Halloween: upcycled

Showing posts with label upcycled. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Upcycled Car Hood Is Now A Cool Tabletop

Reclaimed sheetmetal from an old car makes a pretty cool table.

Yes, this table was made from the old, worn, automobile hood shown below it. And I just can't decide what I like best, the fiery orange color, the worn spots, or just the fact that it's one of the coolest upcycled furniture pieces that I've seen.

Made by Weld House furniture in Arizona, each piece is constructed from salvaged metal. Check out their website and be impressed.

What do you think?

Shop my designs at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

Have a great week!

Laura

My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

Check out my new jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!

Monday, July 16, 2018

Upcycled Clothes: Turn An Old Tank Top Into A Tote

upcycled clothes tank top made into a tote

I have to say I was thoroughly impressed when I saw these amazing totes made from old tank top summer t-shirts by Monica at Crafty Nest. You can find the complete step by step DIY instructions on her site but I can tell you there are only a few steps to making these and it's a pretty simple project that's probably easy enough for a beginner to tackle.

Of course the first thing I did was mentally go through my closet, seeing flashes of the different tops I had that might work for this project, the ones that were too small or that I just no longer wore for whatever reason. I think I have one in mind and I hope to try my own hand at making a t-shirt handbag one day soon.

What do you think?

Shop my designs at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

Have a great week!

Laura

My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

Check out my new jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!

Friday, June 1, 2018

You've Got To See This! Interesting Ideas For Upcycled Eyeglasses

Now look here, this is important.

You need to focus.

Do you see what I mean?

I want to make sure you get my point of view.

That's a joke son you're supposed to laugh.

All kidding aside, what do you do with your old eyeglasses? Do you throw them away? Or maybe stash them in the back of a drawer?

I recently read an article somewhere that said that one of the things that thrift stores do not know what to do with are old prescription eyeglasses. I also know that some civic organizations collect them for charity. I don't know what they do with them or how they use them, but if it can benefit a good cause then I would say that's probably a good place to send them.

Or you could upcycle them into something new. Upcycled eyeglasses? Why not? Check out these unique ideas for upcycling old eyeglasses and maybe you will see old eyeglasses in a new light...

Chandelier made from old eyeglass lenses

Business card holder made from vintage glasses

Spectacle necklace from Anthrolopogie. Retail price:$498...yup.

Sunglass lamp

Art sculpture made with eyeglass lenses via Pinterest

1950's cat eye glasses necklace

Sunglasses turned into a lamp

Eyeglass lens necklace pendant from ZanneAvenue via Etsy

Turn old eyeglasses into collage art

Cool dragonfly: recycled eyeglass lens insect

Vintage glasses with images by Musings of a Sea Witch

Sunglass table lamp

Vintage eyeglasses necklace with book pages by RefinedrubbishLLC Etsy

What do you do with your old glasses?

I hope you enjoyed this post.

Please leave me a comment below!

Have a great week!

Laura

My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

Check out my new jewelry instruction books and DVDs

Thursday, May 31, 2018

What Is Upcycling?

Recycling, Repurposing, Upcycling – what’s the difference?

…and what exactly is Upcycling?

Recycling vs Upcycling

Most of us already know what recycling is. A plastic bag is used to carry home groceries, then is later reused by the owner who uses the bag a second or third time, perhaps to again carry groceries or to store items.

The bag has been reused, and in a way, it has been recycled by its owner. The value of the bag remains the same.

Let's now say that the same plastic bag is sent out for recycling to a recycling plant. It's taken to a factory where it is put with lots of other plastic bags which are then turned into something new, such as more new plastic bags.

The bag is being recycled, but most of the time, it is also being downcycled...

What is downcycling?

Downcycling is something that occurs when items that are recycled are converted into items of lesser quality due to the recycling process itself.

For example, different types of plastic bottles may be recycled and during the recycling process, some of the valuable materials from these plastics may be extracted by the recycling process itself. In the end, what may be left is a hybrid type of plastic of a lesser quality than the quality of plastic of the original bottle before it was recycled.

After the recycling process, the quality of the plastic has gone down. One example is that an old plastic bag that is recycled into a new plastic bag may not be as durable as the original bag was. This is downcycling.

What does upcycled mean?

With upcycling, an item is no longer being used for its intended purpose, but is repurposed – given a new purpose – and along with this new purpose (and this is the important part) it is also given an increase in value (usually both aesthetically and monetarily.)

