheel Trellis

Gather up some old bike wheels and create a beautiful, upcycled trellis for your climbing plants, like beans!

5. Wine Cork Plant Markers

You think you will remember what you planted where, but there's always those one or two plants that slip through the cracks when you don't write things down. Grab some wine corks from your stash to make sweet, upcycled plant markers and never guess at your garden's layout again!

Are you adding any upcycled touches to your garden? I'd love to hear what you're planting and how you're designing your space in the comments!

Posted:   |   Categories: Craft Recycled, DIY, Gardening, Living, reuse, spring garden, upcycled garden, upcycling, Yard+Garden
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