Upcycle: Old mirror frame, new organizer!

I love the mirror-turned-chalkboard idea. This refab takes it one step further, with vintage doorknobs ... now it's a feature and a jewelry organizer!  Go here for the complete makeover.

Upcycle: Old jeans, new top, chop chop!

I heard a great story on NPR yesterday called The Global Afterlife of your Donated Clothes. Do you know that 80% of the clothing donated in the US is carted off by textile recyclers? That's about 3.8 billion pounds of clothing every year! Big number right? Now get your head around this number: About 85% of all the clothing sold every year is not donated - it ends up in landfills. 

In the US, we are habitually buying cheap clothing that doesn't last. Then we're throwing it into a dumpster. Or, if we're going to the trouble of donating it, most has to be turned into insulation or industrial wipe cloths. Why? because it's so badly made, they won't even take it to the "needy" over the sea. Apparently there's high demand for used clothing around the world but guess what? It has to be decent quality and we're contributing less and less "quality" clothing.

Ok, rant over. Buy less. Buy quality items that will last. Donate and upcycle whenever possible. Instead of throwing out your old jeans, turn them into a crop top, chop chop! 

Upcycle: (re)use your Noodle!

Winner! "Made by Dad"

As always, I used random.org to pick the winner and it chose entry #389 ... that's Valerie S!  Valerie, I will be contacting you via email to get a shipping address  :)

Thanks to everyone who entered for your interest and great comments. Keep up with Scott on Pinterest and Facebook and look out for his Made by Dad segment on the Rachael Ray show later this summer.