Upcycling Inspiration
Upcycling: “Doing something creative with a thing that would otherwise be discarded.”
I get my creative inspiration from the trash. I always have.
I look at a thing that somebody else is done with, and ask myself “what can it be next?” I create art and gifts from other people’s discards. Not only am I giving stuff a second life, but I am keeping things out of the landfill – and usually for free!
When we can create art from waste, like plastics, metals, paper and fabric, we add new value to the original item! We can take care of the environment, raise awareness and educate our communities while providing beauty and functionality at the same time.
Upcycling is a great way to try your hand at a craft without investing a lot of money. It is also a perfect way to keep kids entertained on a rainy day! This idea is not just for arts and crafts - you can also create functional items for your home. You can create party decorations or event props. How about parade floats?
Check out a few upcycling ideas below by hovering over the photos we’ve included for some inspiration. Once you’re feeling inspired, join us at one of our craft nights!
Home decor items found on online marketplaces are often crafted from reused items. People generate revenue from combining a free thing with their creative talent.
Sometimes you must study a thing for a while to re-imagine it. Somebody brought a box of large plastic letters to the hub one day. We now have an inspirational sign!
Consider challenging your kids to repurpose their toys! Or make a fun gnome from a toilet paper roll and some fabric.
You can create wearables from discarded clothes and fabrics. Poly Mer, our Hub mascot, sports creative fashion made from items that get donated to us.
Sculptures can be made from all kinds of things. The Hub has a couple pieces hanging in our warehouse that were collaborative projects with our visitors. These were made with plastic caps.
Who doesn’t love garden art? A wire coat hanger, some plastic caps and a little glue can add a pop of color to your garden. Or maybe use some designer samples to make plant markers.
Jewelry is a fun thing to create too. Check out these earrings made from design samples!
Some items can be reused for a short term and then recycled or composted, like this egg carton art.
How about a super small project like book marks from wallpaper samples and fringe remnants?
When upcycling please consider how sustainable it is and think about its next life. What will happen to it? Can you recycle it? Compost it? Or… give it a third life! When discarding an item, think about where “away” is!
Want to give it a try? Visit the hub on May 5, 6:00 – 8:00 pm for our next “First Friday Craft Night”! We will be making Derby Day fascinators in our new Re-Maker space on the second floor.
Tell us what you’ve been upcycling in the comments below!