How do I upcycle? Let me count the ways
April 2, 2009
How could we possibly throw this out?
These are some of the materials I’ve been playing with lately in the sewing machine…
- Obama-Biden campaign banners
- Wax bags from inside the cereal boxes
- Coffee bags made of that sort of metal/plastic stuff such as the Cafe Bustelo bricks
- File folders
- Cereal boxes
- Metal bags from inside certain cracker boxes
- bird seed bags
- burlap
- plastic grocery bags
These are some of the materials I’ve been thinking about running through the sewing machine but haven’t yet…
- bicycle inner tubes
- multi-layered heavy paper bags from industry sized rice and beans
- abandoned vinyl banners from events
Have any other thoughts on materials that would be discarded or recycled but can instead be upcycled?
Any other ideas out there? I’m game.
Posted in studio life
April 4th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Cool! You probably know this already but a cool no-sew use for old inner tubes is to cut them into your desired shape, glue them to a piece of wood, and you have a homemade rubber stamp in minutes.
Something I have been trying to think what to do with is the colorful netting that encases clementines, avacados, etc. It seems so useful. I have used it as a ribbon tied around a birthday present… I know you can put suet and bird seed in it for a bird treat but I’ve never had much luck with that… my friend made a scrubber for her dishes with it, but still… it seems like there must be a better use out there….
April 6th, 2009 at 6:40 am
Oh Kami! I didn’t know that. Thanks for that cool tip. We are going to do a fabric printing class so that will be a perfect addition.
April 21st, 2009 at 1:01 pm
You need to check out this site and see how they “upcycle” a sofa! I love it!
April 21st, 2009 at 1:01 pm
sorry, i can’t get teh link to work
its simplyspray.com
April 22nd, 2009 at 8:39 am
It’s definitely upcycling, I’m just not sure it’s exactly the eco-way we’re trying to head.