It is worth more in its new form.

What is upcycling?

It's when an item is repurposed with a new use and the item's value goes up.

What does upcycled mean?
Upcycled means that the item is now being reused for something different than it was originally intended and the item now has an increased value due to it's new use.

Why is Upcycling important?

UPcycled items often have both a better quality and a higher environmental value than they had in their original state!

What else makes upcycled products items so desirable?

Upcycled products are created with innovation and creativity!

Here's an example of upcycling:

My daughters found this piece of a broken plate on a nature walk...

I turned the broken plate piece into three beautiful necklaces for them!

One of the best quotes explaining upcycling comes from Wisegeek:

"Upcycling is designed to work in opposition to consumer culture, encouraging people to think of new and innovative ways to use things, instead of simply buying new consumer goods. It also benefits the environment, by promoting reuse over discarding whenever possible."

At a glance:

Recycled – in it's broadest sense - used again and value remains unchanged

Downcycled – items are turned into new items of a lesser quality than their original state

Repurposed – used again but with a new purpose

Upcycled – used again, with a new purpose, and with greater value than its original state

Pin this post!

What do you think?

Have you ever upcycled something?

I hope you enjoyed this post.

Please leave me a comment below!

Have a great week!

Laura

My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

Check out my new jewelry instruction books and DVDs

Monday, May 28, 2018

Upcycled Vintage Ladies Watches Into Photo Memory Bracelets

These days I think I have only one or two friends who actually wear wrist watches. I think most of us now rely on our cell phones to be our timepieces. But just a few years ago things were different. Before cell phones, nearly everyone wore a watch!

And I think many would agree that wrist watches are one of the most inherited items in families. I love the dainty antique ladies watches from around the 1910's to 1940's. I once inherited one that belonged to my grandmother and although it stopped working long ago, I continued to wear it for many years, until one day, when I realized I had lost the watchface, and only the band and crystal remained. Ugh! I still feel sad about losing it. I never found it and have no idea where or when it went missing. But I still had the band and crystal, so into the jewelry box they went.

But lo.

Behold the vintage watch band bracelet.

By opening the crystal and inserting a small photo of a loved one (how about a photo of the person who you inherited the watch from?) you can give new life to your old inheritance, giving it a whole new look as an heirloom to pass on to your own loved ones one day.

If you've lost the watch face and back (the inner watch workings) as I have, you can cut out your photo and insert it behind the crystal, but then you will need to find a way to hold the photo in place.

If you have experience working with clear liquid resin, this might work, but I wouldn't try it unless you first experiment a bit with resin because it can be tricky and can take a little bit of time to get used to the ins and outs of the craft.

Also, if you are putting resin on paper, you must seal the paper first with some type of sealant! I explain how to do this in my book Boho Chic Jewelry: 25 Timeless Designs Using Soldering, Beading, Wire-Wrapping and More in my Poetic Seashell & Stone Necklace project on page 93!

If you are experienced with metalwork or soldering, another idea might be to cut a small piece of metal to fit behind the photo and then secure it in place somehow.

Either way, make sure you use a copy of your vintage photo and not the original!

Have you ever inherited a watch from a loved one? Leave me a comment below!

What do you think?

Click here to visit my shop

Have a great week!

Laura

My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

Check out my new jewelry instruction books and DVDs

Monday, April 2, 2018

More Greenhouses Made With Salvaged Windows

What better way to recycle old salvaged windows than to build them into a unique garden greenhouse or potting shed?

Old windows, doors, and other salvaged lumber - along with a little bit of thought and planning, can be turned into something fantastic for very little cost.

Not only are these building projects environmentally friendly, they're also unique; each is one of a kind. Check out what some creative folks have crafted using reclaimed old salvaged windows and doors, and maybe you'll be inspired to create your own.

Where can you find these salvaged building supplies?

~ Ask friends and neighbors for castoffs they might have lying around in their attics or garage. You might be surprised at what folks stow away!

~ Check out Habitat For Humanity's ReStore

~ Keep an eye on the curb! But remember, never take any old castoffs from construction sites without asking first.

~ Use caution with doors or windows that have old peeling paint. Most old paint contains lead. Avoid using these doors in areas where there are children or food. Pick up a lead test at your local hardware store to test for lead paint. Never remove lead paint, but paint over it instead.