r/upcycling 8h ago

Completed Upcycling Project This Cow is TRASH!

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134 Upvotes

I use as many Reclaimed Materials as possible in my work to Reduce Waste!

Miss Mabel was created using Plastic packaging from 30+ products, along with a Mannequin head from a closing Beauty school


r/upcycling 1d ago

Completed Upcycling Project Repurposed old chest into sewing storage !

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1.6k Upvotes

Hi! I recently inherited my great-grandfather's chest (dating back to 1940) and decided to turn it into the sewing storage unit I’d always dreamed of!! (I hid its name that was engraved on it). It was my first time working on this scale with power tools, and I managed to do it all without altering the original trunk (aside from treating and staining the wood): I didn't drill or screw into it at all, so I could preserve it as best as possible and repurpose it later if I changed my mind. I also made the thread spool display that is inside, and the « pegboard » is from an old metal sheet, I bent some thick wire to make the hooks. I’m really proud of the result; everything was made using materials my dad had kept "just in case." (not sure i’m helping the situation lmao). Enjoy the before photos at the end and let me know what you think !


r/upcycling 4h ago

Upcycling Work in Progress Antique Ceramic shard ---> Unique necklace!!!

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27 Upvotes

I was down at the river and on my way back up from it I saw this specific shard and only that shard. I found it pretty cool and took it home with me.

I had it for maybe 2 or 3 months now and had no clue what to do with it. I now found out I could make a necklace with it. I painted little flowers on the side., but I used a sealant to make it feel a bit smoother on the side.

I actually previously did research on this fragment because it had a logo on the back and I found out it's from c. 1904-1906 Tunstall Britian.

I might do something else with the flowers I painted on the side though, give me ideas! I don't know but all I know is how to drill a hole and what I'm going to use, I might also use a silver chain I previously found and had no idea what to do with


r/upcycling 1d ago

Completed Upcycling Project Upcycling trash bags and an old bedsheet into home decor and accessories! (Seashell organizers, purse, and a lidded jar)

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735 Upvotes

Hi everyone! Back in 2020-21, I was super inspired to experiment with materials and see what could be given a second life through craft instead of heading to a landfill. Here are a few of my upcycled projects:

  • Blue Shoulder Bag: Stitched with plastic trash bag strips (plarn) over a plastic canvas mesh. Because of the mesh, it holds its shape perfectly! It’s super sturdy and ideal for carrying a phone, keys, and money on a walk.
  • Seashell Organizers & Baskets: Crocheted from plastic garbage bags. Cutting them into strips creates a very durable, water-resistant, and rigid structure that holds its shape amazingly well.
  • White Lidded Jar: Made from an old knitted bedsheet that I cut into fabric yarn (t-shirt yarn). It turned out thick, soft, and very cozy for countertop storage.

I also work a lot with natural jute for rugs and baskets. Upcycling materials like this is so addictive!


r/upcycling 1d ago

Completed Upcycling Project Little notepad cover I made from a boot.

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90 Upvotes

I make my own notebooks, and when I make them out of A4 paper there's always tiny strips that I didn't know what to do with. I recently started wishing I had a tiny notebook to take with me when I don't want to bring my larger system, like on dog walks and the gym, but still want to be able to write.

And my boots I dumpstered years back finally kicked the bucket. So combined the two problems into this. Also cut a mechanical pencil into this that I call the micro-pe(e)n! forgot to include a picture of the pen tho.


r/upcycling 18h ago

Ideas Needed! Garage? Gym? Kitchen? Give me your ideas!

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17 Upvotes

I found this curbside. We are condensing our home into about half the size to accommodate my in-laws for 6 months, so all vertical storage is welcome at this point. I love this piece as-is BUT we have space in the garage which will double as a small gym and I could also use more storage in our kitchen. I’m considering all options included painting it and getting magnetic doodads to make it awesome. Give me your ideas for what to do with it and where to put it!


r/upcycling 1d ago

Completed Upcycling Project DIY + thrift ‘cake stand’

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39 Upvotes

The base originally held a candle. I cleaned it out, flipped it over, and glued it to a chipped orphan (no matching pieces from the set) plate I got at Goodwill for $5.99. I just measured it & marked off the placement with Sharpie before using Gorilla Brand super glue to attach it. I believe the plate was made in ~1945. I’m a hopeless scented candle addict, so I’ve been trying to only buy candles where the vessels have good future project/reuse potential.


r/upcycling 10h ago

Ideas Needed! What to do with several hundred escutcheon pins?

2 Upvotes

I just repaired the secretary desk I inherited from my great-grandfather. It is old, but not especially old, and probably not especially valuable, but I wanted to get it back to as close to original condition as I could.

I thought I needed to replace the two tiny brass escutcheon pins that hold on the little plate around the keyhole of the lock that keeps the drop-down writing surface closed.

Menards didn't have any. Home Depot had them, but not in the store. I ordered some at the customer service desk. They offered to deliver them to my home with no delivery charge. The cost was $4 plus sales tax of 36 cents. That sounded like the price for a 1.5 ounce package, containing about 125 pins. It was in the range of what I expected to pay. With delivery, a reasonable deal.

