You've probably heard a lot about the concept of 'upcycling' over the past year. Upcycling is the process of turning something broken or useless into something practical or useful.
Home and Garden on Female First
It's been around for about ten years, but only really made headlines in 2011, with the increasing fashion for eclectic or quirky decor, and with the economic climate meaning people are less likely to buy things for their home.
You can get your craft on with these simple projects, meaning anyone can get the rustic upcycled look. Just make sure that you don't end up 'non-cycling' - a term coined by blog Regretsy, where rubbish is turned into something equally useless.
1. Use a cupcake tray to store your jewellery or small items. The ndividual sections of muffin cases make them ideal for storing necklaces, bracelets, and any other little things you don't want getting lost. You can also use an ice-cube tray to keep even smaller items, such as rings, in their place.
2. Hang some old keys together as wind-chimes. If you tie some keys together that are broken or no longer unlock anything, they can make a fabulously rustic-looking wind-chime. Thread some ribbon through the keys, then hang them in a tree in your garden - the wind blowing through them will make a lovely sound.3. Decoupage furniture with a pack of cards. Playing cards always seem to go missing, rendering the pack useless. Give them a new purpose by gluing them to a side table or a lunch box.
4. Turn coffee cups into candles. If you always seem to end up with lots of candles with just a bit of wax in the bottom, you can melt them all down, and make a new candle in an old coffee cup. You'll need to buy a wick, these are available in most craft stores.
5. Make CDs into coasters. Stick some felt onto the bottom of compact disks that don't work anymore, or that you have two copies of to make stylish and fun coasters. If you have any floppy disks that are basically useless nowadays, you can use them too.
6. Fashion an old bra strap into a headband. This may be an upcycle too far for many of you, but there will be others who will think this is a great idea. If one of your favourite bras loses its wire, and it happens to have pretty straps, they can make a beautiful headband. Just cup the strap off, check it to your head size and cut it down if needed. Sew the ends together, and you're done! If you want to make more of a statement, you can also sew some buttons on the strap.7. Re-use a battered old suitcase as a cat bed. This requires no effort at all: just stick a big cushion into one side of an old suitcase, and it will make a comfy bed for your cat or small dog.
8. Turn cassette cases into business cardholders. Just stick some paper inside the tape case to make it more business-like, and it makes a perfect cardholder.
9. Hang a ladder to make a kitchen rack. You may need some expert help with this one. If you fix an old ladder to your kitchen ceiling, it can be great for hanging clothes when they need drying, or pans if you're short of cupboard space. Make sure it's carefully secured before you hang anything heavy from it though.
10. And finally, an Italian restaurant cliche - turn an empty wine bottle into a candle holder. If you want something a bit different, use beer or oil bottles instead - they just might not have the same charm as a wine bottle.Emily Bancroft
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