Apparently this little pony is also known as a stick horse ... but in my world, it's a hobby horse. And, thanks to Hetty of Light Blue Grey, you can MAKE one yourself using a old sock. How freakin' cool is that?
Apparently this little pony is also known as a stick horse ... but in my world, it's a hobby horse. And, thanks to Hetty of Light Blue Grey, you can MAKE one yourself using a old sock. How freakin' cool is that?
If you feel good when you spend $99c on a re-usable tote made from recycled plastic bottles ... you'll feel GREAT when you make these! Fused plastic is durable and easy to make yourself.
Especially if you're currently hiding a shameful, embarrassing number of plastic bags somewhere in your home. Check out this tutorial from Dana at Made then go upcycle a Target bag or 6.
Above is a different take on the tutorial - personalized lunch totes care of Made by Lex (blog no longer exists). For another set of instructions on how to upcycle plastic film or plastic grocery bags into stronger items, head to Instructables.
Blue Velvet Chair is my new blog crush! Thanks to Mike (the host), I spent a long time gawking at the many, amazing repurposed, refashioned and beloved ties (pictured above and below) being created by Alisa of Ties and Whimsy.
Doesn't every girl want to wear a man's tie? I think so. Especially when they look like this! I had a *very* hard time choosing a few to feature in this post ... amazing stuff.
Wanna try it yourself? Rachel, of Maybe Matilda, has a ton of awesome tutorials on offer. But this pleated neck-tie how-to will serve as a great springboard if you want to emulate Alisa. Here's to creative refashioning, feminine repurposing and whimsy!
Lots of tutorials out there for making zipper flowers ... I really like this one from Maya Road Company
This beautiful quilted bird house and matching birdie rattles was a labor of love ... but worth it right? It's a toy any infant will happily chew on and shake. Later on, it'll be great for container play and peek-a-birdie! Full tutorial via Instructables
Talk about cheap, cheap, cheap and cheerful! These would be great in a kid's room or craft room ... and SUCH a fun way to use up scrap fabric. I would put the magnet *inside* the bird to child-proof it. Then imagine the possibilities: counting, sorting, color-matching ... you could make them different sizes too! Thanks to Two Girls Being Crafty.
Phone books - they still arrive, with a thud. One of the great questions I put to the universe is why? Why do they still arrive? To be turned into desk organizers? Perhaps. Visit the 3Rs for more on the idea pictured above.
Another twist on the phone book desk organizer. Make your own with great instructions here.
The paper is pretty tricky to work with, but it makes sense for pasting onto a shade like this. Instructions here.
Great photo right? Allison, of the 3Rs Blog, was also inspired by the thud (which is swiftly followed by the teetering pile outside the apartment building). So she created this centerpiece ... for more pics and the how to head over to her blog.
Earth911 asked some of their favorite DIY/craft bloggers to come up with ways to repurpose phonebooks... above are the chosen five projects - I think the coasters are the most interesting! Click through for all the details
Phone book paper is also great for decoupage and paper mache.
Phone book letter, card or mail holders created for Design Sponge by Allison Patrick. Click through for the full tutorial
Use the pages to make beads and use the beads to make a brooch.
I used paper beads to make a book mark a few years ago. Phone book paper would work well for this too - instructions here.
Similar paper folding as beads... use the pages to make nesting bowls.
Clearly, this vintage case has been refabbed with sheet music. But the possibilities are endless and I think black and white pages from a phone book would look amazing. Great tutorial here.
I think the weight of phone books also makes them ideal for building furniture, like the poof picture above. They'd have to be turned spines in or painted.
To opt out of receiving next year's phone book, go here.
YEAH! I love this idea and I know exactly which of my old sweaters is about to get the chop. Thanks to Me Sew Crazy for hosting this fab sweater refashion - so many small, wonderful details.
Check out Tea Rose Home for more gorgeous upcycling ideas from Suchiko - like the old-cardigan-turns-scarf below:
Wit and Whistle show you how to make a knockoff of a $159 VivaTerra Stencil Pillow for the cost of a blank cotton (or linen) pillow cover, a sharpie and some time. Love it!
What can be both downsized and upcycled at the same time? An old sweater! I shouldn't pick favorites, but when it comes to refashions, I do think that sweaters win.
I actually have three old stretched-out sweaters sitting in a box waiting for exactly this kind of repurposing! I also have a small human in my life who tends to wear the things I make too. Handy.
Don't you wish you were as stylish as this little girl? Thanks to Homemade Ginger for the great tutorial! (Headband tutorial is separate)
If you've got kids (or work with kids) you've got crayons. Lots of them. Melting down broken pieces to create colorful "new" crayons is an old idea ... but a good one, so I keep seeing creative versions for weddings, holidays and parties. If the silicone cookie /candy mould exists, you can make crayons in that shape (gingerbread crayons for the holidays?)
I was inspired to finally feature crayons myself thanks to the amazing "crayon art" tutorial recently posted on 52 Kitchen Adventures. What a FANTASTIC way to involve kids in making art... never mind the "science" of melting, mixing, cooling etc.
Melted crayon wedding favors? Not sure about this one ... but great for the kid's table!
A different, more grown-up take on the dripping crayon art idea... care of Jenna Brown
A different, more grown-up take on the dripping crayon art idea... care of Jenna Brown
An oh-so-pretty example of sorting the scraps and re-inventing them!
A sweet, colorful valentine that includes a little sparkle .... from Whipperberry.
Yarn chandeliers (or mobiles) are popping up everywhere! They're easy to make, eye-catching and a good use of scrap yarn. You need yarn, glue, balloons and patience! Full Tutorial here.
And keeping in theme ... how cute are these little balls decorating every possible corner? Again, it's yarn, glue and styrofoam balls. Tutorial right here.