Recycling old materials is a great way to cut costs when crafting, not to mention find inspiration in resources you’d otherwise have viewed as trash. But it’s not all old tuna cans and leftover Popsicle sticks; sometimes, upcycling can even be totally chic and stylish.
To celebrate Earth Day, we’ve rounded up some eco-friendly craft ideas that are so clever (and cute), you can easily use them all year ’round.
Woven Coasters: Got old magazines lying around the house? Of course you do. These woven coasters by How About Orange are a great craft for busy hands and easy to make.
T-Shirt Quilts: You love that old Seattle SuperSonics t-shirt, but let’s be honest — it doesn’t fit, and it’s got some holes in questionable areas. So what do you do with it? According to CreativeLive instructor and CraftyPod founder Diane Gilleland, you turn it into a quilt! In August, join Diane to learn how to give quilting a try with the sentimental jersey knits you’ve got hidden in drawers and closets.
Houshold Container Makeovers: Crafter Malia Karlinsky, of Yesterday on Tuesday, has about a million upcycled ideas, including ways to make basic containers into planters, organizers, and a portable herb garden. Check them all out here.
Bed Spring Board: Ok, it’s unlikely that you have a plethora of old mattresses lying around, but the idea of this DIY piece is really cool, if only because almost anything can be polished up, turned on its side, and put to use as an organizer. Similarly, you can look for old fence pieces, or baby cribs for a similar effect.
Mason Jar Sippy Cups: Tote your iced coffee in style in these ultra-trendy mason jar cups. You can use just about any old jar (peanut butter, jam, etc), and get creative with the decoration, too.
Indoor Gardens: What’s better for Earth Day than starting an indoor garden? Shelterness has rounded up a great group of DIY indoor garden ideas, which use materials like old cans, pallets, and even wine corks.
