Flex your creativity with some of these recycled or upcycled crafting projects.
Recycling is great for the planet, but did you know that upcycling, or repurposing old or unused items, is even better? In this blog, we’ve gathered a few of our favorite ideas for upcycling craft projects. Consider hosting an event with friends to make a day of it, or find an idea that resonates with the grandchildren or young ones in your life for a fun bonding activity. Here are just a few great upcycled craft project ideas.
For the Home
Your home can benefit from a variety of upcycled craft projects. One of our favorites is using old items, like unwanted dishware, glass jars, ceramic bowls, or even old teacups to use as houseplant containers. These vessels can get new life by holding fun plants around your home. You can also get creative and paint over the existing designs to suit your home’s décor. You can even try making hanging planters, too!
Have some extra paper lying around? Consider making handmade gift tags or bookmarks with designed paper left over from other projects, or make your own prints and drawings and cut them to size. Using up scrapbooking paper or even designs or patterns from old magazines is a great way to make useful objects out of paper scraps.
You can make your own coasters with worn-out shirts, sheets, dishcloths, or other fabric you may have lying around. Simply cut the fabric into strips and braid them together, then sew or glue them in the shape you desire.
For the Garden
Always forgetting where you’ve planted which veggie? Try this upcycled fondue fork label, or get creative with other items you may have on hand, like wooden chopsticks, old silverware, and more. They’ll help you keep organized after you’ve planted your crop for the year.
You can also try different vessels for holding plants. Old wagons, carts, crates, boxes, shelves, or even bird baths can all be repurposed to hold outdoor plants and come with the added bonus of being decorative in your garden or outside space.
Great for Kids
Looking for an easy project to do with children? Try painting old flower vases or large glass jars for a holiday upcycle adventure. You can paint in summery tones, try painting jack-o-lanterns for Halloween, use festive paints for the winter holidays, or create inspired designs from your heritage or culture. Using these upcycled materials can help connect you with the younger children in your life, save items from the landfill, and give a cherished memory and memento.
Another fun activity is to make bird feeders with recycled materials. Using a cardboard milk carton, cutting the bottom of a plastic jug, or hot gluing smaller glass jars together can create a bird feeder for everyone to enjoy. Help teach children by explaining the variety of bird species that visit your feeder!
Other Great Finds
We love this upcycled shirt bag; it’s the perfect size for toting around the farmer’s market, picking up some odds and ends, keeping your workout gear together, or gifting to a friend. It’s a fantastic way to save cherished memories, like a special shirt from camp, a memorable convention, or a great find during your travels, into a timeless memento. Plus, it’s a great way to save a beloved shirt that is starting to wear and fray.
If you have other small fabric scraps, making hair scrunchies is a fantastic way to commemorate a favorite pattern, shirt, or fabric in an easily shareable way. They look great tied with a gift tag for an extra level of care.
This is just the start of the many upcycled craft projects you can try. Get creative with friends and see who can come up with the best upcycled item from your recycling bin. It’s a great way to craft, help save the planet, and enjoy creating. For more ideas, visit the CapTel blog.
