Have you ever looked at something you were about to throw away and thought…
“Wait, I could make something cool out of this!”
This Friday, let’s get creative with recycling & upcycling! Turn an old item into something new and interesting Give cardboard, jars, fabric scraps, packaging, leftover vinyl (and more) a second life Surprise us with your creativity!
It can be simple, practical, or totally unexpected. We love seeing your idea!
Let’s share:
The original item (before)
What you turned it into (after)
A short sentence about your idea
Even if you haven’t made it yet, we’d love to see what you’re dreaming up!
Who knows? A little surprise might be waiting for you…
Reward:
Everyone who joins will earn 30 Cheers, and 3 lucky participants will receive 100 Cheers each.
If we reach 30 participants, we’ll pick 6 participants to receive 100 Cheers.
Ends:next Monday, Feb 23
Drop your creations below and let’s inspire each other!
I’ve always loved recycling and upcycling denim—there’s something special about giving old jeans a new purpose. Over the years I’ve turned them into hot pads, pincushions, baskets, quilts, and of course, my well‑known Levi’s and Harley bags. Creating new pieces from worn fabrics feels like bringing them back to life so they can be shared, used, and cherished all over again.
When my father‑in‑law passed away several years ago, he left behind a huge collection of Levi’s jeans and Harley‑Davidson T‑shirts. My sisters‑in‑law asked me to turn their dad’s clothing into bags for each of them, and it was an honor to create something meaningful from pieces he wore and loved.
I have some glass jars and some small glass cups that had dessert in them put aside to paint black and use with the laser engraver. I have done glass cutting boards but wanted to try the jar and the kind of shot glass cups.
So for me just starting off in the creative department lol I literally recycle everything around my house!
You’re such as the shadowbox are submitted for the first valentine entry. I used a cookie tin container from Christmas.
D sip sip hooray entry for valentines was a marinara pasta sauce jar that I can’t for my tea, ginger ale, and an adult beverage when needed!
And I have Not personally made, but help by donating clothes to make quilts!
Llegaron a mis manos todos los botones que había estado guardando mi abuela durante muchos años. Había muchos de nuevas confecciones y otros reutilizados de ropa ya estropeada o rota. Quería darles una segunda vida y también tener un pequeño recuerdo de ella así que, algunos los tengo pendientes para cambiar los actuales de algún abrigo o chaqueta y nuevas confecciones y otros, los he convertido en anillos. Me parece una idea original para darles segunda vida a todos esos botones solitarios y tener un pequeño recuerdo de mi abuela en mis manos.
Espero que os inspire para reciclar los que tenéis por casa.
All the buttons my grandmother had been saving for years finally came into my possession. Many were from new garments, and others were repurposed from worn-out or torn clothing. I wanted to give them a second life and also have a small memento of her, so I’m keeping some to replace the ones on coats or jackets and other new garments, and I’ve turned others into rings. I think it’s a clever idea to give all those lonely buttons a second life and to hold a small keepsake of my grandmother in my hands.
I hope it inspires you to recycle the ones you have around the house.
I don’t have the “before” shot because it was a painting that after spending hours on I just didn’t like. So what do we do when the canvas has paint on it that if painted over you will see the texture of the original? You do “pour”. It covers everything and looks pretty cool too. We put them in our vending tent and they usually sell.
I try to use random items all the time but I am struggling to find where I used them for something crafty vs just practical. Though I hoard all sorts of jars and containers and packaging materials, these are the only things I can think of that even remotely fit this topic. I scavenged foam that came with my machines to use as a window ventilation insert. I did use hot glue for the two pieces and a hole saw for the opening. The second is again using spare packaging foam to lift one machine up so the may fit the second could freely move in and out. I know - I’m grading but I haven’t missed one of these challenges yet and hate to break my streak.
I save all of my empty coffee jars for crafting gifts and for various things at home. As I get through 1 jar of coffee each week, I’ve built up a fair amount of blanks stock. They’re far too good to just throw away!
This is bad for me. Being a creator, I take everything I make and turn it into something new.
One thing that comes to mind is a crewneck that belonged to my late grandfather. He passed January 25, 2006. I was decluttering, found the crewneck. I knew it was his because I labeled all his clothes while in a nursing facility.
I didn’t throw away. Instead I added HTV saying it belonged to him. The day he passed. That I cherish the shirt. I will try to attach a picture. It’s nothing fancy. It’s definitely heartfelt.
I used HTVRont power blue/light blue HTV to decorate it.
I love love love upcycling! Found this beauty in a thrift shop for pennies. I learned the Dot Mandala method on YT. I have three of these from small, med to large. I don’t have before pics. Sorry. I just love rescuing glass & metal pieces then dotting with acrylic paints that can be baked on in the oven. Anything I can keep from a junkyard or landfill & it feels good too.
One of my favorite pieces. I think I’m the first to create this technique. I call it the burst effect. I add two colors to my dotting tool and dot. Simple but cool. I love painting glass pieces that’s have been discarded by it’s original owners and bring it back even more beautiful than when it began. I noticed thrift, goodwill, garage sales, yard sales are always full of glass. They practically give it away. I used Folkart & other acrylics I can put in the oven and bake onto the pieces. Trust me, that paint is on forever. The type of are is called Dot Mandala. I believe it originated in India.
I once again found these in our local thrift shop. They are two teapots with cups. Love these. I had never seen anything like these before so I snagged them for less than a $1 & again added color to bring them up to par. I once again just love I kept them out of a landfill. These and most of my pieces are painted with the acrylic paint that I bake on making it last forever & dishwasher safe. Both teapots have a sieve so loose tea is an option & my favorite way to drink tea. Happy beautifying everyone.
Turn an old item into something new and interesting
Give cardboard, jars, fabric scraps, packaging, leftover vinyl (and more) a second life
Surprise us with your creativity!
Let’s share:
Reward:
Ends: next Monday, Feb 23
Llegaron a mis manos todos los botones que había estado guardando mi abuela durante muchos años. Había muchos de nuevas confecciones y otros reutilizados de ropa ya estropeada o rota. Quería darles una segunda vida y también tener un pequeño recuerdo de ella así que, algunos los tengo pendientes para cambiar los actuales de algún abrigo o chaqueta y nuevas confecciones y otros, los he convertido en anillos. Me parece una idea original para darles segunda vida a todos esos botones solitarios y tener un pequeño recuerdo de mi abuela en mis manos.
All the buttons my grandmother had been saving for years finally came into my possession. Many were from new garments, and others were repurposed from worn-out or torn clothing. I wanted to give them a second life and also have a small memento of her, so I’m keeping some to replace the ones on coats or jackets and other new garments, and I’ve turned others into rings. I think it’s a clever idea to give all those lonely buttons a second life and to hold a small keepsake of my grandmother in my hands.