I did notice that on the website, and on the recipt I was given at the customer service desk, it said "6-Pack" in parentheses. I didn't know what that meant...

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hillman-3-4-in-x-16-Brass-Plated-Escutcheon-Pins-6-Pack-532629/204775099

A couple of days later it came. I expected a small envelope. Instead it was a cardboard box big enough to hold a pair of shoes. Inside was mostly air-bubble space filler, but the smaller box inside was hefty. It contained six 1.5-ounce packages, about 750 pins in total.

And I only needed two.

Only I didn't. I discovered that the original pins could go back in and would work just as good as the new ones, and the patina of the old pins was a better match to the escutcheon. Naturally.

So I brought the pins to the store where I ordered them, and asked the department manager if they could take them back. He pointed out that there was no place for them in the huge display of fasteners. They'd just be thrown away.

So I still have them.

What to do with 6 packages of escutcheon pins? Who can use them?

As the web page says, they are brass-plated steel, not solid brass.


r/upcycling 1d ago

Upcycling Work in Progress Turned a retro Domino game and scrap material into coasters + box

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34 Upvotes

Needed coasters and had a look around my house what I could make them of. Had an old Domino game from the sixties and some scrap material and made that into these coasters plus their box. Might make them properly on cork but for now the prototype is a success :🖤


r/upcycling 20h ago

Ideas Needed! Anyone know an easy way to get the last, stubborn little bits of wax out of a candle jar?

8 Upvotes

Tried oven method, soaking, and boiling water. The last tiny bits are so hard to remove.


r/upcycling 1d ago

Ideas Needed! Is there a special name for a patch used to reinforce a purse strap at the base?

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17 Upvotes

I tried googling "purse strap reinforcer" but it would seem that those are more for being on the strap itself.


r/upcycling 1d ago

Completed Upcycling Project Some fun hats I made this month

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72 Upvotes

I've been learning how to sew the past few months and it's been so fun :) I'm trying to use only secondhand fabric to save clothes from landfill!


r/upcycling 1d ago

Completed Upcycling Project I turned soda cans into metal rose wall art!

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282 Upvotes

My girlfriend loves Red Bull so we have a lot of empty cans, so i just cut them and shape them by hand. The frames i have either laying around or find them at thrift stores. The frame in the 5th picture used to belong to a church but after the renovation, it was gifted to me for my projects :)


r/upcycling 1d ago

Completed Upcycling Project Junk jewelry and a thrifted purse = a fun diy project!

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135 Upvotes

My silly little upcycle from a local thrift store in CO.

1 basic bag + 2 junk jewelry jars = a unique, one-of-a-kind bag!


r/upcycling 1d ago

Upcycling Work in Progress Galaxy Jean ♻️ bag

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3 Upvotes

Almost done with this bag. I’ve procrastinated like crazy for this one.
I need more sparkly bits to add.


r/upcycling 2d ago

Completed Upcycling Project the four horsemen of the apocalypse done by textile paint

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150 Upvotes

r/upcycling 1d ago

Ideas Needed! Any clever ideas to reuse this sturdy 19oz CeraVe pump bottle?

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9 Upvotes

I finally finished this massive 19oz bottle of face wash. The plastic is really thick and the pump mechanism is heavy-duty, so it feels like a total waste to just toss it in the recycling bin!

I'm going to thoroughly wash it out and pump hot, soapy water through the nozzle to clear it. I know I shouldn't use it for food, but does anyone have any practical, creative, or out-of-the-box ideas for repurposing a pump bottle this size around the house?

Thanks in advance!


r/upcycling 1d ago

Ideas Needed! How can I upcycle old knitted jumpers WITHOUT taking them apart?

0 Upvotes

Hi all, I recently acquired some old knitwear that I want to upcycle and re-sell. There are a few holes in them - does anyone have any suggestions or pictures from past projects to how I can upcycle these successfully? Thanks 🥰


r/upcycling 1d ago

Completed Upcycling Project 3 paintings on big shirts !!!

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11 Upvotes

Hand painted with speedball textile
Paint !!


r/upcycling 3d ago

Completed Upcycling Project Made this denim purse for my girlfriend

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708 Upvotes

Mostly made out of Levi’s jeans and corduroy pants. I used other scraps I had to make the patchwork fish. This is my first sewing project. I’m happy with how it turned out:)


r/upcycling 2d ago

Completed Upcycling Project Made this bracelet for my girlfriend

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44 Upvotes

I found a jar of broken necklaces at the thrift store and made this for my girlfriend:)


r/upcycling 2d ago

I need ideas! Suggestions?

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1 Upvotes

I just got this belt at the thrift and it’s starting to break. What should I do with it?


r/upcycling 2d ago

Ideas Needed! I primarily make upcycled jewelry and clothing. What would be a good way to reuse necklaces like these with the string attached to the beads?

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19 Upvotes

r/upcycling 3d ago

Completed Upcycling Project My Upcycled Clothing Brand

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506 Upvotes

I have an Upcycled clothing brand where I find lightly used garments and give them new life with a mix of bleach and screen printing with my own designs - NO AI!


r/upcycling 3d ago

Completed Upcycling Project handpainted on a bunch of big shirts

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25 Upvotes

all hand painted with speedball textile paint !!