Denim Crafts: 5 Ways to Reuse Old Jeans

Last week I shared a site where you can recycle old denim that's in no shape to even use for crafting, but what about those old jeans that would still hold up to the craft knife? Here are some fun denim crafts to make those old jeans new again!

When you're shopping for thrift store jeans or just perusing the denim in your closet, do you ever come across a pair of jeans that are either in need of repair or too damaged to wear but have plenty of usable denim left? Instead of tossing that denim in the bin, you can use your crafty skills to turn them into something usable and new.

The big problem with throwing organic matter like denim in the trash is that when it breaks down in the landfill, it releases methane, a greenhouse gas that's much more harmful to our planet than CO2. If your old jeans are too threadbare to even cut up and craft with - or if you're left with denim scraps at the end of your craft project - take a look at Blue Jeans Go Green, a service that recycled old denim and turns it into insulation!

OK, got those old jeans ready? Let's create some denim crafts!

1. Denim Stamps

Before you ship off those denim scraps for recycling, check out this tutorial from Karen Lee on how to turn those scraps into cute little stamps. Not only are you keeping denim out of the landfill, but you can skip a trip to the craft store to buy a mass-produced stamp. Boom!

2. DIY Wrist Cuffs

Old jeans are perfect for creating wrist cuffs for yourself or to give as gifts. You can actually use any heavy fabric that you have handy, so grab some scissors and old jeans, and get crafty!

3. Denim Crafts: Recycled Denim Bowl

Cut that denim into strips, grab your crochet hook, and whip up a cute denim bowl out of your old jeans. Miko at She's Crafty doesn't give a step-by-step for this one, but any crocheted bowl tutorial that calls for chunky yarn will work here.

4. Mend Old Jeans

Do your favorite jeans have a tear in them? Turn that imperfection into a beautiful detail with reverse applique!

5. Denim Jewelry

This is another denim craft that's great for using up those scraps of old jeans. Spotted Canary shares a very cute tute for making a denim necklace over at Craftster.