Repurpose and Upcycle Things in Your Home

With the end of the winter season for those of us in the northern hemisphere in sight, our minds naturally turn to spring. As we open the blinds and pull back the draperies in our home, that's when we see it-- Dust! Clutter! Disorganization! Everything in our home now tells the story how we hunkered-down this past winter and were too cold to do anything.

Then we get a brilliant idea-- SPRING CLEANING. And that, my friends, is when we go crazy trying to make-up for lost time by cleaning and organizing every nook-and-cranny. We pull out the garbage bags or boxes for trips to the local thrift store, and we open up garbage and recycling cans for everything else. Although I can write an entire post about where our thrift store items actually go, instead I'll let you read this March 8th article found on GOOD, and write about repurposing and upcycling items already in your home: egg cartons, aluminum cans and glass jars.

The words REPURPOSE and UPCYCLE may not be found in the dictionary, but they are becoming commonly used in the English language. To repurpose or to upcycle something is to give an item new life other than its original intended purpose. To recycle is good, but most products in the marketplace that claim to be made of post-consumer waste are still made with 70% new materials. To repurpose an item reuses 50- 100% of the original item--much better than the average 30% used in recycled goods.

Let's Begin! 

Simple and yet oh-so-helpful!

Egg Carton.
Original Purpose: Place to safely hold eggs to prevent cracking.
Upcycled Purpose: Organizer.

We like to craft. We like to decorate. We like to build. Isn't it nice when our beads, needles, piping tools or screws aren't mixed up? Next time you begin working on a project, use an egg carton to keep you organized!

PS- Muffin tins are also great organizing tools too!

Step four: Can, towel, nail and hammer.

Aluminum Can.
Original Purpose: Preserve your vegetables and fruit for consumption.
Upcycled Purpose: Lantern.

Did I mention we like to craft? Here is a fun craft that only requires:
an aluminum can
water (ice, actually)
towel
hammer
one nail
tea light

1. Remove paper wrapper from can and thoroughly wash inside and out.

Step 6: finished product.

2. Fill can 3/4 full with water.
3. Freeze overnight.
4. Lay towel down on kitchen counter or table. Use nail and hammer to make holes in frozen can, starting from the bottom to the top.
5. If there is still ice in the can when all holes have been made, melt ice and dry.
6. Place tea light in bottom of can and enjoy!

Glass Jar.
Original Purpose: Preserving sauce or other condiment.
Upcycled Purpose: Fancy storage container for dried pasta, sugar, powder laundry detergent, etc.

Although not as messy as the activity above, this is still a fun crafty project that looks oh-so-pretty when complete. This upcycle requires:
one jar (I used a glass spaghetti sauce jar) with lid

Step six: finished product.

sand paper
drill
screw & cabinet know/ fixture
vinyl sticker labels (optional)

1. Remove paper wrapper from jar and thoroughly wash inside and out. Don't forget to wash the lid!
2. Remove the stamped label/ wording on the lid top with sandpaper. We want this to look pretty, right?
3. Using drill, make hole in center of the lid.
4. Attach decorative knob to top of lid using screw.
5. Apply vinyl sticker label to outside of jar.
6. Fill jar with desired dried item, attach lid and enjoy!

Seasonal Wood Blocks- AUTUMN

Seasonal Wood Blocks- AUTUMN

After visiting autumn craft fairs and drooling over Autumn, Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations, I came to the conclusion that my home was sadly under-dressed. Personally, I prefer to have items that I can change in and out with the seasons (or when I get bored!) so this Seasonal Wood Block- AUTUMN set is perfect for this time of year.

Craft Ingredients:

* (6) Six 2" x 4" wood blocks CUT to size of your choice and SANDED
* (6) Six fall-colored decorative PAPERS cut to fit blocks
* (3) Three 1.5' RIBBONS for embellishment
* (1) AUTUMN vinyl sticker decal PHRASE in BEIGE (or any other light color)
* Paint. I suggest Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch, SATIN finish, in CINNAMON (see picture)
* Decoupage Glue & Sealer. I suggest Martha Stewart Crafts Decoupage Glue & Sealer (see picture)

Wood, Decorative Paper, Ribbon, Decoupage Glue & Sealer, Paint

Directions:

Paint your sanded blocks of wood with the paint color of your choice. Wait about two hours to be sure that your paint is dry if you're not using a fast-drying paint.

Painted Wood & Decorative Paper Cut to Size

During this wait time you can choose and cut the decorative papers you will use as your block back-drop. I like to cut my papers smaller than the actual size of the block, thus allowing a border of paint color to show around the paper. If you're like my sister, who did this project with me, she did not prefer to see a paint border. Thus, she cut her papers to the exact size of the blocks. This is a personal choice, so make it your own!  

Once the paint is dry, brush the decoupage glue and sealer over one side of the block and adhere your choice of paper. Brush on a second coat of decoupage glue to seal the paper in place. Let dry over night.

Block with Paper & Vinyl Letter 'A'

When the block and paper are dry (& smooth!) to the touch, you can now apply your vinyl sticker letters. Typically, the letters are purchased as words. Cut each letter out of the word and apply to each block individually. Smooth the letter onto the block and paper, and then peel off the mask tape.

Now you may begin embellishing your blocks! This is my favorite part :) Tie your ribbons around your blocks any way you see fit, and then trim to size.

Viola! You just brought a little bit of the outdoors in by declaring how much you enjoy this Autumn/ Fall season!

PS- A great place to buy the Seasonal Wood Blocks- AUTUMN ingredients (if you don't have the time to shop but still want to make it) is: Write@Home



**DON'T FORGET** to share your photos and experience if you give this project a try!